You wouldn't think that a two year age difference would be such a gap, but it was never clearer then when a group of fifteen-year-olds asked us ancient Fifth Formers the question posed in the last verse.


Lament of a Music Lover

They lived and loved so long ago
In an age where romance was the key;
And not the thumping clumping beat
Of lust and shallow melodies.
The pioneers of music who
Were hailed as classics left and right,
Who sang of hope and freedom and
The flame of love that burned so bright,
They ensnared the lonely hearts
Of those who heard them far and wide,
From the soldier who huddles all alone
To the woman who holds her daughter tight.

So I would ask you, readers wise,
A question that weighs so heavily
On a cynical child, one such as I
Who laments at what the world will be
If rap and rock and songs of death
And blood are what our children hear
When they turn on the radio
And all unwitting lend an ear,
For where did all the tenderness go?
The gentle touch of lips on a hand;
Were they ousted by the likes
Of death and heavy metal bands?

All I can do is shake my head
And snap at all the youngsters who
Are close in age to me and yet
On music have not the faintest clue.
They ask me why I listen to
'Those old songs' jeeringly called uncool,
To Bing and Dean and Nat King Cole
Whom they insult, and more's the fool.
Yet their ignorance sorrows me
As the tracks of the greats are passed on by
For it is at their naïve hands
That the legacies will slowly die.



Poetry by Mklnay
Read 855 times
Written on 2010-11-12 at 12:35

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Phyllis J. Rhodes
I love this poem. It amazes my kids and grandkids when I tell them a song in a commercial is 50 years old. Or that one on the radio is a remake. They doubt me until I sing along and know the words when I usually can't understand what's being said on today's pop recordings. As they get older, they are discovering the songs and crooners of the 30s and 40s and the country and rock and roll pioneers of the 50s and 60s. My collection of 331/3 vinyl lps are the subject of inheritance. It is true, the best of the best will be rediscovered for a long time to come. Meanwhile thanks for a great poem to remind us. And people, take time to go back and find music by The Platters, Hank Williams, Sam Cook, Vaughn Monroe, Dean Martin, Etta James, Dinah Washington, Brook Benton, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Jackie Wilson, Eddie Arnold, George Jones, Ray Price, and on and on and on.
2010-11-12


NicholasG
I believe 'popular' music is a symptom of the times. The good stuff, like what you are listening to sticks around, while the disposable music is...well disposed of. It is odd though, during the first and second world wars, the popular music was lighter in subject ...
Today a combat based video game (Black Ops) has broken the record for entertainment sales in a 24hr. period $360,000,000. This is symptomatic of the program running in the minds of many. I doubt if that mind set is often attracted to 'Cheek to Cheek!. The positive side is that good music is like the energizer bunny...
Nick
2010-11-12


countryfog
. . . and Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford. I don't think the legacies of the immortal ones will ever really die; enough of each generation will rediscover them to keep their flames burning, if only guttering.
2010-11-12



You have the sensibility of another generation, a chivalrous heart and a poetic nature.

I fear you will be shaking your head at music and more for a long, long time.

That's a compliment.

Cheers,
jim
2010-11-12