Sunday, May 31, 2015

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 87



This is my absolute favourite summer song, and also one of my top-ten heart songs. It reminds me of August evenings, creamy caramel light, sweetness and laughter. And though the original remains the best, Styx did a pretty kickass cover back in 2005, too.

**

"Summer in the City" (as recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful)

Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk
Hotter than a match head

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city

Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs
Gonna meet you on the rooftop

But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city

(repeat verse 1 and chorus)

Saturday, May 30, 2015

The vault of lost lyrics, chapter 66


(Before we go any further: little signal and little time on the VI circumnavigation trip, so no posts. Sorry!)

While no one will ever confuse Deep Purple with bubblegum pop, this song is a surprisingly summery selection for the band. The crunchy guitar, the snapping Hammond organ, the underplayed vocals? Perfect for June's big blue sun-drenched prairie skies. And on the wind, the breath of a voice.

**

"Hush" (as recorded by Deep Purple)

I got a certain little girl, she's on my mind
No doubt about it, she looks so fine
She's the best girl that I ever had
Sometime she's gonna make me feel so bad

Hush, hush
I thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
She broke my heart, but I love her just the same now
Hush, hush
Thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
I need her loving, and I'm not to blame now

(Love, love)
They got it early in the morning
(Love, love)
They got it late in the evening
(Love, love)
Well, I want and need it
(Love, love)
Oh, I gotta gotta have it

She got loving like quicksand
Only took one touch of her hand
To blow my mind, and I'm in so deep
That I can't eat and I can't sleep

Hush, hush
I thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
She broke my heart, but I love her just the same now
Hush, hush
Thought I heard her calling my name now
Hush, hush
I need her loving, and I'm not to blame now

(Love, love)
They got it early in the morning
(Love, love)
They got it late in the evening
(Love, love)
Well, I want and need it
(Love, love)
Hey, I gotta gotta have it ...


Saturday, May 09, 2015

En fin

Saturday morning. It's been a tumultuous week, and also fairly productive. Finished the substantive edit on my Spring 2016 novel, read all the books I'm reviewing this month, started my reviews, baked, packed, and voted...

And now we're away for a couple of weeks. I will try to post an update or two here when we're at marinas. Our objective is to circumnavigate Vancouver Island; no idea what this particular adventure will hold. In previous years groups have encountered large groups of dolphins racing their boat, but I'm hoping for whales. Orcas. And a complete dearth of bad weather.

OK, off to pack my fluorescent-orange VIRG toque! Bonne chance!

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Year Zero, Day 1

We did it. Alberta, I'm so proud of us.






Friday, May 01, 2015

In the spirit of graduation

Today is my last official day of work before starting vacation on Monday and starting sabbatical on July 1. A new phase of my career is beginning. In that spirit (and also, frankly, because I don't have much else to say today), here are three pictures from 1985 and 1986. I remember the event of the grad photo only — no idea when or where the others were taken, other than in a studio somewhere.







By complete random chance, I still own the earrings I'm wearing in the top photo, and was wearing (one of) them at the U of A convocation where I received Elmer.

Here's to a new adventure!