The Dangling Conversation ~ Simon & Garfunkel

Some time ago my SoundCloud friend Mark introduced me to The Dangling Conversation.  I thought I knew pretty much all of Simon and Garfunkel’s well known songs… but I was so wrong, I’d never heard this one.

I absolutely loved it and found myself drawn to listen to this delightful song again and again.  One day while listening, I realised it might make an interesting poem for one of my spoken word creations.  Here it is… with a simple video included.  I also uploaded a version to my SoundCloud page.

I find it very interesting to speak poetry that isn’t mine.  It helps form a different pattern in my mind on how to speak and how to write poems.  We all have patterns that are part of how we think, which is perfectly natural, but it’s good to introduce something different now and then.  It helps reduce limitations and expands the writer on the inside.

After I recorded my version of The Dangling Conversation I did some more research on the song and found a 1968 black and white film of a High School teacher reading the lyrics in the process of teaching her class poetry.  I thought it was absolutely wonderful to see that.  I love the way she saw those lyrics as pure poetry and not just a song… such a cool teacher! 

Below, is a short documentary with some of her pupils talking about memories of their English literature teacher Mrs Ashcraft and the 1968 documentary High School by Frederick Wiseman.

The Dangling Conversation is from Simon and Garfunkels Parsely, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme album.  If you’ve not heard it yet please visit You Tube for a free listen.  I have an original vinyl copy, it’s a beautiful album.

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The White Birch ~ The Weight Of Spring

I wore the dark
I watched the light undress the mark
The weight of spring
The darkness brings

I called for grace
In a lovers loss, in distant face
As years were spent
And hearts were bent
Hearts were bent

I close my eyes to the sound of spring
What is there to see
In the songs they bring?
Love will never change
The morning sun
Love will never change
The way the way the darkness runs

I felt the doubt
Of a better man who had fallen out
And spring was bold
As hearts turned cold
Hearts turned cold

I close my eyes to the sound of spring
What is there to see
But the songs they bring
Love will never change
The morning sun
Love will never change
The way the darkness runs

I so loved this album The Weight Of Spring and especially this track, I thought I’d create a relaxation video – so please enjoy!

I don’t believe the song is actually about spring, but has a much deeper meaning, a very personal one.  The whole album was dedicated to the mother of Ola Fløttum who passed away during the creation of this album.  I definitely feel a strong sense of that in the music and the lyrics.  But having said that, it’s one of those albums with songs the listener can form their own feeling on what they’re about. I relate to music like that a lot.

If you love the laid back sound to this track, you can listen to all the tracks from the  album in this You Tube playlist, and here are the lyrics.

Unfortunately The White Birch no longer exist as a band, but you can still buy their four inspiring albums from iTunes and Amazon.

If you’d like to read more about Ola Fløttum and the album The Weight Of Spring you may find this blog post of interest.

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*(2017 update)

You can now view the official music video for the Weight Of Spring.

 

Wasting My Young Years ~ London Grammar

London Grammar is one of those new bands I accidentally discovered recently on one of my You Tube trips!  I love Hannah Reid’s haunting voice, and I’m looking forward to see what they come up with next.  Here’s a live version of this song.  If you want to hear more of their music visit their You Tube or SoundCloud page, also Wikipedia or their website. .