deConfinement Tapes #30 /
The George Floyd songs

« Blind Willie McTell » (Bob Dylan, Infidels, 1981)

Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, « This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem. »
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, I heard the hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
(And) see the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
(I can) hear the undertaker’s bell
(Yeah), nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, God is in heaven
And we all want what’s his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I’m gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Mercredi 3 juin 2020

deConfinement Tapes #27 /
Wild breezes, birds and deconfined bicycles

« Once Upon A Time » (Adams & Sinatra, 1965)

Once upon a time a girl with moonlight in her eyes
Put her hand in mine and said she loved me so
But that was once upon a time very long ago

Once upon a hill we sat beneath a willow tree
Counting all the stars and waiting for the dawn
But that was once upon a time, now the tree is gone

How the breeze ruffled through her hair
How we always laughed as though tomorrow wasn’t there
We were young and didn’t have a care
Where did it go?

Once upon a time the world was sweeter than we knew
Everything was ours, how happy we were then
But somehow once upon a time never comes again

Once upon a time never comes again

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Dimanche 24 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #24/ Medley
Doo Wop the ultimate love weapon

Tomorrow Night (Coslow & Grosz, 1939)

Tomorrow night
Will you remember what you said tonight?
Tomorrow night
Will all the thrill be gone?
Tomorrow night
Will it be just another memory?
Or just another song, that’s in my heart to linger on?

Your lips are so tender
Your heart is beating fast
And you willingly surrender
To me, my darling will it last?

Tomorrow night
Will you be with me when the moon is bright?
Tomorrow night
Will you say those lovely things you said tonight?
Your lips are so tender
Your heart is beating fast
And you willingly surrender
To me, my darling will it last?

Tomorrow night
Will you be with me when the moon is bright ?
Tomorrow night
Will you say those lovely things you said tonight ?

– – –

Pledging my love
(Johnny Ace, Washington & Robey, 1954)

Forever my darling our love will be true
Always and forever I?ll love only you
Just promise me darling
Your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear
Forever burn

My heart’s at your command dear
To keep, love and to hold
Making you happy’s my desire
Keeping you is my goal
Forever I’ll love you
for the rest of my days
I’ll never part from you
or your loving ways

Just promise me darling
Your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear
Forever burn

My heart’s at your command dear
To keep, love and to hold
Making you happy’s my desire
Loving you is my goal
Forever I’ll love you
for the rest of my days
I’ll never part from you
or your loving ways
Just promise me darling
Your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear
Forever burn

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Mercredi 20 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #26 /
Strong winds, Motorcycles and Geese

« You belong to me » (Price, King & Stewart, 1952)

See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sun rise on a tropic isle
Just remember, darling, all the while
You belong to me
See the marketplace in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me

I’ll be so alone without you
Maybe you’ll be lonesome too, and blue
Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it’s wet with rain
Just remember till you’re home again
You belong to me

I’ll be so alone without you
Maybe you’ll be lonesome too, and blue
Fly the ocean in a silver plane
Watch the jungle when it’s wet with rain
But remember darling, till you’re home again
You belong to me

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Samedi 23 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #29 /
To the memory of George Floyd

« Only a pawn in their game » (Bob Dylan, « The times they are a-changin’, 1963)

A bullet from the back of a bush
Took Medgar Evers’ blood
A finger fired the trigger to his name
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man’s brain
But he can’t be blamed
He’s only a pawn in their game

A South politician preaches to the poor white man
« You got more than the blacks, don’t complain
You’re better than them, you been born with white skin,  » they explain
And the Negro’s name
Is used, it is plain
For the politician’s gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game

The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid
And the marshals and cops get the same
But the poor white man’s used in the hands of them all like a tool
He’s taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
‘Bout the shape that he’s in
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game

From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks
And the hoofbeats pound in his brain
And he’s taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide ‘neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain’t got no name
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game

Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught
They lowered him down as a king
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He’ll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain
Only a pawn in their game

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Lundi 1 juin 2020

deConfinement Tapes #23 / Da Doo Wood
« Ballad of Ole Betsy »
(The Beach Boys, Little Deuce Coupe, 1963)

She was born in ’32, and was she ever pretty
She rode a freight train west, all the way from Detroit city
Betsy’s seen more places than I’ll ever hope to see
Betsy’s been more loyal than any friend could be

With some she traveled fast, with others it was slow
Betsy’s seen them all, she’d seen them come and go
She must have had some others before I finally met her
And now that she’s all mine, they’d better just forget her

Betsy was a lady and that she will remain
Betsy took some beatings but she never once complained
She had a classic beauty that everyone could see
I was the last to meet her, but she gave her life to me
She may be rusted iron, but to me she’s solid gold
And I just can’t hold the tears back
‘Cause Betsy’s growing old

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Mardi 19 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #28 /
For George Floyd, on and on the story goes…

« George Jackson » (Bob Dylan, 1970)

I woke up this mornin’,
There were tears in my bed.
They killed a man I really loved
Shot him through the head.
Lord, Lord,
They cut George Jackson down.
Lord, Lord,
They laid him in the ground.

Sent him off to prison
For a seventy-dollar robbery.
Closed the door behind him
And they threw away the key.
Lord, Lord, They cut George Jackson down.
Lord, Lord,
They laid him in the ground.

He wouldn’t take shit from no one
He wouldn’t bow down or kneel.
Authorities, they hated him
Because he was just too real.
Lord, Lord,
They cut George Jackson down.
Lord, Lord,
They laid him in the ground.

Prison guards, they cursed him
As they watched him from above
But they were frightened of his power
They were scared of his love.
Lord, Lord,
So they cut George Jackson down.
Lord, Lord,
They laid him in the ground.

Sometimes I think this whole world
Is one big prison yard.
Some of us are prisoners
The rest of us are guards.
Lord, Lord,
They cut George Jackson down.
Lord, Lord,
They laid him in the ground.

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Vendredi 29 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #22 / Hard times
« Life is hard »
(Bob Dylan, Together Through Life, 2009)

The evening winds are still
I’ve lost the way and will
Can’t tell you where they went
I just know what they meant
I’m always on my guard
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

The friend you used to be
So near and dear to me
You slipped so far away
Where did we go astray?
I passed the old schoolyard
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

Ever since the day
The day you went away
I felt that emptiness so wide
I don’t know what’s wrong or right
I just know I need strength to fight
Strength to fight that world outside

Since we’ve been out of touch
I haven’t felt that much
From day to barren day
My heart stays locked away
I walk the boulevard
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

The sun is sinking low
I guess it’s time to go
I feel a chilly breeze
In place of memories
My dreams are locked and barred
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Samedi 16 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #25 / Old love new love
« He’s funny that way » (Morey & Whiting, 1929)

I’m not much to look at
Nothing to see
Just glad I’m living
And lucky to be
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can’t save a dollar
Ain’t worth a cent
He doesn’t hollar
He’d live in a tent
I’ve got that man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Though he loves to work
And slave for me everyday
He’d be so much better off
If I went away
But why should I leave him
Why should I go
He’d be unhappy without me I know
I’ve got that man mad about me
He’s funny that way

Never had nothing
No one to care
That’s why I seem to have
More than my share
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

When I hurt his feelings
Once in a while
His only answer is one little smile
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

I can see no other way
And no better plan
End it all and let him go
To some better gal
But I’m only human
A coward at best
I’m more than certain
He’d follow me West
I’ve got a man crazy for me
He’s funny that way

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Vendredi 22 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #21 / Ecological statement
« Power Flower » (Stevie Wonder, Journey through the Secret Life of Plants, 1978)

Pan is my name
I live outside the door
I have to keep the score of things around you
Fire and air
Water I prepare
I am the piper at the gates of dawning

It’s not magic it’s not madness
Just the elements I style
And I guarantee faithfully I will never go
Until all is said and done
In a twinkling I’ll be gone
Well excuse me I have so much more to do

Fancy I fell
A childlike tap I’ll steal
Look twice my friend it’s not the wind at all
You’ll never see
What you refuse to be
The power in the seeing is believing

It’s not magic it’s not madness
Just the elements I style
And I guarantee faithfully I will never go
Until all is said and done
In a twinkling I’ll be gone
Well excuse me I have so much more to do
It’s not magic it’s not madness
Just the elements I style
And I guarantee faithfully I will never go
Until all is said and done
In a twinkling I’ll be gone

Well excuse me I have so much more to do
Flower Power, Power Flower, Flower Power, Power of Love
Power Flower, Flower Power, Power Flower, Flower of Love….

(For Guillaume Quéméré Lantonnet)

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Vendredi 15 mai 2020

deConfinement Tapes #20 /
No freedom for me if not for nature’s freedom

« Black Orchid » (Stevie Wonder,
Journey through the secret life of plants, 1978)

A flake of snow within a storm
A new way waiting to be born
In a world with need for change
A touch of love in fear of hate
A rushing wind that’s asked to wait
For the promises of rain
A pearl of wisdom entrapped by poverty
She gives love with purity
Filling minds with hopeful schemes
To build worlds enhanced by peace
Draped in sparkling morning dew
She expresses life anew
From the earth beneath her feet

She is a flower that grows
In love ability, she’s femininity

Black Orchid, Black Orchid
Why did they make you begin
When they know in time you’ll find your truth
Before your cycle ends?
Black Orchid, Black Orchid
Why are you crying their fears
When the true reflection of you that they see
Is love besieged by years?

She has touched the farthest star
Her beauty speaks of what we are
And her freedom makes us free
Her now is in eternity, infinite to all that see
And her dreams have been achieved
Now there is a sound of laughter

Nature sings out her name
For the world to know her fame

Black Orchid, Black Orchid
Why did they criticize
When they knew your love could cast its spell
And consecrate their eyes?
Black Orchid, Black Orchid
Why do you linger in space
When you know in every heart that beats
You hold a special place?
When you know in every heart that beats
You hold a special place

#happybirthdaystevie!
#hapoybithdaycathy Cathy Bruno-Capvert

Publiée par Jonathan Pontier sur Jeudi 14 mai 2020

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