Friday, May 01, 2009

Crossing the Bar and Dead Man Blues

Crossing the Bar
by Alfred Tennyson, 1889



Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home!

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourn of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.


Dead Man Blues
By Jelly Roll Morton, 1926 (spoken section of the song)



Morton: What's that I hear at twelve o'clock in the day-time?
Church bells ringing?
St. Cyr: Oh, man, you don't hear no church bells ringing
at twelve o'clock in the day.
Morton: Don't tell me--somebody must be dead!
St. Cyr: Ain't nobody dead. Somebody must be dead drunk.
Morton: Don't tell me, I think there's a fyoo-neral!
St. Cyr: Well, looky here! I believe I do hear a funeral!
I believe I hear that tram-bone blowin'!

And the ending according to Grandpa Cliff:

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
If the women don't get you, the liquor must!

Rest in peace Grandpa Cliff.

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