The Sounds Of Silence
Hello darkness, my old friend,
Ive come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
-
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
-
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one deared
Disturb the sound of silence.
-
Fools said i,you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
-
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisperd in the sounds of silence.
-
By Simon and Garfunkel
While working this song came up. It struck me as being so appropriate I had to post it. Now back to work
“bowed and prayed to the neon God they made”.
The technological pyramid in lights, flashing Just-in-Time.
Good one, MM! This song will be singing in my head for days to come. The flow of pandemic information from governments to citizens IS the Sound of Silence.
A few weeks ago, after suffering from fluwikie overload, I turned off the computer and turned on the radio. Got this song right from the beginning:
Don’t fear the reaper. by Blue Oyster Cult.
I got a chuckle out of that.
My nomination for the Pandemic Song of the Year is….(drum roll)……That every popular polka…….
The Chicken Dance!!!
da na na na na,….
Time for my medicine. 8-D
At a lecture this morning. A discussion of poetry and the loss of Paradise, the destruction of our earth, forests, extinction of animals and birds etc. The lecturer mentioned that the old Anglo Saxons from the North ….Norway, Sweden etc. had an image of what our brief lives are. A bird flying into a lighted warm room from out of the dark and the cold…..birth… Its brief period in light, warmth, joys of every sort (human existance) and then back out into the dark , into cold winter air…. death. It seems every thing I am participating in during the last month has been tied to the earth and how we have disturbed and destroyed its balance. The pandemic is merely a very small part of the larger picture..
David Bowie:
“Pushing through the market square, so many mothers sighing
News had just come over, we had five years left to cry in
News guy wept and told us, earth was really dying
Cried so much his face was wet, then I knew he was not lying”
…”We got five years, stuck on my eyes
Five years, what a surprise
We’ve got five years, my brain hurts a lot
Five years, that’s all we got”…
(On a slightly lighter note)
Frank Zappa:
“I might be
movin’ to Montana soon”…
“Gonna be a Dental Floss tycoon”…
By myself I wouldn’t
Have no boss,
But I’d be raisin’ my lonely
Dental Floss!”…
“Well I might
Ride along the border
With my tweezers gleamin’
In the moon-lighty night
And then I’d
Getta cuppa coffee
N’give my foot a push . . .
Just me’n the pygmy pony
Over the Dental Floss Bush”…
“Movin’ to Montana soon…(Yippy-Yi-O-Ty-Ay!)”…
This has been haunting me all day and I had to write it down.
Apologies!
(to the tune of ‘Working on the railroad’)
I’ve been spreading in-flu-en-za,
All the live-long day,
I’ve been spreading in-flu-en-za,
On bus-es trains and planes;
Can’t you hear the victims coughing,
Spreading disease with every breath?
Aren’t those nasty virii changing?
Getting them means death.
Something’s been spreading in-flu-en-za,
Someone’s infected I kno-o-o-ow,
Something’s been spreading in-flu-en-za,
In spite of the W-H-O.
And, they, say,
Fee, Fi fiddly-I-O
Fee-fi-fiddly-I-O-o-o-o
No-one’s got pandemic in-flu-en-za,
If they did we’d surely say sooooo.
LMWatBullRun – at 13:39 best ‘un yet!!
LMWatBullRun
Great one!!!
“If they did we’d surely say sooooo.”
“Someone’s in the kitchen with Da-vid”…
Can’t dance to it, but, Laurie Anderson, anybody?
…”The one-armed Man walks into a flower shop and says:
What flower expresses
Days go by,
And they just keep going by, endlessly,
Pulling you Into the future,
Days go by,
Endlessly,
Endlessly pulling you,
Into the future.
And the florist says:
White Lily. “
How abour REM’s “Its the end of the World as we Know.
That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane and Lenny Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn - world serves its own needs, dummy serve your own needs. Feed it off an aux speak, grunt, no, strength, no, Ladder start to clatter with fear fight down height. Wire in a fire, representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site. Left of west and coming in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck. Team by team reporters baffled, trumped, tethered cropped. Look at that low playing! Fine, then. Uh oh, overflow, population, common food, but it’ll do. Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed dummy with the rapture andthe revered and the right, right. You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright light, feeling pretty psyched.
It’s the end of the world as we know it. It’s the end of the world as we know it. It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.
Six o’clock - TV hour. Don’t get caught in foreign towers. Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn. Locking in, uniforming, book burning, blood letting. Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate. Light a candle, light a votive. Step down, step down. Watch your heel crush, crushed, uh-oh, this means no fear cavalier. Renegade steer clear! A tournament, tournament, a tournament of lies. Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.
It’s the end of the world as we know it. It’s the end of the world as we know it. (It’s time I had some time alone) It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine. It’s the end of the world as we know it. (It’s time I had some time alone) It’s the end of the world as we know it. (It’s time I had some time alone) It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.
The other night I dreamt of knives, continental drift divide. Mountains sit in a line, Leonard Bernstein. Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs. Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom! You symbiotic, patriotic, slam book neck, right? Right. It’s the end of the world as we know it. (It’s time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it. (It’s time I had some time alone) It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (It’s time I had some time alone) The Chorus just repeats over and over.
A lot of dirges here, how about this one that bears reprinting. From the June 27th thread, “WHO theme song”, Craig wrote:
I’ve been working on some lyrics. (Crediting Bobby McFerrin with the “Don’t worry, be happy” theme, of course.)
> You should listen to us, ‘cause we’re the WHO and we’ll tell you everything about the flu. So all you people across the land, just keep your head way down in the sand.
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
The virus is a changin’ all the time towards a pandemic it’s making its climb. It’s H to H but we don’t want you to think that we’re anywhere closer to the brink.
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy. So all you people across the land, just keep your head way down in the sand. Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
We’re stickin’ to the plan, stickin’ to Stage III so you just keep up with your spendin’ spree. We are gettin’ rid of stages IV and V; you’d just be confused by all that jive.
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
They’re now in Siberia checkin’ on their plan but thankfully its beyond your attention span. Oh the birds this fall will be headin’ south, but you’ll be just fine; just don’t kiss ‘em on the mouth!
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy. So all you people across the land, just keep your head way down in the sand. Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
Those preppers they are a worrisome bunch how dare they operate on their hunch? (I do admit, though, that in a crunch they might be the only ones with a lunch.)
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
Two weeks of food is all you need! (But to be safe don’t forget the seeds.) We’ll all pull together to meet this fate! (Lets just ignore the current CFR rate.)
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy. So all you people across the land, just keep your head way down in the sand. Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
And when it hits we’ll claim dismay who could have foreseen such a viral display? Surviving the pandemic I hope I may, but sad to say, we’ll find out some day.
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy. So all you people across the land, just keep your head way down in the sand. Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
You’ll want to line up for a pill or a shot but it will be resistant to all we’ve got. You’ll ask us in the winter where is the vaccine? It won’t be here ‘til next Halloween.
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
Life will come to a standing still, from this point on its all downhill. Maybe we’ll stop this song right here so we don’t install a sense of fear.
Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy. So all you people across the land, just keep your head way down in the sand. Don’t worry, be happy. Don’t worry, be happy.
Pandemic Prose - add a verse
The WHO stands as a silent sentinal as the virus starts to spread with all the words unspoken the silence screamed instead
next verse anyone?
As mutation trumps our politics,
a viral monster breeds,
while unknowing congregations
form the food on which it feeds.
Soon the monster’s slumber ends,
The horror soon awakes,
and we, unknowing “mushrooms”
on us it’s hunger slakes.
The dead will cry for vengeance
and for justice, most of all.
Who of those left living
will fail to heed that call?
So carping docs and politicians
our warning please do heed,
or you’ll be fertilizer
for our garden’s future seed.
Whoa….
Whoa, indeed. Anybody have the blueprints for postmodern guillotines for the hapless docs and politicians that survive? : )
Well, well, “Verse Noir”, I see.
MM-
Yes, I do. <grin> I’ll bet HBB and you as well have a good old-timey encyclopedia that has detailed diagrams… I do find it ironic that Dr. Guillotine succumbed to his own invention.
Reminds me of another poem-
“a tisket, a tasket.
A head in a basket!
It cannot respond to questions you ask it.”
This was current in England during “The Terror”, I beleive.
Oh. I was thinking more like Beverly Hill Billys theme. Come and listen to story about a bug named flu…..
It infected most the people but no one knew what to do….
Another little ditty-
I had a little bird Its name was Enza I opened up the window And In-flu-Enza
Its stuck in my head-don’t know where its from but I think its from Berry’s book.
Sorry to interupt the Hillbilly theme-carry on.
the mentioning of nordic verses made me aware of this on, its probably the most known verse, and is so probably for its fullfilled and consentrated comon sence with a gothic twist. I had forgot it and loked it up, its a scary thing, and is not ment as any kind of prophecy.
The english translation dont have much “power” in it. The nordic word for Lifestock is “Fe” so it don nesesary mean cattle. Chikens and ducks are called “fjør-fe” that means “feather-livestock”. So Fe is all the annimals in the farm.
The power lies in its simple words, rythm and clear viceness, Its about loosing your and your friends life because your animals dies, and animals only dies this way of starwation or pest… I hope you are able to se the letter “ø” its the ligature of o+y. Try and read it loud, like the nordic clishes of hollywood, you will certainly scare the pewe out of anyone, something for your next halloween :D
Døyr fe; døyr frendar; døyr sjølv det same. Men ordet om deg aldri døyr vinn du eit gjetord gjevt.
Cattle die, kinsmen die the self must also die; I know one thing which never dies: the reputation of each dead man.
(According to Larrington’s translation:) some english translation and info is here. Its written in year 960 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hávamál
one more try:
Døyr fe;
døyr frendar;
døyr sjølv det same.
Men ordet om deg aldri døyr vinn du eit gjetord gjevt.
Cattle die,
kinsmen die
the self must also die;
I know one thing which never dies: the reputation of each dead man.
last line shold be more like: if the word about you never dies, your reputation you win is great
the example above is modern norvegian. here is the original words.
Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjálfr et sama;
ek veit einn, at aldri deyr: dómr of dauðan hvern
sure beats the Lord of the Rings ;-)
The lost power of translated verse is a tragedy that is almost beyond remedy for nonnatives. The Russians say Pushkin is overwhelming in their language, and a shadow of its former self in other languages.
Urdar-Norway- It’s odd you should mention Tolkien, as he has been much in my thoughts of late.
“Three rings for the Elvenkings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarflords in their halls of stone, Nine for mortal men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne. One ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them, In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie, In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.”
I’d like to think that in our own electronic way, we who stop here at the Fluwikie site each bear a bit of Elrond’s house with us, each bring a bit of light out into a darkening world, and each of us, in their own way, try to avert a horrible looming terror.
I think in many ways, the fictional threat of Sauron brings into better focus the real-world threat of what a catastrophe brought about by a very severe pandemic would be like. Middle-Earth never existed in reality, but the lessons Tolkien taught about how important honour is in the face of overwhelming adversity are still valuable today, and are one reason why Tolkien’s books are on the recommended reading list for Gunsite in Arizona.
And why I pass them on to my friends and family. Bump!
:D Been a fan since I was 11, Specialy the anger Tolkien felt aginst poluting industry and machines are a wery vise lesson for the last 50 years. I am happy for Tolkien, that he did not live long enugh to witnes the rainforest problem, and now the global warming treath, that is mostly a result of the “oildripping beasts with glowing eyes, that we call cars”
By the way, last nigh I skimmed trhu some of the Edda´s, and wow! they did have magic rings ! And armor “stronger than steel, shining like silver, light as leather” but they mostly used it to rob and steal,, yes the vikings was not the best neighboors a county could have.. (but at leats they had a good democracy..)
me again…
soooory..
You guys are hilarious!!!!!!!Thanks for the smiles
This childhood ditty actually reflected the Black Plague
Ring around the rosey
Pockefull of posies
Ashes ashes
We all fall down
How many times have you yourself chanted this as a child, not knowing what it REALLY meant?
Spirit
(Carl Orff’s O Fortuna) ( [[ http://www.albany.edu/music/chorale/listen.html | UAlbany Community Chorale ]]
O Fortuna,
velut Luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
ludo mentis aciem;
egestatem,
potestatem,
dissolvit ut glaciem.
Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis;
obumbrata
et velata
mihi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.
Sors salutis
et virtutis
mihi nunc contraria;
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
hac in hora
sine mora
cordae pulsum tangite!
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!
“Translation: O Fortune, like the moon of ever changing state, you are always waxing or waning; hateful life now is brutal, now pampers our feelings with its game; poverty, power, it melts them like ice.
Fate, savage and empty, you are a turning wheel, your position is uncertain, your favour is idle and always likely to disappear; covered in shadows and veiled you bear upon me too; now my back is naked through the sport of your wickedness.
The chance of prosperity and of virtue is not now mine; whether willing or not, a man is always liable for Fortune’s service. At this hour without delay touch the strings! Because through luck she lays low the brave, all join with me in lamentation!”
I’m starting to feel “Let It Be”, Beatles, a lot lately. I’m sure you all know the words by heart.
I go for Credence Clearwater- Bad Moon Rising seems apopos.
I also very much liked “It came out of the sky.”
Spirit in the Wind – at 09:58
Here’s an interesting link about “Ring Around the Rosie”
NJ. Preppie,
Thanks for the reprint! I’m flattered.
Craig
bump!
bump
speakers on? Go listen to O Fortuna if you never have- It’s Halloween!
Down With The Ship (by Scatterbrain)
“Sailing on a big ship, Deaf, dumb, blind, Sailing through a wild one, To the other side
I’m not going -
down with the ship!
Everyone’s captain, Trying to tell you what to do, I want to do what’s right for me-
For me - not you!
I’m not going
down with the ship!
The ship is going down fast, But I won’t be around. I’m jumping in a lifeboat And heading for dry ground.
I’m not going
down with the ship!
Not me! Not down!
(exit doing your best electric guitar thrash finale)
In the Court of Public Opinion,
large as life,
The ghosts of PanFlu walk, they do declare.
Poor taxpayers once trusted guvmint with their life -
Until they did not warn them to beware!
Ah yes! tptb did wrong
long years ago,
And survivors come at night
to tell them so…
With their plans tucked
underneath their arms
No “I had orders not to tell; from those in power!”
With the plans tucked
underneath their arms
Survivors walk at the Midnight hour…