4th & 5th October, 2004
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Rod 4/16/04 Photo by Billy Iz
A Thought for Today
September is the turning point, the time
that takes us home.
.ASK
ROD
A SATURDAY FOR THE SOUL
On Saturday I walked off the boundaries of Dos Vidas, all thirty acres
of it. Now that the property is in development I had it resurveyed so it
can be fenced properly.
It was a long trek up and down hills, across creak beds and over and
around the beautiful rock formations that make up the acreage. My pride
was pretty high as I paced the official boundaries of the land where my
new home and barn will soon rise from scratch and good ground. The view
7,000 feet above nearly everything was pristine. Just below the property
the wide lake with weekend sailboats (if there were speedboats we
couldn’t hear their motors), further on more forests like the one
surrounding me and beyond all that the far off communities and cities
spreading Cinemascope-like across the high desert.
The day was so light and bright that it was easy to follow the shadows
of the low not so slow moving cumulous that shuffled along far away
hills. A hundred miles off the tops of already snowcapped Sierra Nevada
mountain peaks were clean and frosty.
Mark Hill who did the excellent new topographical survey led me from one
knotted red ribboned stake to another as we traced the land talking
about the importance of the earth, families and aims in life. Mark is
tall, rugged, amiable and in his late forties. He came up to the area
for a weekend three decades ago and stayed to become a mountain man.
Dos Vidas is a spiritual place and I always come away from it full of
optimism and energy. I’m not alone in feeling cerebral about it, Charlie
Hallam pointed it out and Edward comments on it every time we turn the
corner and spot the gate that might as well be the entrance to
Shangri-La as far as we’re concerned. I know, I know it all sounds a bit
heady . . . and it is.
Look at it this way; how often do we get a chance to watch a dream come
true with enough consciousness and perspective to recognize it
happening. And, of course I have always been partial to new beginnings
when and wherever they start.
FAVORITE CONCERT
Mr. McKuen, No question. Just a thank you for all
the years I have enjoyed your poetry, songs, and concerts. I wax a
little nostalgic right now because of hearing Cindi Lauper doing "If You
Go Away". It is my all-time favorite and she really did a goose-bump
provoking rendition of the song.
My favorite was concert was the 1971 Red Rocks concert. The Frisbee game
before the concert and the standing ovation when you did "If You Go
Away". The saddest concert was at The Warehouse in Denver when you
talked about Jacque Brel dying. My heart went out to you as you
struggled with losing your friend. A fan, Jolynn
Dear Jolynn, You’ve picked out two concerts that meant a lot to me too.
Red Rocks was always a favorite place to play. I’ll never forget the
Frisbee game that Sunday afternoon or the sold out audience singing
along with me on the chorus of The Summer’s Long. That summer’s tour was
recorded for a double LP entitled Grand Tour. “The Summer’s Long” and
“My Mary” from Red Rocks both made their way to the album.
The Warehouse show in Denver, coming so soon after Jacques death really
helped in what they call the healing process. While I’ve sung If You Go
Away hundreds of times I never perform it the same way twice. I love the
fact that Cindi Lauper recorded it and I just got the DVD where she
performs live.
Thank you for attending and helping me remember both concerts. With
affection, Rod
SEASONS IN THE SUN, THE FINAL WORD
Dear Rod, First of all let me thank you for the
many years of enjoyment your music has brought me, you are a shining
light for us all.
I have a predicament that I hope you can help me with. My wonderful
fiancée Michelle and myself had a small bet (£5). I said that you wrote
'Seasons in the Sun' translating the Jacques Brel song and she said
Terry Jacks did so.
Below is my dear Michelle's answer but I still believe that I have won.
Can you help sort this out? Kindest Regards Richard.
“Richard, we are both correct with regards to the song Season's in the
Sun: "Seasons in the Sun" had been written in French in 1961 under the
title of "Le Moribond" (The Dying Man), by Belgian poet-composer Jacques
Brel. In 1964, it was translated into English by Rod McKuen and recorded
by The Kingston Trio. Although that version didn't sell well, Terry
heard it, and the tune remained in the back of his mind. He thought it
would be good for The Beach Boys. The Beach Boys' rejection -- coupled
with the death of a close personal friend of Terry's, which made the
song's theme more meaningful to him -- finally sent Terry back into the
studio, accompanied by guitarist Link Wray.
Terry received permission, but not credit, for changing part of "Seasons
in the Sun." He rewrote the last verse and rearranged the words and
chords in the chorus in order to "lighten up" the song. He released it
on his own label, Goldfish Records, and was amazed when it became the
largest-selling single in Canadian history -- more than 285,000 copies
sold in a matter of weeks."
P.S We are to be wed in London England on 12th November, "To You" will
certainly be playing at the reception.
Dear Richard, Thanks for the kind thoughts and congratulations on your
upcoming marriage.
Terry Jacks did not get permission from either Jacques or myself to
change any of the lyrics or chords to Seasons in the Sun. I was in
Mexico taking my month long yearly sabbatical from just about everything
when the Jacks record was released. It was an immediate hit and by the
time I heard it the single had already hit number one on the charts in
Canada and the United States. Pretty hard to step in at that stage and
censor a song that was not only a hit but one that had been covered by
many other artists in the unauthorized version.
To begin with, whatever may have been reported Jacks did not change any
of the words or chords to the four choruses of Seasons in the Sun but he
did muck about with the final verse. Just for the record, here are the
unauthorized changes Jacks made in the final verse of the song.
Goodbye Michelle my little one
you gave me love and helped me find the sun
and every time that I was down
you would always come around
get my feet back on the ground.
And here is my original lyric to the last verse:
Goodbye Francois my trusted wife
without you I'd have had a lonely life
You cheated lots of times but then
I forgave you in the end
thou your lover was my friend.
And in the second part of that verse where I have the line "with your
lovers everywhere just be careful I'll be there." he substituted "with
the flowers everywhere wish that we could both be there."
In a song where I tried to be as faithful as possible to Brel's original
lyric, agonizing over every one of the more than two hundred fifty words
that tell the tale of a dying man saying goodbye to his father, best
friend and finally his wife; was I upset that Jacks changed forty-two of
them? You bet, but not as pissed off as Jacques on finding out that his
serious short story had been turned into a teenyboppers lament. I was
more riled that the humor of "with your lovers everywhere just be
careful I'll be there" was sacrificed.
I bought a house with my share of the royalties and never looked back.
Over time Terry keeps changing his story about the song. For years he
claimed to be the original translator. That would of course have meant
that he had written it as a small child. About ten years ago when I
presented the facts in a widely printed interview that must have gotten
back to him he started to somewhat minimize his role as the songwriter.
Still even now TV channel VH1 continues to re-run a segment of its "One
Hit Wonders" series where Jacks claims to be the author, even
elaborating on his inspiration for it. He isn't challenged on the claim
despite the camera close up on the label revealing the writers to be
Brel-McKuen.
As you know Jacks is from Canada, one of my favorite places, but there
must be something about the air up there. Another Canadian artist once
added one word to my song "Rock Gently" (making it Rock Me Gently), put
his name on it as the author and even won a Juno award for writing the
best song of the year.
With all deference to your fiancé it's my humble opinion that you won
the fiver.
Incidentally “To You” is one of the songs Jacques and I wrote together
from scratch and one of my favorites. As you have probably heard by now
I have gotten back to working on a number of songs Jacques and I started
together but never finished during his lifetime.
Again, Richard, my best to you both. Warmly, Rod
A POEM FOR THE TIMES
I recently discovered your website, forgive me if
you have presented El Monte already. This poem would be very appropriate
considering the current war and the taking of "tinsel from our lives",
once again.
Thank you for your beautiful thoughts which you are so willing to share.
Ralph Berggruen
Dear Richard, Your thoughts are much appreciated. It’s ironic, given the
text of the poem that I pass through El Monte often these days going to
and from my mountain retreat. More often than not it happens on a Sunday
so the poem does come back to me during my drive.
The last time El Monte appeared in the Flight Plan was June 1st of this
year. Here it is again for you. Thanks, Rod
EL MONTE
I probably will never see El Monte on a Sunday
or El Segundo washed by winter rain.
I never knew these towns existed – if they do,
outside of the obituary page that states
how many boys came home today
in boxes made of steel.
I am well aware that some who lived in Chicago
have died too, but it’s the new El Nowhere towns
I think about this morning
and young men that the whole town knew.
Today some children running down the hill
were shouting out the war is over.
They must have had some other private war of words
in mind and not the one I’m paying for
the that’s killing off the boys I see on airplane rides
staring off in space in search of El Dorado.
Sometimes I ask them where they come from
El Paso is the answer or El Monte.
And so they take the tinsel from our lives
on airplane rides across the sea
and like the silver in our dimes
it won’t come back until we question why..
El Monte’s just ten minutes from L. A.
To some I’m told it seems like El Dorado
when it rains.
Just the same
I doubt I’ll ever go there on a Sunday.
-from "Lonesome Cities," 1968. Revised 5/30/04
AGE IS BETTER
Hi, I read your books in the 70's and wondered how
old you
are. I have not been able to find a date in my searching.
I understand if you do not want to give your age. Ellison
Dear Ellison, I'm delighted to give my age. I was born April 29, 1933,
making me a seasoned citizen of seventy-one. Elsewhere on this site
you'll find an ode I wrote on age, "Age is Better." All my best, Rod
BANNER ADS
Hi there, I love your site! I was wondering if you
accept banner advertising on your website? I am a former opera singer,
who quit singing opera to just sing Sinatra. I have two songs on my new
CD that hit the top 40. (My Funny Valentine & Mona Lisa.) You can hear
samples of my work at:
www.stevecardone.com
Have a blessed day, and I look forward to hear from you. Sincerely,
Steve Cardone
Dear Steve, Thanks for your nice note. I can see by your online name (TheSinatraGuy)
that you really are a Francophile. So far we have never used any banner
advertising but I wish you all the very best on your career.
I look forward to checking out your site one of these days when I'm not
on deadline. Cheers, Rod
AND IN CONCLUSION
My absentee ballot form has arrived and while I’m pretty sure I’ll be in
town on election day, November 2nd, none the less I plan to vote by mail
and I can’t urge you enough to do the same. California tried electronic
balloting in the last primary and more than one machine malfunctioned.
This meant there was no paper trail and no way to recount the votes. And
. . . there were several very close ballot measures.
Please, please request a mail in ballot. No matter who or what you are
voting for, make sure your vote counts.
Sleep warm and have a happy and productive week. Don’t forget to join
Webmaster Ken for This One Does it For Me on Wednesday.
RM 10/3/2004 11:25PM PDST
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