|
|
|
WEDNESDAY
|
|
A Thought for Today
To forget we’re God’s children is to
never grow up.
This
One Does It For Me!
Dear Ken:
I realize that you featured "Come, Jef" a few years back; but perhaps it's
time for a reminder. It's such a beautiful song, that once someone has
heard it, they'll remember it forever: It's that
powerful.
One of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard is Rod's
version of Jacques Brel's "Jef" ("Come, Jef"). Rod brings to the song an
indefinable something that, to my mind at least, was
lacking when Brel sang it. I'm not quite sure what it is, but when I first
heard Rod singing "Jef" I was blown away. It was truly magnificent. I've
played the song for many people over the years, and invariably their
reactions were the same as mine.
I think it might be the sense of urgency in Rod's voice during his
impassioned pleading and cajoling with 'Jef' while trying to convince him
not to commit suicide. Whatever it is, the first time I
heard Rod sing the song, I knew immediately that I preferred his
interpretation over Brel's. Rod would probably disagree with me though
because Jacques Brel was such a close friend and collaborator and it was
his song. That these two brilliant artists loved, influenced, and
respected each other is well known; and in many ways they were probably
each other's mentor.
For those of your readers who have never heard this gorgeous song, I urge
them to do whatever it takes to get a copy of Rod's magnificent "Come, Jef".
Take care,
Larry
OK, Larry, we're on the same
page here!
I've always adored this
song though I don't find it an easy one to listen to. Same goes for
"Amsterdam". Rod pours so much emotion into into his performance of both
that I always feel exhausted at the end. Wonder what he must feel like?
I haven't heard the original Brel version so that's something I must
rectify soon.
Great choice, Larry, and thanks for your contribution.
If you have a favorite McKuen song, poem or memory drop me a line at
kenb@mckuen.com and I'll make sure your
letter appears right here one Wednesday soon.
- Ken, Johannesburg,
South Africa, October 15
Click on the heart logo to
buy Rod McKuen books, CD's and lots more
Click
on the Stanyan House logo to subscribe to the McKuen Mailing List
Catch Rod McKuen live!
Click on the links below for details of
concerts and appearances.
ROD McKUEN
CONCERTS
ROD
McKUEN APPEARANCES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Jere Burns o
Richard Carpenter o
Ina Claire o
Jane Darwell o
Sarah Ferguson o
Michael Foucault o
John Kenneth Galbraith o
Peter Haskell o
Lee Iacocca o
Tito Jackson o
Emeril Lagasse o
Linda Lavin o
Mervyn LeRoy o
Penny Marshall o
Barry McGuire o
Kenny Miller o
Kyletta Miller o
Friedrich Nietzsche o
Jim Palmer o
Jean Peters o
Mario Puzo o
Jose Quintero o
Arthur Schlesinger o
Robert "PapaSco" Scofield o
C.P. Snow o
John Sullivan o
Roscoe Tanner o
Robert Trout o
Virgil o
P.G. Wodehouse |
|
 |
|
The laws God made for us mean nothing
without application.
We
have a special name for people who agree with us, we call them geniuses.
The calm that comes of one’s own making is
the most delicious of all treats.
|
|
COME JEF |
|
Jef, the world
is wide,
we’ll get a ladder
and we’ll climb the other side.
Jef, the sky is high
though we can climb up to the top
if we’ll just try.
Don’t be afraid Jef
please don’t be afraid Jef.
Jef, another dawn comes tomorrow
and your troubles may be gone
forget about today Jef.
Jef, please Jef.
Come, come, come...
I’ll play you Spain on my guitar
I’ll take you walking to the stars.
Come Jef, come.
Come, we’ll walk a little more.
Come Jef.
Nothing’s like it seems
nothing’s bad in daylight or in dreams
come Jef, come.
Come, please don’t be afraid
don’t worry Jef
every day has an end.
Now Jef, around the corner is a big house
Madame Adolf, she has some new girls
Jef, come we’ll look at them.
We’ll look them over once.
Jef, the water’s deep, black, muddy,
wouldn’t you rather go on a clear day.
Now Jef, Jef don’t be afraid, come.
Come Jef, come, come,
come, I’ll play you Spain on my guitar
I’ll take you walking to the stars
come Jef, come.
Come, we’ll go around the corner to the moon
we’ll go around the corner of the room
come Jef, come, come.
It doesn’t matter what they say
it doesn’t matter what the day’s like
Jef, come, come Jef, come.
It doesn’t matter what you think
come... please don’t be afraid Jef.
Jef, come Jef, come Jef,
I’m your friend Jef
if a man has a friend he has something.
Come, come, I’ll play you Spain on my guitar
we’ll take you walking to the stars
come Jef, come.
Come, the world is wonderful and wide
and we can get a ladder, climb the other side
come Jef, come. - from the album "The Concert Collection - South Africa",
1975 |
|
|
|
|
