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THIS ONE DOES IT
FOR ME!
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A Thought for Today
Good morning, God, and thank you.
Here's a letter Rod was kind
enough to forward to me.
Good Afternoon,
You recorded a song I love, and still hum to myself! I have long since
lost the album in a cross-country move, and have been unable to locate the
song anywhere. Is it possible to know which album or CD I might find it
on, and to get the lyrics?
I have always assumed the song was titled "Merci beau coup" but cannot
find this title or its English equivalent on any available CD.
I know the chorus had the words: "Thanks a lot. Merci bien. Merci beau
coup, my thanks to you, my thanks to you..." and one of the verses had
words to the effect of: "For your lips and your eyes and hair, for your
laugh and smile, too. For each day that our old love grows, unbelievably
new. For the devil or for the God, that has given me you. I'd like to say
once again if I may, thanks a lot..."
Thank you for your poetry and music -- my 11 year old son has your
Carnegie Hall CD and listens to it every night!
Anita (Nitzi)
And Rod's reply.
Dear Anita,
I'm forwarding your letter on to Webmaster Ken because he's the guy who
reprints lyrics on his weekly Wednesday feature "This One Does It For Me."
I thought "Merci Beaucoup" was already in the Flight Plan archives but I
just looked and couldn't find it.
Hope this helps.
Warmly,
Rod
Thanks for choosing one of my
all time favorites, Anita, the lyrics of which appear below.
"Merci Beaucoup", a song with yet another incomparable melody by the late
Gilbert Becaud, first appeared on the "Sold Out - Rod McKuen at Carnegie
Hall" vinyl double album recorded in 1969. As far as I can ascertain this
is the only album it's ever appeared on.
Sadly it was one of a handful of numbers that didn't make the transition
to CD which is why it doesn't appear on your son's copy. I doubt
Stanyan By Mail still
have stocks of the vinyl album but you never know what Dwight has managed
to unearth from the depths of the warehouse so give them a try before you
start trawling the 'Net in search of a second hand copy.
The good news is that the complete recording of "Sold Out" is
slated for re-release on CD sometime in the future. We don't have a date
as yet but you and the thousands of others who've requested it will be
notified via this site as soon as details are available.
Your son, by the way, sounds as though he's developed a fine sense of
musical appreciation at a very early age and I hope he gets to attend one
of Rod's upcoming concerts. We like to grab 'em young, you know, and they
don't come much younger than he!
Thanks for writing, Anita.
If you have a favorite McKuen song, poem or story you'd like to share,
drop me a line at kenb@mckuen.com and
I'll do my best to accommodate you one Wednesday.
- Ken, Johannesburg,
October 23
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 new details
(posted 09/28/2002).
ROD McKUEN APPEARANCES
ROD McKUEN
CONCERTS
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Sarah Bernhardt o
Johnny Carson o
Michael Crichton o
James Daly o
Diana Dors o
Gertrude Ederle o
Doug Flutie o
Ellie Greenwich o
Senator John H. Heinz III o
Emily Kimbrough o
Martin Luther King III o Al
Leiter o
Gummo Marx o
Pele o
Ned Rorem o
Frank Rizzo o
Judy Stoner o
"Weird" Al Yankovic |
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Without a list of what life owes you, what comes is greeted with
appreciation and with thanks.
Some trust in chariots and some in marble
banks; some of us just love each other and never ask for thanks.
To know a tree and watch it change through
its own seasons is to be on speaking terms with God.
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MERCI BEAUCOUP |
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For the man who
invented smiles
after sorrow was through
for the man who invented dreams
and for dreams that come true.
For the man who invented love
just so I could love you
I’d like to say
make a holiday,
thanks a lot,
merci bien, merci bien,
Merci Beaucoup, Merci Beaucoup,
Merci Beaucoup.
For Charlie Chaplin and Picasso, for Moliere,
Shakespeare,
for the men who bring other worlds
unbelievably near
for the man who says, ‘C’est la rose’ in
his enemy’s ear
I can open my heart and say, ‘thanks a lot!’
merci bien, merci bien,
Merci Beaucoup, Merci Beaucoup,
Merci Beaucoup.
For the man who has dropped his sword
so that others may live
for the man who fights war with words, what’s
the most I can give ?
I can look and not turn away, raise my head
with a smile and say,
‘thanks to you it’s a better day, thanks a lot!’
merci bien, merci bien,
Merci Beaucoup, Merci Beaucoup,
Merci Beaucoup.
For your lips and your eyes and hair
for your laughing smile, too
for each day that our old love grows
unbelievably new
for the devil or for the god that has given me you,
Let me say once again, if I may, ‘Thanks a lot,’
merci bien, merci bien,
Merci Beaucoup, Merci Beaucoup,
Merci Beaucoup. - from the album "Sold Out" - Rod McKuen at Carnegie
Hall, 1969 |
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