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Year 10 week 17 Sha-la-la la...............+1

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 Celt
(@celt)
Famed Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 2649
Topic starter  

Not how I'm accustomed to writing.
I usually start with a line or two and let the back story build itself
as I go through the verses.

This is based on Vic's "Sha-la-la-la-la, Doo-be-doo-be-doo, Na-na-na-na-na, Loop-de-loop-de-loo"

A man in his mid to late 60's is rummaging through his attic when he stumbles on his High
School Yearbook. As he leafs through the pages memories start to fill him.

First memory: Him and his friend with duck tails, letterman jackets, white T shirts jeans and loafers
standing on the corner in front of the Drug Store/Soda Fountain. As they do most afternoons they are
singing acapella Do Wop. Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Second memory: The Spring Dance. The usual suspects in "White Sport Coats and Pink Carnations"
The girl in their skirts and sweaters and the greasers in their leather jackets or T shirts with a pack
of Lucky's rolled up in the sleeves. The band is playing and everybody is enjoying the three part harmony.
Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Third memory: He sees "HER" across the room ponytail hanging down and is smitten. He wonders if he can get
up the nerve to ask her to dance. Why would such a beauty be interested in him.
And the band plays on.Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Fourth memory: He takes the chance and of course she says yes. They live "Happily Ever After"
all time time singing that "Same Old Song" Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Back to real time: His wife enters the attic from behind him sees him looking in the Yearbook
sneaks up quietly put her arms around and whispers in his ear Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

John

My SoundClick Page

Collaborations

" It's easier than waiting around to die" Townes Van Zandt


   
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 Celt
(@celt)
Famed Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 2649
Topic starter  

OK here's one I did my usual way.

I know someone submitted this title but I can't remember who
and can't find it among the many posted.

Please speak up if it was you or if you know who so due credit can be given.

This one I came up with the Chorus and the rest developed as the song was being written.
I had no idea where it was heading until I started writing the last verse.

She's Leaving Me Again

(G)She's leaving me again
Says that this time it's the(C) end
No talk of can we still be(D7) friends
She's leaving me a(G)gain

(G)She says this time we're really through
She's gone found somebody(C) new
There's nothing you or I can(D7) do
She says this time we're really(G) through

(G)She's leaving me again
Says that this time it's the(C) end
No talk of can we still be(D7) friends
She's leaving me a(G)gain

(G)She packed her bags and slammed the door
Said she don't live here any(C) more
Wouldn't give the why what(D7) for
She packed her bags and slammed the(G) door

(G)She's leaving me again
Says that this time it's the(C) end
No talk of can we still be(D7) friends
She's leaving me a(G)gain

(G)She called at 3 A.M.
I said "Hello how have you(C) been"
Begged me to take her back(D7) again
She called at 3:00 A.(G)M.

(G)Now She's leaving me again
Says that this time it's the(C) end
No talk of can we still be(D7) friends
She's leaving me a(G)gain

(G) She's leaving me again
Says that this time it's the(C) end
No talk of can we still be(D7) friends
She's leaving me a(G)gain (C) (G)

John

My SoundClick Page

Collaborations

" It's easier than waiting around to die" Townes Van Zandt


   
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(@nicktorres)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 5381
 

The first part is good, but tell me about the attic, tell me about the year book, is it dusty, was it hidden, black and white pics? have the styles changed?

Tell me about the memories in detail, all of the detail. weather, temp, what car were you driving? Was it winter? Summer? Morning, evening? Make up the whole she-bang.


   
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(@andygetch)
Reputable Member
Joined: 12 years ago
Posts: 328
 

John,
Reading this here are questions in my mind. :?
Why is this time the end? What did the speaker in the story do (or fail to do), that may have sparked the urge for leaving in her mind, what did he do otherwise. What did the speaker say or do right before, during and after the announcement that she's leaving? Go to work, fishing, hunting, etc.sit on the couch and watch TV, etc.? If so who where when. Names, places, colors would help. What did he think he was doing? When she left and slammed the door was it a metal, wood, glass or plastic door? In a trailer, house, hotel room? Big or small, what did he smell, was she wearing perfume? etc. etc. What did the speaker say when she left that made her beg him to take her back at 3 AM. Was he asleep, awake, was it cold, warm, raining? What were they wearing?

Details help me see a picture that is not the picture you see but based on associations from my memories. :D

Andy

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1228093


   
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 Celt
(@celt)
Famed Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 2649
Topic starter  

More Details:

Mike a man in his mid to late 60's is rummaging through his attic on a beautiful spring Saturday.
It's the perfect day for this chore. The atttic too cold in the winter a too hot in summer but today is great.
He opens the windows to let the fresh air flow through and sets to work detangling the line on those old fishing
poles and placing them neatly in the corner.
Maybe this year he and the grandkids will get some use out of them.
As he stacks some boxes of book that he swears he will bring to the Goodwill Donor
Center. He spies in a corner his Grandmother's Steamer trunk and sets the last box of books
on the pile and sets off to explore what is inside the fade wood chest with it's tarnished brass
hardware andcracked leather straps.
.
Among the various photographs and memorabilia of days long
past he see something wrapped in white tissue paper that stirs
his interest. He unwraps the tissue and there in only slightly worn
condition is his High School Yearbook. As he leafs through the pages of
black and white portraits and candid shots memories start to fill his mind.

First memory: Another glorious spring day, him and his friends,Chuck, Frank and Tom with duck tails,
letterman jackets, white T shirts jeans and loafers standing on the corner in front of the
Drug Store/Soda Fountain.
Customers enter and leave through the newly installed
"automatic" doors under the orange neon Rexall sign.
Traffic flows along main street. All that steal and crome
shining in the sun and the chevys with the big fins on the
rear. He's been dreaming about one of those since he got
his license last month. For now he can only hope his Dad
will let him use the Nash for the Spring Dance next week
and be content with doing what they do most afternoons standing
here singing acapella Do Wop. Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Second memory: The Spring Dance. The usual suspects in "White Sport Coats and Pink Carnations"
The girls in their skirts and sweaters and the greasers in their leather jackets or T shirts with a pack
of Lucky's rolled up in the sleeves.
The band is playing and everybody is enjoying the three part harmony.
Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Third memory: He sees "HER" across the room blond hair ponytail hanging down and is smitten.
He askes his friends who she is and why he hasn't seen her around before. Tom answers
"Her name is Kate she's Connie McKeever's cousin who just
transfered here from Springfield because her dad started working
for GE at the Defence Plant. "What chance do I have" he wonders
as he tries to get up the nerve to go talk to her and ask for adance.
Why would such a beauty be interested in him.
And the band plays on.Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Fourth memory: He finally approaches her. "Hi I'm Mike"
he says nervously "I'm Kate "she smiles. They talk,laugh,
and dance compleatly unaware of everthing. The blue and
gold streamers the cheerleaders congegating at the punch
bowl. It's was like it was just the two of them and the music.
Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

Back to real time: Kate, No longer the 17 year old MIke first met but a lovley lady
mother of 2 grandmother of 3 return home after a shopping.
She calls out for Mike and gets no answer.She knows he's home because she saw his car
in the garage.Going upstairs to see if maybe he's napping she notices the attic door ajar.
Mike so caught up in his recollectionsdoesn't hear her approach. Kate looks of his shoulder t
o see him looking at a photo of a young couple many years ago in the yearbook.
She puts her arms around his waist and wispers in his ear "That was such a wonderful night"
Sha-la-la-la-la..............................

John

My SoundClick Page

Collaborations

" It's easier than waiting around to die" Townes Van Zandt


   
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