last fm

i came across this playlist a few days ago:
www.last.fm/tag/colucci/

my page:
www.last.fm/music/birdpaula/

write you a letter - a review

Apropos of writing.

by richard cutting


I was cruising along down 95 the other day, pretty happy after having been cast in a lead for this horror pic (never done one, so this will be interesting . . . .), and I am listening to Write You a Letter.

Now maybe it’s because I am back writing again (screenplay, story outlines, etc. for upcoming project), or whatever, but I became sensitized to the WRITING in that song . . .

This is very expert stuff - terse (good terse) and economical, like all good poetry, HIGHLY evocative for all five senses, temporally clever, and as a result, emotionally fragrant. Very, very good writing.

Particularly, I was blown away by what I believe is the chorus (?), comments below.

As shadows fall upon your face,

Do we evoke the time of day, or is the "shadow" an emotional reaction ? Delighted by the ambiguity and that it could be both.

What a wonderful image for the mind’s eye. It could be two lovers in Thailand or the East Village. Universal. Cinematic.

Something CAUSES shadows, a shift in lighting, or emotional weather . . . So which is it ?

And who will do what next to adjust to this change in "lighting" ? This is a moment hanging in the balance. We like the anticipatory nature of this finely drawn emotional moment between two people. Its temporal - time is hanging here.

Weather, lighting associated with weather changes, painting images of, and writing love songs about, those things . . . . It is all there. You force the listener's brain to open and process all these things, overlap them, play over the metaphorical notes. . . HAVE FEELINGS !! (I don't know if that is a federal crime yet, but I'll check and get back to you. . .)

I want to reach out to you and feel your sweet embrace.

Longing, yes, there is that. . . But what are we reaching ACROSS ??

The implication of course being that there is a GAP here in the first place. So there is a backstory here. You create another, and different, temporal reference. À la recherche du temps perdu. The relationship is of course established in the other lyrics. But a good sign of any poetry is that one stanza can stand on its own and give you a good feel for the whole.

And we know now who the initiator might be. You are the one who wants to make the move. To reach across the gap to the shadowed one and pull into embrace. Does that person in the shadows want you to reach across - again, nice creation of anticipation.

You call it a sweet embrace and in the subconscious nanoseconds of our minds we realize these two have embraced before and the woman remembers it as sweet. Does this shadowed person have the same recollection ? We don't know. Probably the speaker doesn't either.

There is tension there in the possibility of differences in remembrance - very A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.

NICE temporal work ! And so well drawn as an emotional memory so many have had. The listener simply cannot escape this kind of writing, especially wrapped as it is in the music that delivers it.

And if heaven is on our side,

Wow ! Now we are out of that moment of recall - the shadows, the gap and the embrace - and back to the woman writing her letter.

Ah, yes, back into a world where everyone thinks they are in control much more than they really are. She reminds us that many things must align for us to even draw our next breath. Unseen things aligning for or against our favorable outcome.

An infinitely recessive set of factors must collide just right and splay out in and around us to make our lives mesh in those certain ways. Because the butterfly effects are so many, and so intricate, we call it heaven aligning.

The scale and number of events both too big and too small for the mind to hold all at the same time. That this density of cause and effect have the most profound effect of all as to what happens, NOT our will. Whether we will fall in love again, let go, "just be friends," or come to some other point in the journey.

This is more than a flat statement of fatalism. If you slow the movie down and parse the language. Not to be too technical, but as a writer, you had choices and you made them.

"If" heaven is on our side - heaven has a CHOICE in the matter. There is conditionality.

Hmmmm, what exactly does heaven factor in as to whether it will be on your side or not ? Have you been naughty or nice ? Does putting these two back together create a combo heaven will then use for further machinations?

We are implying that heaven has a STAKE, because heaven CARES enough to take "sides."

Heaven has a will and a way here. All its own, and today it is focusing on you ! So not only is there conditionality, but that conditionality implies intelligence.

A will and a way more powerful than that of you and me. Huge unseen forces. It is tidal, yet unlike the ocean, it has awareness and a choice as to where it throws its weight around. There is a whimsical humility here that is very appealing to all but the most neurotic.

The speaker seems OKAY with the presence of a greater and sentient tide. A nice point of view in a relentlessly driven and neurotically controlling world.

And her POV doesn't abdicate responsibility for individual action. It just creates awareness of the blend of heaven's role and that of our own will and actions. Yes, a BLEND, as in we are part of heaven too, even as it acts upon us as an outside entity at the same time.

This is very Zenny, CERN particle collider awareness if you're looking closely enough. Okay, maybe I AM crazy and with too much free time ! ;-)

And of course there is the Shakespearean notion that heaven would concern itself with even the matters between two lovers. Every sparrow, every blade of grass. . . . Always such a loving and lovely message whether delivered subliminally or overtly ! I think I am on the verge of tears, actually, every time I think of this 'every blade of grass' idea - a loving sentience so powerful at every scale.


Then let us fall into grace.

Oh my. We don't create grace. We don't move into grace. We don't feel grace. We don't come into grace.

We FALL INTO grace.

Now what kinds of things fall ? That's what I ask myself. Chips fall where they may. The sky "falls." Things fall into place. Pennies fall from eyes.

And of course, the reference you may be playing with here: falling from grace

This notion of bodies in motion. Not necessarily downward motion. In this instance one gathers motion toward an emotionally coherent and reassuring resting place. A falling motion toward rightness. So you have this idea of the potentially chaotic action of falling, because falling is always attended by a certain unpredictability, juxtaposed with a "right" final outcome: grace.

And now "grace." Loaded word. A word, frankly which most poets, let alone the general population, don't handle too well.

One of my FAVORITE words though !

So I am very attuned to how people treat it. And it is treated well here, metaphorically respected in its many-sidedness. Few words have so many talents. And it is used with such dignity !

Not so egotistical as to think I have it all in my head at any given time, I had to go to the dictionary on this one, and get the full rap again on grace to remind myself of why I love it so, and why I say it is "loaded." (below)

Grace

favor or good will.

a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.

mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.

a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.

elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.

an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied: The life insurance premium is due today, but we have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses. Compare grace period.

the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.

a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given.

(usually initial capital letter) a formal title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop, and formerly also a sovereign (usually prec. by your, his, etc.).

Graces, Classical Mythology. the goddesses of beauty, daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, worshiped in Greece as the Charities and in Rome as the Gratiae.

Music. grace note.

to lend or add grace to; adorn: Many fine paintings graced the rooms of the house.

to favor or honor: to grace an occasion with one's presence.

fall from grace,

Theology. to relapse into sin or disfavor.

to lose favor; be discredited: He fell from grace when the boss found out he had lied.

have the grace to, to be so kind as to: Would you have the grace to help, please?

in someone's good (or bad) graces, regarded with favor (or disfavor) by someone.

with bad grace, reluctantly; grudgingly.

In the end, what is so very lovely about this song is that she clearly wants the relationship to be, yet she realizes she must allow grace to happen on its own. So she writes a letter describing all that it could be, including a happy ending (a playful nudge at her own willingness to play games with herself). While she waits for grace to happen or not. To kill time, to come to grips, to find peace, while waiting, living amidst the emotional vapors of a relationship with someone she clearly can't get off her heart and mind.

Weather. Painting. Song writing. Letter writing. Grace. Hanging in mid-air, time-wise. Sweet dreams of faith and trust.

This is as good a poem as has ever been written to music. It rouses every sense. It sparks emotional recall. It is elegant. And because of these many things - it works!

Richard Cutting, 2007

lyrics * - album "birdpaula"

write you a letter

i’m going to write you a letter
don’t know if i’ll send it
maybe when i’m feeling better
when my heart is mended
won’t talk about sleepless nights
and rivers turned to dust
just talk about sweet dreams
of faith and trust

i’m going to paint your portrait
in all your colors
wind and rain
winters and summers
yellow and gold
a touch of blue
sun and moonlight
to render you

as shadows fall upon your face
i want to reach out to you
and feel your sweet embrace
and if heaven is on our side
then let us fall into grace

i’m going to write a new love song
with a happy ending
there’ll be no more confusion
no more pretending
just you for me, and me for you
and simple words that ring true

as shadows fall upon your face
i want to reach out to you
and feel your sweet embrace
and if heaven is on our side
then let us fall into grace

i’m going to write you a letter..


lazy day

lazy day yeah it’s a lazy day
month of may, and all the flowers start to bloom
no more showers no more gloom
and you are by my side
it’s a happy time when you find someone
on a lazy lazy day

sunny day oh it’s a sunny day
going on june, do you remember when the moon
seemed to smile at us and say
give your love don’t be afraid
and you’re shining now that you’ve found someone
on a sunny sunny day

daisy chain love me love me not
come what may, i’m going to give it all i got
if i win or if i lose, i’ll just cast away my blues
cause you can’t go wrong with a happy song
on a lazy lazy day
if i win or if i lose i’ll just cast away my blues
cause you can’t go wrong with a happy song
on a funny sunny lazy daisy
lazy day


marie marie marie

marie marie marie
why do you lie so still
marie marie marie
why do you breathe so low

i’m in between the layers of the light
somewhere in between day and night
nobody knows the trouble i’ve seen
nobody knows the trouble i’ve seen

marie marie marie
why are your lips so pale
marie marie marie
why are you cold as snow

i cannot move, i cannot answer
nothing will be as before
nobody knows the trouble i’ve seen
nobody knows the trouble i’ve seen

marie marie marie
one small drop of blood
marie marie marie
tell me this ain’t real

i hear angels, i hear a river
i feel the breath of the giver
nobody knows the trouble i’ve seen
nobody knows the trouble i’ve see
the trouble i’ve seen


for marie trintignant


i know what heartache is

i know what heartache is
and i see the trouble in your eyes
the tears and disenchantment
things that you cannot disguise
and i think i know the way that you feel
and i think i’ve been places you’ve been
we can leave that behind
we can change our frame of mind

if you want to take a chance with somebody
if you want to try and get your heart free
if you want to dance with somebody
let that somebody be me

you hear the melody
do you hear the inner rhyme
the voice of the child in you
says let your heart keep time
and maybe i remind you of her
and maybe you remind me of him
it’s not easy to learn how
to live in the here and the now

if you want to take a chance with somebody
if you want to try and get your heart free
if you want to dance with somebody
let that somebody be me

i would like to take a chance with somebody
i would like to make my dream come true
i would like to dance with somebody
could that somebody be you

child believing
jah receiving
child believing


dream sequins

i had a dream about a mysterious goddess
she had quite a few tricks up her sleeves
she wore a coat with an embroidered bodice
with swirling patterns of ferns and leaves
now i’m making my coat of dreams
stitching it up and trimming the seams
nobody’s going to take it from me
and i’m making it just the way i want it

it’s made of
dream sequins and butterflies
passion flowers and birds of paradise
dream sequins and diamonds
and a secret charm sewed into the lining
yeah into the lining

now eve was born in a garden
adam came from cold damp clay
when he began to dry up and harden
he blamed eve and locked her away
she said « come on tell me about original sin
where does it end where does it begin »
when she broke free from guilt and doubt she said
« i’ll wear my garden inside out »

it’s made of
dream sequins and butterflies
passion flowers and birds of paradise
dream sequins and diamonds
and a secret charm sewed into the lining
yeah into the lining

if you see me in my coat of dreams
hope you’ll make one for yourself
make it just the way you want it
don’t listen to anyone else,
when you see me
when you see me


my secret love

dreams and promises slip away
a secret love that could have been
a summer romance seemed so easy
now it’s over before it could begin

why did you turn away from me
cold and silent and cruel
i thought our love was meant to be
but i turned out to be a fool

grey november day says remember when
stars were falling like rain
when the winter chill fills the air
will you recall the wish you made

why did you turn away from me
cold and silent and cruel
i thought our love was possible
but i turned out ot be a fool

why did you turn away from me
cold and distant and cruel
i thought our love was meant to be
but i turned out ot be a fool

as i lie here with my guitar
strumming away the sadness
dreams and promises rise again
a secret love to be
love to be
love to be
love will be


greyhound humming

one of these days we’re gonna ride
out of this town when i make big time
i’ll buy you clothes and fancy shoes
toys for the children, all that they choose

and a gypsy woman saw my name
up in lights on the boulevards
she saw fortune, she saw fame
she saw it all written in the cards

and i’m on my way down to the station
a suitcase full of expectation
you can hear the diesel drumming
hear the sound of that greyhound humming

so dry your tears little billy and sue
work hard in school, promise to be good
i’ll come back soon in a big shiney car
and drive us all out ot hollywood

i’m on my way down to the station
a suitcase full of expectation
you can hear the diesel drumming
hear the sound of that greyhound humming

we’ll be a part of the golden scene
we’ll be dancing on easy street
it all comes true on the siver screen
just you wait and see

i’m on my way down to the station
a suitcase full of expectation
you can hear the diesel drumming
hear the sound of that greyhound humming

i didn’t see the years slip by
youth that fades and dreams that die
i kept saying i’d go back home
but i wouldn’t know my children now that they’re grown

i head out down to the station
a suitcase full of expectations
i could hear the diesel drumming
hear the sound of that greyhound humming


do you want to know

if i could find a way to tell you
how i’ve been feeling for you
feeling for you
set the wheels in motion
show you my emotion
my emotion
about the passion and poetry
and the magic and mystery
do do do do you
do do do do you
do do do do you want to know

if i could find a way to tell you
how i’ve been dreaming of you
dreaming of you
streams of love keep coming
run into you
run into you
i jumped in the water
hot water getting hotter
do do do do you
do do do do you
do do do do you want to know

do you want to know how my garden grows
taste the sweet perfume of a blooming rose
travel through the nights of a thousand sighs
wake up in the arms of paradise

do do do do you
do do do do you
do do do do you want to know

if i could find a way to tell you
how i’ve been thinking of you
thinking of you
only you can quench the thirst
a drink of you
drink of you
honey lips of desire
fingertips fill with fire
do do do do you
do do do do you
do do do do you want to know


lets make love tonight

do do do do do
do do do do do
take your troubles and throw them out the door
let’s make love tonight

let’s not make conversation
let’s not take an imitation
i feel the real thing knocking at my door
let’s make love tonight

starlight starbright
first star i’ve seen tonight
wish i may wish i might
have the wish i wish tonight

do do do do do
do do do do do
take your troubles and throw them out the door
let’s make love tonight


i’ll be your mirror

you look like an angel to me
out in the desert
trying to drink from an empty well
so brush off your dusty wings
you know you can fly
out of your lonely hell
and you’re looking for someone
to kindle the spark
a part of you hidden in the dark
and if you come a little nearer
i see you shining like a star
and if you want me to
if you want me to
i’ll be your mirror oh oh oh
i’ll be your mirror

you say that you believe
there’s someone out there
who can make you feel complete
and then you look at me as if i could read your thoughts
so when do you sweep me off my feet
and you’re looking for someone
to kindle the spark
a part of you hidden in the dark
if you come a little nearer
i see you shining like a star
and if you want me to
if you want me to
i’ll be your mirror oh oh oh
i’ll be your mirror

how many days and how many nights
how many rivers left to cross
in solitary

and you’re looking for someone
to kindle the spark
a part of you hidden in the dark
and if you come a little nearer
i see you shining like a star
and if you want me to
if you want me to
i’ll be your mirror oh oh oh
i’ll be your mirror
you’ll be my mirror
i’ll be your mirror
i will be be your mirror


our lady of the snows

i lit a candle in the chapel
our lady of the snows
a candle for love
that morning on the mountain
i tried to climb beyond the clouds
high up above
i tried never returning
running away from you
i tried becoming nothing
nothing but a speck of blue
our lady
our lady
our lady of the snows

descending the mountain
my tears were dried
illusions gone, found something new
the mountain taught me
rocked my body, opened my heart
when i found you
i realised how small we are
that love is large and love is wide
that we can question, we can ask
but we can never really understand why
our lady
our lady
our lady of the snows

if you see him my love
with the stars in his eyes and the honey skin
tell him it’s him, my love
it’s only him

i lit a candle in the chapel
our lady of the snows
a candle for love
our love
the flame still grows


words and music by birdpaula

©birdpaula/SACEM 2007 - all rights reserved