Monday, February 2, 2009

me and my shadow











Mike had to work all weekend.
It would feel wrong to complain since so many lost their jobs just last week.

Still, I think we're both feeling this way as the new week begins......


ME AND MY SHADOW

Shades of night are falling and I'm lonely
Standing on the corner feeling blue
Sweethearts out for fun
Pass me one by one
Guess I'll wind up like I always do
With only....

Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Oh, me and my shadow
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
And when it's twelve o'clock we climb the stairs
We never knock 'cause nobody's there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feeling blue

When the sun sets on the far horizon,
And the parlour lamps begin to glow
Jim and Jack and John
Put their slippers on.
They're all set but we're still on the go
So lonely....

Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Oh, me and my shadow
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
And when it's twelve o'clock we climb the stairs
We never knock 'cause nobody's there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feeling blue

Words by Billy Rose, Music by Al Jolson and Dave Dreyer


I really enjoyed reading an article here, titled Staircase Poetry by Patty Inglish, MS. It included the following description:

A famous staircase inspired musical poem, Me and My Shadow, was popularized in the early 20th Century by Ted Williams from Circleville, Ohio and his Orchestra. Williams would present this tune on stage and complete it by walking up a lonely staircase lighted by a single light bulb in the shadows of the night streets. Showman Jimmy Durante also used this setting for the number.



photo: paid subscription clipart.com


11 comments:

Ted Bagley said...

Reminds me of Freud's, "Where it was there I shall be."
Kinda like that Billy squire song?
Have a great day!

Unknown said...

Any morning when you wake up thinking about Jimmy Durante is a good morning:>)
Hubby and I pass each other on our way to work quite often--he works every weekend and I don't. Could you have a romantic dinner tonight?? After all, it is the traditional day to honor the old Irish celebration of sheep mating and becoming pregnant. Hallmark store--here I come.

Darlene said...

You brought back memories. I can hear that song in my head. Wasn't it a theme song for Ted Weams (sp?)?

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

The heart wants what it wants.....it's hard to convince it otherwise sometimes :) I enjoyed the poem. Hope you have time with your sweetie very soon.

Lydia said...

@Ted- You have a great day too. Part of mine will be looking up the Billy Squire song you mentioned.....

@Distracted- Oh, so it's THAT day, is it? :) He's been in the office each night until around 8:00pm, so probably we'll defer the romantic dinner until this extremely rotten episode is over. In addition to maintaining regular work during one of the peak periods there is a legal situation requiring extra documentation, even though he was peripherally involved.

@Darlene- I don't know who Ted Weams was. It's the Jimmy Durante version I recall. When I searched for the lyrics the majority of hits were the lyrics changed to suit a duet by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. That would have been fun to see, and maybe it's out there on You Tube....

@Wayfaring Wanderer- Cute response! Time together is on the horizon; he has a week off beginning Feb. 16....yea!

Rhiannon said...

I've learned to rather like my "shadow" as it's taught me a lot about myself and what I'm capable of handling on my own.

At least I've learned to enjoy my own company. However I would prefer otherwise sometimes. It's not always easy.

Still like and need my "quiet time" though..I will always cherish that.

Thanks for sharing the poem Lydia.

Blessings,

Rhi

Lydia said...

@Rhi- I was single for 15 years between marriages so I know my shadow well. It's time for you to introduce your shadow to a good man (and they are out there).

I'm with you about "quiet time," and Mike has come to respect my strong need for solitude. It's just that his working straight every day for two weeks has really been overkill. :(

Unknown said...

As I was reading the poem I was thinking "this could be a good song"
I never heard this song but then again there are so many holes in my American culture.
That’s why I love coming to your blog. There is always something I learn ;)
PS: I remembered. I wrote a post about a month ago and I wanted you to have it but I ended up giving it to Time Thief and she published it on her blog.

Lydia said...

@Buddha- I found a video of the song that is a classic and I'm going to put it in a follow-up post.

That's great that Time Thief published it. Reminds me that I must visit her blog.....

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...was just reading about Jung's shadow self...relevant or not? I'll have to ask myself that question again when it's not 2:28 in the morning.....

Lydia said...

@YogaforCynics- Relevant! Makes me want to read about it too, but not at 12:01 a.m...........

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