by Marcy
Who doesn’t love songs? They create strong associations in our mind with family, friends, a particular time in our lives or a special experience. Our theme this month is love songs so I would like to look at some that reflect the variety of love songs we might enjoy and why they are meaningful to us.
Some love songs remember our beloved pets. One that many of us remember is “How much is that doggie in the window?” which was written by Bob Merrill in 1952 and performed by Patti Page in 1953.
“How much is that doggie in the window? The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window
I do hope that doggie’s for sale.”
“Old Grey Dog” written by Jimmy Scott shows a man’s love for his old dying dog.
“Just an old grey dog nobody sees
Can’t run too fast, not so eager to please
Just lays around like a bump on a log
But I love that old grey dog, love that old grey dog”
Sometimes songs celebrate the love of a parent for their child. One such song is “Isn’t She Lovely?” by Stevie Wonder.
“Isn’t she lovely
Isn’t she wonderful
Isn’t she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we’d be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn’t she lovely, made from love.”
Romantic love songs link us to our special love in myriads of ways. Maybe it’s a couple’s favorite song. One friend’s special song is “The Sweetheart Tree” by Henry Mancini, reminding her and her husband of when, as teenagers, he carved their initials in a special tree proclaiming their love.
“They say there's a tree in the forest
A tree that will give you a sign
Come along with me to the Sweetheart Tree
Come and carve your name next to mine”
Often love songs are especially beautiful. John Denver teamed up with opera singer, Placido Domingo, to sing “Perhaps Love”, written by Denver in 1981.
“Perhaps love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm
And in those times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home”
Ewan MacColl wrote the hauntingly beautiful “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for his love, Peggy Seeger. Roberta Flack sings a moving version of this song.
“The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless skies, my love
To the dark and the endless skies
And the first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command, my love”
Liyan with the IN singers introduced us to a lovely song in Chinese, “The Moon Represents My Heart”. Teresa Teng sings the most well known version of this song.
"You ask how deeply I love you,
and just how great my love is.
My affection is real,
and my love is true.
The moon represents my heart.
You ask how deeply I love you,
and just how great my love is.
My affection does not waver
and my love doesn’t change.
The moon represents my heart.
So soft was the kiss
that has moved my heart.
Such a deep affection
makes me long for you now.
You ask how deeply I love you,
and just how great my love is.
Consider this,
and look above.
The moon represents my heart.”
One of the most beautiful love songs ever is “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton, and sung by Whitney Houston.
“If I should stay, I would only be in your way
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you every step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You, my darling you, hm
Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So, goodbye
Please, don't cry
We both know I'm not what you, you need
And I will always love you
I will always love you, you
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish to you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love
And I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I, I will always love you
You, darling, I love you
Ooh, I'll always, I'll always love you”
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