Lyr Add: Candle in the Wind (Elton John)

Subject: RE: Goodbye, England's Rose
From: Laoise
Date: 08 Sep 97 - 07:34 AM

Gabh raibh maith agat Shula.

I didn't mean to criticise, its just that I like that song and thought that it had exactly the right sentiments. Any song overplayed, however, becomes a pain the the 'tuchus' and I'm sure we'll get sick of this as time goes on.

In a way, the two lives, that of Marilyn Monroe and Diana were similar. They were both subjected to huge media persecution and were both "used" by the respective establishments. Interestingly, over here there is speculation that MI5 could have been involved. What does that remind you of?

I am un-observantly Jewish living in Belfast. I always thought Yiddish was the best language for producing words which cannot be explained fully in English. Irish gaelic is the same. I'm not sure of the origins of the word 'Skundered' but it has those expressive qualities of Yiddish words. There are also some excellent phrases here "Catch yerself on" meaning wise up, "what about ye" shortened to "'bout ye" as introduced by Alison over in Aussieland means how are you doing. Another phrase I like describes miserly people - "he/she wouldn't give you the steam off her p**s" and for lazy people - "he/she wouldn't walk the length of him/herself".

Sorry, I never got that final choir piece as I never got to see the whole service (too busy playing trad). You've got me interested though.

Slan go foill

Laoise

Subject: RE: Goodbye, England's Rose
From: Shula
Date: 08 Sep 97 - 05:27 AM

Perhaps what bothers me most is the re-working of a song associated with Marilyn Monroe for the princess. Rather like a hand-me down frock. Even so, would have liked it, right enough, if MORE had been re-written, and LESS had been re-peated. I wanted a closer "fit," but from the response, others were better satisfied than I. Didn't hate it or think it out of place, though.

" The King Of Love My Shepherd Is," (my favorite hymn and hymn-tune, despite the fact that I am observantly Jewish), and the Verdi, had me weeping aforehand, and I like to fancy myself something of a cynic! No denying the authenticity of the sentiment, both from Mr. John and from his global audience. Wait a bit, though, and see if when they've done playing it to death, you don't long for a fresher verse or two. Hope I've not given offense.

Still badly want to know the words to that final choir piece. Any suggestions?

Shula

P.S. Dialects being a fascination of mine, always enjoy your postings, esp. the series that introduced, "Skundered" -- as Emily Dickenson would have said: Now, there's a word to lift your hat to!

Subject: RE: Goodbye, England's Rose
From: Laoise
Date: 08 Sep 97 - 04:27 AM

I'm sorry to disagree here, Shula, but I think that Elton John's rewritten Candle in the Wind was very fitting for this tragic occasion. Like the late Diana, it has always been a favourite song of mine since childhood. It's frightening to think that it should be sung at her funeral but it contained all the right ingredients, nostalgia, tenderness and power. It was extremely well performed - how he didn't break down in the middle of it I will never know.

I'm still in tears when I read it.

Laoise.

Subject: RE: Goodbye, England's Rose
From: Shula
Date: 08 Sep 97 - 04:04 AM

Sorry to post three times running. Just wondered if anyone knew the words to the recessional ( sung to the tune of "Danny Boy") that was sung by the boy's choir at the funeral. Liked that better than the Elton John.

Thanks,

Shula

Subject: Lyr Add: A PRINCELY DITTY, IN PRAISE OF THE ...
From: Shula
Date: 07 Sep 97 - 10:20 PM

Just came on this while wandering around in the Sixteenth Century Ballads site,
http://pbm.com/~lindahl/ballads/ballads.html, thought it apropos:

A PRINCELY DITTY, IN PRAISE OF THE ENGLISH ROSE.
(Translated out of French.)

Among the Princely Paragons,
bedect with dainty Diamonds,
Within mine eye, none doth come nie,
the sweet red Rose of England,
The Lillies passe in brauery,
in Flanders, Spain, and Italy:
But yet the famous flower of France doth honour the Rose of England.

As I abroad was walking,
I heard the small birds talking:
And euery one did frame her Song
in praise of the Rose of England,
The Lillies, &c.

Cæsar may vant of Victories,
and Crœsus of his happinesse:
But he were blest, that might bear in his brest
the sweet red Rose of England,
The Lillies, &c.

The brauest Lute bring hither,
and let vs sing together:
While I do ring on euery string,
the praise of the Rose of England,
The Lillies, &c.

The sweet Perfumes and Spices,
the wise men brought to Iesus:
Did neuer smell a quarter so well
as doth the Rose of England,
The Lillies, &c.

Then faire and princely flower,
that ouer my heart doth tower,
None may be compared to thee,
which art the fair Rose of England.
The Lillies, &c.

Shula

Subject: RE: Goodbye, England's Rose
From: Shula
Date: 07 Sep 97 - 10:03 PM

Tim Jacques : Perhaps greater depth requires greater thought, not to say, time, in the composition of a suitable memorial.

As to Elton John's contribution, I know he hadn't much time, but I do wish he had started with better material. WHATEVER he sang was sure to have been huge. I'd have wished for something more specific about the princess in the lyrics.

Personally, I was put in mind of Ben Jonson's "Have You Seen But a White Lilly Grow?" from F. H. Potter"s "Reliquary of English Song." It embodies the fragility of innocence.

Shula

Subject: RE: Goodbye, England's Rose
From:
Date: 07 Sep 97 - 06:48 PM

Now, if someone will only write a song about Mother Theresa.

Subject: Lyr Add: CANDLE IN THE WIND (from Elton John)
From: Squid
Date: 07 Sep 97 - 06:25 PM

They say they expect this to pass Bing Crosby's White Christmas to become the best-selling song of all time.

CANDLE IN THE WIND, as performed at Westminster Abbey by Elton John:

Goodbye, England's rose; may you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself where lives were torn apart.
You called out to our country, and you whispered to those in pain.
Now you belong to heaven, and the stars spell out your name.

And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind:
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here, along England's greenest hills;
Your candle's burned out long before your legend ever will.

Loveliness we've lost; these empty days without your smile.
This torch we'll always carry for our nation's golden child.
Even though we try, the truth brings us to tears;
All our words cannot express the joy you brought us through the years.

And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind:
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here, along England's greenest hills;
Your candle's burned out long before your legend ever will.

Goodbye, England's rose; may you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself where lives were torn apart.
Goodbye, England's rose, from a country lost without your soul,
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion more than you'll ever know.

And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind:
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here, along England's greenest hills;
Your candle's burned out long before your legend ever will.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 17-May-02.