Propinquity

Subject: Propinquity
From: Brad Sondahl
Date: 04 May 99 - 02:46 PM

I learned Propinquity from the folk process, not quite sure of its origins. ASCAP says a couple of brothers wrote it, and I think The Earl Scruggs Revue did it. Since I didn't find it in the db, I'm entering the lyrics as I remember them. If you can fill in with origins, groups performing it, or missing lyrics, please do.

I've known for a long time, the kind of girl you are, The smiles that cover teardrops, the way your head yields to your heart, The things you've kept inside of you, that most girls couldn't bear, Well I've known you for a long time, but I've just begun to care.

Ref: I know I've been blind, not to have loved you all of this time, But the image of you wasn't clear, I guess I've been standing too near,

It's taken me a while, but I have finally found, What you are to me, my love, and that's what really counts. And what you are to me my love, is something that we can share, Cause I've known you for a long time, but I've just begun to care.

There's also a verse about I've seen you make a look of love, from just an icy stare.

And I think I wrote this verse: I've seen you in the summer, I've seen you in the fall, Then days and weeks and months went by when I never saw you at all, But now the time has come, my love, when I want to see you more, Cause I've known you for a long time, but I've just begun to care.

Brad http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl/bradindex.html

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Vixen
Date: 04 May 99 - 04:56 PM

Great Song!

I have it on an Ian Matthews album with a gold cover from the early seventies, and I think it says Randy Newman wrote it. I'll check when I get home, and let you know tomorrow, if no one else gets to it sooner.

I can add to your lines:

I've seen you when the sun shines
I've seen you when it rains
I've seen you make a look of love
From just an icy stare
I've known you for a long time but I've just begun to care.

This is my first attempt at using the little anglebracket br things for html, and I hope somebody can fix 'em if I messed it up.

V

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Brad
Date: 06 May 99 - 10:11 AM

I decided to search the web, and found the lyrics posted on a Monkees fan site, attrib. to Mike Nesmith. While it's technically possible, since he actually wrote a few good songs, I'm not going to accept it without question. After all, it's from a MONKEE'S FAN Page...

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Allan C.
Date: 06 May 99 - 11:05 AM

Brad, I wouldn't put much faith in that source either. A whole mess of songs are attributed to one or the other of the Monkees but I have always suspected that Neil Diamond wrote (ghost wrote) most of their hits; but probably not the one you are asking about.

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Vixen
Date: 06 May 99 - 11:21 AM

Hi there!

I checked my album notes, and it appears it *was* actually written by Mike Nesmith. (Randy Newman wrote a different song on the Matthews album--I was confused)

If you still need the lyrics, I can post 'em tomorrow.

V

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Sapper_RE
Date: 06 May 99 - 01:53 PM

Not a word I use everyday, my first meeting with it was in the Ian Flemming Novel "Goldfinger" where one of the chapters was entitled "Nothing Propinks like Propinquity". I'm still not sure what it means though, must get round to looking it up sometime. Bob.

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Vixen
Date: 07 May 99 - 08:55 AM

Ahem--

From the Latin, "prope" meaning near.

Propinquity is just a hi-falutin' way to say nearness, or proximity.

Stepping down from the lectern,

V

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Brad
Date: 07 May 99 - 04:07 PM

I think I've got enough lyrics, and it's pretty well wrapped up at this point. Mike Nesmith--sheesh. Well, truth to tell, I guess I watched most of their tv programs anyway. Speaking of Monkees, I thought Boyce and Hart were their prime ghostwriters... "I'm a believer," is a pretty good song, too. I think "Daydream Believer" and "Last train to Clarksville" were highly overrated/played...

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 07 May 99 - 08:10 PM

As a young man without a woman, I loved this song. It has lost some of its glow for me. Yes, it was done by the Earl Scruggs Review on their first album I believe.

Just thought it should be here in its entirety.

  PROPINQUITY
  by Michael Nesmith
    

C
  I've known for a long time,
  .....Dm
  The kind of girl you are
  G
  Of a smile that covers teardrops,
  ..............F...................C
  The way your head yields to your heart
  C
  Of things you kept inside you,
  ......Dm
  that most girls couldn't bare
  ......G
  I've known you for a long time  ...........F............C

    

I've known of all the heartache,
  And I've known of all the pain
  I've seen you when the sun shines,
  And I've seen you when it rains
  I've seen you make a look of love,
  From just an icy stare
  I've known you for a long time,
  But I've just begun to care.

    

G...........F........C
  And I know I've been blind,
  ...G.........F..................C
  To not have loved you all this time
  .........Dm.................C
  But the image of you wasn't clear,
  ...Dm...........................G
  I guess I've been standing too near

    

  Oh it's taken me a while,
  But I have finally found
  What you are to me,
  And that's what really counts
  And what you are to me,
  Is something we can share
  I've known you for a long time,
  but I've just begun to care.

    

I've seen you in the summer,
  I've seen you in the fall,
  Then days and weeks and months went by,
  When I never saw you at all, 
  But now the time has come, my love,
  When I want to see you more,
  Cause I've known you for a long time,
  But I've just begun to care.
     

Last verse by Brad Sondahl

Hope my formatting works OK.

Enjoy the song.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 07 May 99 - 08:13 PM

Oops, last line of the first verse is "but I've just begun to care."

I seek perfection, but I often fall short.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: izzy
Date: 08 May 99 - 06:14 PM

just for interest - it's subtitled (some of Shelley's blues)

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: Brad
Date: 09 May 99 - 01:07 AM

Actually, locating my old lyric sheet, the last two lines of my verse are:

For now I finally see you, Like I never did before...

(Which fits it well with the blind imagery of the refrain)

Also I like Roger's key--I've been playing it in G position (capoed up), but C is better for fingerpicking the tune. To my ear, though, F's sound better than Dm's in the refrain. I guess it depends on what notes you're picking...

Subject: RE: Propinquity
From: BK
Date: 09 May 99 - 01:25 AM

I too seak perefection; but i kain't hardley even spell it! I got no propinquity to it! (It ain't even on my event horizon...)

Cheers, BK