Lyr Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things (B Dearie)

Subject: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 05:24 AM

I've been looking for the lyrics to this classic for years - on and mostly off.. Every verse had a reference to something three sided, love affairs, nappies, hatchet blade etc. Can't find it on any site that seems to refer to Blossom Dearie. Last heard it more years ago than I care to recall. Any help would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 06:09 AM

Not THIS , is it? Pne verse looks suspiciously similar!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: JennieG
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 06:22 AM

I like this song; it's been one of my party pieces for years. I believe it was written in the early 1950's for a revue.
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 06:39 AM

Yeaaah!!! Thanks Martin. That's the one! Absolutely terrific and must be added to our repertoire. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 09:44 AM

Hey, JennieG I'd love to hear it - I used to have a Blossom Dearie LP containing that song.

I haven't got around to replacing my jazz vinyls, I've just been buying other titles, mybe I need to find that double album (name forgotten but picture still clear so I'll recognise it when I see it)

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:31 AM

Sandra, do you realise that John Thompson's group, Cloudstreet, have that song on their CD "Violet Sarah and Muckle John"?

I have it too. Would you like a copy? Or does it have to be Blossom Dearie?

Jenny

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:44 AM

It's funny about the timing of requests for certain songs. We'll go on for a long time, and then we'll get a number of requests. This one was discussed last month. It's a hard one to find by title, because the title isn't obvious and it has been called many things on many recordings.
The only recording I've heard is the one by the Kingston Trio. I did find a Blossom Dearie recording of the song on CD here (click)- and what she calls the song is "The Ballad of the Shape of Things." I believe the actual title is "The Shape of Things," written by Sheldon Harnick in 1956. Harnick is better-known for Fiddler on the Roof.
I've put crosslinks above to the Digital Tradition entry and all the threads we have on the song.
I'd love to hear Blossom Dearie sing this song, but maybe just once. I found a site that called her a "conversational singer," and I think the term is apt. She had great comic timing, but I don't like to listen to her too many times. According to the All Music Guide, Blossom Dearie was born in 1926 and continued to perform into the 1980's.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blossom Dearie - Triangular
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 01:01 PM

Yes Joe, that is the information (song title and author) on my CD too. It is described as "a song of love, betrayal, revenge and geometry."

Jenny