Lyr ADD: Sweet Is the Melody (Iris DeMent)

Subject: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 08:09 PM

On Prairie Home Companion last week, a beautiful song written by Iris Dement was sung [by the Hopeful Gospel Quartet?].  It's a waltz, and here are partial lyrics:

"Sweet is the melody,
so hard to come by.
[da da da da da da
da da da da da]
You lay down the hours
And leave not a trace,
But a tune for the dancing
Is there in its place.

It's a beautiful tune, and I'd love it if someone would post the lyrics.

Chords, too, if you have 'em.

Thanks,

Genie

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET IS THE MELODY (Iris DeMent)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 08:35 PM

SWEET IS THE MELODY
(Iris DeMent)
(c) 1993 Songs of Iris ASCAP
As recorded by Iris DeMent on "My Life" (1994)

Sweet is the melody, so hard to come by
It's so hard to make every note bend just right
You lay down the hours and leave not one trace
But a tune for the dancing is there in its place

The dance floor's for gliding and not jumping over ponies
Where boots and gold bracelets come and meet as they should
It's for celebrating a Friday night romance
Forgetting the bad stuff and just feeling good

Sweet is the melody, so hard to come by
It's so hard to make every note bend just right
You lay down the hours and leave not one trace
But a tune for the dancing is there in its place

An arm's just an arm 'til it's wrapped 'round a shoulder
Looped side by side they go stepping out together
A note's just a note 'til you wake from your slumber
And dare to discover the new melody

Sweet is the melody, so hard to come by
It's so hard to make every note bend just right
You lay down the hours and leave not one trace
But a tune for the dancing is there in its place

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 08:53 PM

Arigato, Masato!

I [obviously] didn't know the title [though I searched under "Sweet," as well].

If anyone has a Midi, that'd be great.

Genie

P.S. If you're cutting and pasting, there's no apostrophe in "its" [i.e., "belonging to it"].

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 02:29 AM

I copied the lyrics from the Iris DeMent Lyrics site (click on "My Life"), with some words capitalized. I was unaware of others.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: Genie
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 03:15 AM

Thanks so much for the link to Iris's website, Masato. Lots of great stuff there!

I wasn't meaning to be critical of you when I mentioned "its" vs. "it's." [It's a common mistake to use an apostrophe in a phrase such as "a dog licking its chops," where it's not correct, and the folks who put together that really neat Iris Dement website did make that mistake in all the songs I looked at there.] I mentioned it mainly for Dick, Joe, etc., if they're considering harvesting this song* for the DT.

Genie

*Hint, hint

---

I deleted the offending apostrophe, but note that there is also a correct use of "it's" in the song. It's a great song, although I myself haven't been harvesting singer-songwriter songs unless they've become part of the "folk canon." Dick and Jim and Susan may do otherwise.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 20 Jul 02 - 04:28 AM

Even if the song won't be in the DT, I'm wondering if the thread title should be changed to "Lyr Req: Sweet Is The Melody / Iris Dement."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 02 - 10:25 AM

No need, because Masato changed the subject line in his post when he added the lyric, so it will show up that way on search.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: Genie
Date: 20 Jul 02 - 12:47 PM

Good to know that, Susan. But I've done that with some song lyrics I've posted when the thread had the title wrong, and then I've searched for the title I used in my post title and not been able to turn up anything. Does that work in "Filter," or "DT/Forum Search" or both? And does it always work?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Jul 02 - 12:55 PM

It works in the Forum Search in the Quick Links box.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Tune For Dancing' Iris Dement
From: Genie
Date: 20 Jul 02 - 05:44 PM

Thanks for the info, Sorcha!