Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat

Subject: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 01 May 03 - 07:41 PM

This song started as a sonnet, that I posted here, inspired in equal measure by Shakespeare's 22nd sonnet, and the Irish proverb "The eye of a friend is a good mirror." I was never really happy with the ending couplet, though, and realized that it really was meant to be a refrain, rather than a closing thought. So the whole sonnet asked to be a song. And here it is:

A MIRROR CAN NOT LOVE
By Ann Magill

There hangs upon the wall a silvered glass
That prom-is-es to show the truth of things
But its truths are just shadows that will pass
It cannot show the deeper Truth love brings.

Chorus:
A mirror cannot love. A mirror is not wise.
And so I long to see myself reflected in your eyes.

For when I gaze, alone, upon my face
To note the changes Time has rendered there,
Then vanity and dread both leave their trace,
And I see less of Truth than Pride, and Fear.

Chorus:

A mirror cannot see, nor is it wise.
And so, I long, again, for all those times
I saw myself reflected in your eyes
Those days we shared our tears, and sang our rhymes.

Chorus:

To hear the tune, cut and paste the following abc text into the message window at this link. Make sure you have your pop-up blockers turned off.

X:1
T:A Mirror Can Not Love
M:3/4
Q:1/4=95
K:C
A,A,2CC2|EE2DC2|B,C5|EG2ED2|CD2EF2|GE5|CC2A,A,2|
B,E2DC2|B,A,5|CC2EE2|FG2FE2|B,2C4|-C2DD2G|
G2FE3|-EA,A,2DD|-DCB,4|CC2DD2|EF2GF2|EE2DC2|
B,2C4|-C7/4||

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: michaelr
Date: 01 May 03 - 08:22 PM

Beautiful, Ann. I'm getting misty!

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 01 May 03 - 08:45 PM

Thank you, Michael!

The idea for the song has been lying dorment ever since I came upon that proverb a couple of years ago... It just brought back such a vivid memory of my younger self being fascinated by my reflection in the eyes of another (usually my mother).

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 May 03 - 09:52 PM

Absolutely beautiful. Brings to mind lovers of all kinds, parents, partners and, even a particular cat who is always gazing deeply into my eyes, so that I think he is looking at my very soul!

Thank you, Ann, and thanks for including the link!

Well done,

kat

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: Amos
Date: 01 May 03 - 10:02 PM

That's a sweety song, all right!! Beautiful!



A

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 01 May 03 - 10:04 PM

Brings to mind lovers of all kinds, parents, partners and, even a particular cat

Thank you, Kat. That was a big part of my intent. It struck me that there are lots of love songs for sexual lovers, but not so much for "platonic friends", whose love for each other can run much deeper than our current thinking about that phrase implies.

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 01 May 03 - 11:00 PM

Very nice, Capri! Thanks for posting it!

And so... your song inspired this off the cuff cacophany...

Just a little step onward of destiny's walking
As she winds her way round through earth gods and fire
As red whispers listen to furtive cock talking
The worthy flash flood that strength doth require
Beyond all religions lie hopes of great splendor
Languishing lightly in means of our choosing
Where beauty is action and gorgeous the sender
That loves every way without covetous losing
We'll do good while we can, let the mirrors a moulder
For your 'lovely' began when 'cute' left your shoulder
ttr

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 02 May 03 - 12:20 AM

Oh, and just a quick note -- for some reason, the mid2txt program that was created for Mudcat leaves out the rests when it generates the ABC text... Here is the same tune as above, with all the rests in their proper places:

X:1
T:A Mirror Can Not Love
M:3/4
Q:1/4=95
K:C
A,A,2CC2|EE2DC2|B,C4z|EG2ED2|CD2EF2|GE4z|CC2A,A,2|
B,E2DC2|B,A,4z|CC2EE2|FG2FE2|B,2C4|z2DD2G|
G2FE3|zA,A,2DD|-DCB,4|CC2DD2|EF2GF2|EE2DC2|
B,2C4|-C7/4||

Oh, and Thomas, penultimate line:
"For your 'lovely' began when 'cute' left your shoulder"

brings to mind an annoying cloying cupie doll sprite sitting on my shoulder yakking away, and not shutting up!!

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 03 - 08:19 AM

Capri - can you send me a midi for posting and linkage to this thread??

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 02 May 03 - 08:46 AM

Sure thing, MMario! I assume you want all three verses, yes?

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 03 - 08:46 AM

sure!

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 02 May 03 - 11:21 AM

You got it, MMario! BTW, I was wondering:

Is this a song that would benifit from repeating the first verse at the end? Or is that overindulgent?

And I'm thinking that "Reflected In Your Eyes" would be a better title. Agree? Disagree?

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: MMario
Date: 02 May 03 - 11:32 AM

I would probably repeat the first verse - but my first thought was it should be titled 'Deeper Truth'

Subject: RE: Song From CapriUni Inspired by Mudcat
From: CapriUni
Date: 02 May 03 - 11:52 AM

Yeah, I was thinking that a repitition of the opening idea would be a good thing. After all, when the idea comes around the first time, it might be something of a surprise, since our culture tends to emphesize the truth telling capabilities of mirrors. By the time the song is over (one hopes), the audience would have a different perspective, and so it wouldn't be exactly the same verse. So I'll send you a midi 4 verses long. :-)

But I couldn't be sure I didn't want to do it just to make the song last longer.

And I'll take "Deeper Truth" underadvisement. Though, as the song was inspired by "The eye of a friend is a good mirror," or, in Irish: "Is maith an scáthán súil charad," I kinda want to emphesize that aspect...