Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..

Subject: Melodramatic, Mournful Songs
From: Cruiser
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 11:29 AM

"Past, Present and Future" is one of the most melodramatic, mournful songs I have ever heard of any genre. It was performed by the hip, leather-wearing bad girl group, the Shangri-Las, of the "Leader of the Pack" fame. "Past" was so melodically uncharacteristic of this group and the only song of theirs I liked as a teenager.

It charted at #59 in the summer of 1966.

Here is a clip:

Track # 11 Past, Present, and Future


But don't listen to it if you are depressed! It you have ever suffered from a break-up in a strong relationship, the lyrics and the way they are sung by this group cut deep (now who's being melodramatic!)

Especially chilling is this phrase:

"But don't try to touch me...don't try to touch me!
Cos that will never...happen...again"


Artist: Shangri-Las
Song: Past Present And Future
Album: Greatest Hits
[" Greatest Hits " CD]

The Past...past...well now let me tell you about the past
The past is filled with silent joys and broken toys,
laughing girls and teasing boys

Was I ever in love? I called it love- I mean... it felt like love
There were moments when...well...there were moments when...

Present....Go out with you? Why not
Do I like to dance? Of Course

Take a walk along the beach tonight? I'd love to
But don't try to touch me...don't try to touch me!
Cos that will never...happen...again

Shall we dance?

{Rousing String Instrumental}

The Future... Tomorrow...well tomorrow's a long way off
Maybe someday I'll have somebody's hand
Maybe somewhere, someone will understand

You know I used to sing "a tisket-a-tasket a green and yellow basket
I'm all packed up and I'm on my way and I'm gonna fall in love"

But at the moment it doesn't look good

At the moment...it will never happen again

I don't think...it will ever...happen...again


Man, after that, I've got to go out for my morning (mourning!) 3-mile run...

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 11:49 AM

I always liked "Walking in the Sand" myself.

My favorite super-melodramatic one was "Three Stars", which came out after Buddy Holly, et. al. died in the plane crash. I used to have a tape of it somewhere. My mother had the record and played it over and over until it wore out. I tried to get the oldies station here to play it during one of their rare-song nights but they had never heard it.

The Everly Brothers' "Ebony Eyes" was a close second.

I'll have to go haul out my 1950's stuff now . . .

THREE STARS
Tommy Dee

Look up in the sky
Up toward the north
There are three little stars
Brightly shining forth
They're shining so bright from heaven above
Gee we're gonna miss you,
Everybody sends their love

On the left stand Ritchie Valens
A young boy just seventeen
Just beginning to realize
And explore his teenage dreams
Why did God call him oh so far away
Maybe to help some boy or girl
Who might have gone astray
With his star shining in the dark
On a lonely night to light the path
And show the way, the way that's right
Gee we're gonna miss you,
Everybody sends their love

On the right stands Buddy Holly
With a shy grin upon his face
Funny how you always seem to notice
That one little curl out of place
Not many people really knew Buddy
Or understood how he felt
But just a song from his lips
Would make the coldest hearts melt
Buddy's singing for God now, His chorus in the sky
Buddy holly we'll always remember you
With tears in our eyes
Gee we're gonna miss you,
Everybody sends their love

In the middle stands a stout man
The big Bopper is his name
Now God has called him
Perhaps to new fortune and fame
He wore a big Stetson hat
And sort of rambled up to the mike
How can we ever forget those wonderful words
"You know, well I might"

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 11:51 AM

Whoa--that's a fun CD. Got that whole teenage-drama, wall-of-sound thing going on. Ha ha.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 12:49 PM

Okay, I admit I liked "Walking in the Sand", "Three Stars" and "Ebony Eyes"...."Teen Angel"..."Tell Laura I Love Her"...etc.

I guess you had to be a kid during that era to fully "appreciate" that genre of melodramatic music. Now, perhaps nostalgia has something to do with that also.

I purchased a 45 rpm of "Three Stars" when it first came out and still have it.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 01:14 PM

B. J. the D.J.
Give My Love to Rose
(She Sold) Artificial Flowers - pure bathos
Black Denim Trousers (and Motorcycle Boots)
Jimmy Brown the Newsboy
Old Blue
The Letter Edged in Black
Put My Little Shoes Away
Scarlet Ribbons

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Amos
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 01:57 PM

Teen Angel
Take a Message to Mary
Ole Shep

A

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 03:06 PM

The "Dead Teenager" Website has been expanded. It's now Dead Teenagers and Melodrama. I'd agree that the Shangri-Las were the queens of this sort of music - tak a look at Myrmidons of Melodrama - how could you pass up a CD with a title like hat?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 04:18 PM

What made the situation even more interesting was if you had a girlfriend or a crush on a girl that had her name in one of "those" songs. You took the song on personally and to heart.

I am glad to report that I had did not have an affection for a "Patches" (although could have been my luck since I had "friends on that side of town/tracks) or an Ebony Eyes. I certainly never messed around with a "Teen Angel"

However, Laura was a different story...

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Artful Codger
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 09:08 PM

As for a melodramatic song of the future, how about "Grandfather's iMac"?

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: GUEST,Scoville--storms knocked out my cookie
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 11:00 PM

Ha ha--I was a kid in the EIGHTIES and my best friends and I used to make up synchronized dance numbers to "Leader of the Pack" and "Lollipop" and all those songs.

Off to check out the dead teenagers site . . .

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Scoville
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 11:04 PM

Oh, man--I haven't heard "Patches" in probably fifteen years!

These are a bit later, but I also always liked "Ballad of Billy Joe" (Bobbie Gentry) and "Last Kiss" (J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers).

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 12:55 AM

My baby brother put together a musical stage show using all those sad, gory songs. He called it Dead Tragic and it was on around the country a few years back.
You can see our Michael
and some of the shows he has done but there's no mention of his Dead Tragic. They even had a real motorbike on stage for Leader of the Pack!
Robyn

Subject: ADDPOP: Honey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 10:12 PM

You know, I can't believe nobody's mentioned this:

Honey

-Artist: Bobby Goldsboro
-the # 16 song of the 1960-1969 rock era
-was # 1 for 5 weeks in 1968
-Words and Music by Bobby Russell (who also wrote "Little Green Apples" and -"The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia")


See the tree, how big it's grown but friend it hasn't been too long it wasn't big
I laughed at her and she got mad, the first day that she planted, it, was just a twig
Then the first snow came and she ran out to brush the snow away
So it wouldn't die
Came runnin' in all excited, slipped and almost hurt herself
And I laughed till I cried
She was always young at heart, kinda dumb and kinda smart and I loved her so
And I surprised her with a puppy
Kept me up all Christmas Eve two years ago
And it would sure embarrass her
When I came in from workin' late 'cause I would know
That she'd been sittin' there and cryin'
Over some sad and silly late, late show

And honey, I miss you and I'm bein' good
And I'd love to be with you if only I could

She wrecked the car and she was sad
And so afraid that I'd be mad but what the heck
Though I pretended hard to be
Guess you could say she saw through me and hugged my neck
I came home unexpectedly and caught her cryin' needlessly
In the middle of a day
And it was in the early Spring when flowers bloom and robins sing
She went away

And honey, I miss you and I'm bein' good
And I'd love to be with you if only I could

One day while I was not at home while she was there and all alone
The angels came
Now all I have is memories of Honey and I wake up nights and call her name
Now my life's an empty stage where Honey lived and Honey played
And love grew up
And a small cloud passes overhead and cries down on the flower bed
That Honey loved

And see the tree how big it's grown but friend it hasn't been too long it wasn't big
And I laughed at her and she got mad
The first day that she planted it, was just a twig


Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz
[e-mail]

I haven't heard from Ron Hontz for years. Note the detail in the background information he furnished. His knowledge of old pop music was phenomenal - and he was a nice guy, too. I used to have contact with him at alt.music.lyrics, and I really liked him.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: number 6
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 10:55 PM

God what a dreadful thread .... but regardless here I am posting another pathetic song to the list from bygone days ... BTW Joe, how can we beat Honey.

Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson

    Laura and Tommy were lovers
    He wanted to give her everything
    Flowers, presents,
    But most of all, a wedding ring

    He saw a sign for a stock car race
    A thousand dollar prize it read
    He couldn't get Laura on the phone
    So to her mother, Tommy said

    Tell Laura I love her
    Tell Laura I need her
    Tell Laura I may be late
    I've something to do, that cannot wait

    He drove his car to the racing grounds
    He was the youngest driver there
    The crowed roared as they started the race
    Around the track they drove at a deadly pace

    No one knows what happened that day
    Or how his car overturned in flames
    But as they pulled him from the twisted wreck
    With his dying breath, they heard him say

    Tell Laura I love her
    Tell Laura I need her
    Tell Laura not to cry
    My love for her will never die

    Now in the chapel where Laura prays
    For her poor Tommy, who passed away
    It was just for Laura he lived and died
    Alone in the chapel she can hear him cry

    Tell Laura I love her
    Tell Laura I need her

sIx

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: number 6
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 10:59 PM

My apologies to Cruiser ... notice you already added 'Laura' to the list ... anyway I posted the lyrics in case anyone is interested.

sIx

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 11:19 PM

Little Joe The Wrangler
The Streets of Laredo
Lord Randall
Matty Groves
The Impossible Dream
Stout-hearted Men

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:53 AM

Brings back memories, not all good ;-)

How about Dead Man's Curve by Jan & Dean? Don't think anyone's mentioned that.

There was a great compilation LP issued in the UK in the 1970s, called the World's Worst Records, associated with a radio show hosted by the late and fondly remembered DJ Kenny Everett, where he invited people to nominate the worst records, and the LP was supposed to be the ones voted worst. Some of them were about death and destruction, others were just terrible performances. The LP was issued on a horrible coloured vinyl, meant to represent vomit (IIRC). Anyway, there were some classic bad tracks on it, but I admit I actually liked some of them :)

I just found this site that has playlists for the KE shows (hope it works): blue clicky (if not the url is http://www.chronoglide.com/wwwshome.html)

One weird one I never quite understood was Laurie by Dickie (or Dickey?) Lee, seemingly about a guy lending his sweater to a girl who turned out to have died a year before (a ghost maybe? I never did understand the lyrics, although I liked the tune).

Others on the LP included Transfusion by Nervous Norvus, Drunken Driver by Ferlin Husky (about a guy who ran over his own kids while drunk), and a couple of tracks by Jess Conrad.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 10:12 PM

An excellent full biography with photos of the Shangri-Las:



Out in the Streets

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Genie
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 01:53 AM

How about:
- Rocky (the country song, not "The Theme From ... ")
- Teddy Bear (the one about the trucker who gets a message from Teddy Bear on his CB radio)
- Hangman
- Hang On, Sloopy
- Timothy
- Kitty Popcorn (Civil war song)

and a whole raft of sob-story/heart-cockle-warming country story ballads?

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Paul Burke
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 03:46 AM

Terry by Twinkle (god save us).

He said to me he wanted to be near to me
He said he never wanted to be out of my sight
But it's too late to give this boy my love tonight
Please wait at the gate of heaven for me, Terry.

He said to me he wanted to be close by my side
We had a quarrel, I was untrue on the night he died
And it's too late to tell this boy how great was
Please wait at the gate of heaven for me, Terry.

He rode into the night, accelerated his motorbike
I cried to him in fright, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.

He said to me you are the one I want to be with
He said to me you are the one who my love I shall give
One day he'll know how hard I prayed for him to live
Please wait at the gate of heaven for me, Terry.

He rode into the night, accelerated his motorbike
I cried to him in fright, don't do it, don't do it, don.t do it.

He said to me you are the one I want to be with
He said to me you are the one who my love I shall give
One day he'll know how hard I prayed for him to live
Please wait at the gate of heaven for me, Terry.

Terry, Terry, Terry

or as we used to sing it:

He rode into the muck,
Accelerated his dumper truck,
I cried to him oh flip,
Don't do it...

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 10:58 AM

Man that is terrible! I think "Terry" might win First Place in this song category. Heck, it charted at #4 in the U.K. What does that say about the musical tastes of people in the U.K.?

I have to admit I don't think I have ever heard this song and will try to find a sound clip to confirm that.

A motorbike!? I don't know how Terry would be able to kill himself just accelerating a full-sized motorcycle much less his motorbike!

"Terry" was written and sung by 15 year-old Twinkle herself.

Twinkle's Page

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: fogie
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 11:07 AM

Richard Thompson's Black Vincent (?)'55 Bit less sloppy and just as moving.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 11:13 AM

This sound clip confirmed that I had not heard "Terry" before:


Girl Group Sounds: Twinkle Disc 3

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Mr Fox
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 06:15 PM

A more obscure Richard Thompson song:-

John Dunblane, Annie Painter, they were true lovers to the end
They grew up together in the streets where no one is your friend
They mixed their heart's blood together, they swore they'd always be true
When Annie left for the summer, she said for now but never adieu
I'd give my life to be with you
Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure
But only lovers die for love

The summer turned into winter but Annie Painter never came
A cold wind blew through the dark town
And it chilled the heart of John Dunblane
He took the road to every city, he sailed to every port of call
He hung his head as tears were falling, he scratched his message on the wall
I'd give my life to be with you
Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure
But only lovers die for love

He was broken, he was crazy, his face was old and cracked with tears
He was dying of the seasons that shook his frame for thirteen years
As he lay sickening by the roadside, a voice came drifting through the air
It was the voice of Annie Painter, she sang a song sweet and clear
I'd give my life to be with you

He went running through the city, he searched for day after day
When he found her she was dying, and all for love of John Dunblane
She said "Forgive my cruel father. He tried to keep me away.
And don't despair for my dying, for this is our wedding day."
I'd give my life to be with you
Some will die for fortune, some will die for pleasure
But only lovers die for love
Only lovers die for love

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 07:26 PM

Mr. Fox

I have to say, not a bad poem. How about the melody?

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 07:53 PM

Richard Thompson

Excellent Guitarist

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Genie
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 06:19 PM

I still think "The Last Kiss" - the one where the girl runs back into the path of the oncoming train just to retrieve her boyfriend's high school ring - takes the cake for sheer, totally unnecessary and avoidable pathos.    LOL

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 08:20 PM

"Teen Angel" is the same story. Some radio stations in NYC banned it and "Running Bear" as promoting suicide.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 08:31 PM

Genie,

The song you are thinking of is "Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning.
Debut: 12/21/59+
Peak:   #1
Weeks: 18
Source: JW's top Pop Singles 1955-2002 Billboard

You must be suffrin' from the "Dead-Teenager-got-the-lyrics-mixed-up with-the-wrong-song-title" addled brain syndrome from a'listen' to those morbid songs when you wuz a'growin up. That happened to me also.

In "The Last Kiss" the dumb jerk could'nt drive, had slow response times and killed his date. Heck, he probably was not going steady with her and she therefore did not have a ring anyway to be included in the lyrics:

There in the road, straight ahead ...

The car was stalled, the engine was dead.

I couldn't stop, so I swerved to the right.

Never forget the sound that night ...

The cryin' tires, the bustin' glass.

The painful scream that I heard last

Last Kiss J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
Debut: 9/5/64
Peak: #2
Weeks: 15
Same source as above.

J. Frank died at age 49...wonder if it was in a car wreck?

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Genie
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 12:53 AM

You're right, Cruiser. That occurred to me while I was driving on the interstate today, but I haven't been around a computer till now.
All it took was for me to hum the "... They said they found my high school ring clutched in her fingers tight ..." line, and the chorus immediately popped into my head too.

You beat me to the correction.   (No surprise there. Mudcatters have exceptionally well-developed error correction reflexes!) LOL


Both songs are pretty melodramatic, in any case.

If I recall correctly, the inspiration for "Teen Angel" was a short newspaper blurb about a girl who was killed when a train hit her boyfriend's stalled car on the track. I think Dinning himself supplied the high school ring part just to add to the drama. :)

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Cruiser
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 07:41 PM

A beautiful melodic, lyrical ballad notwithstanding it's very sentimental, although meaningful, context; one of my all-time favorite tearjerkers.

DAYS OF SAND AND SHOVELS
(Bud Reneau / Doyle Marsh)
Jim Ed Brown - 1970
Lyricsplayground.com


When I noticed her the first time
I was outside running barefoot in the rain
She lived in the house next door
Her nose was pressed against the window pane
When I looked at her she smiled
And showed a place where two teeth used to be
And I heard her ask her mom
If she could come outside and play with me

Soon the days of sand and shovels
Gave way to the mysteries of life
Then I noticed she was changing
And I looked at her through different eyes
We became as one and knew a love
Without beginning or an end
And everyday I lived with her
Was like a new day dawning once again

And I've loved her since
Every doll was Shirley Temple
Soda pop was still a nickel
Jam was on her fingertips
Milk was circled on her lips

After many years our love grew silent
And at night I heard her cry
And when she left me in the fall
I knew that this would be our last goodbye
I was man enough to give her
Everything she needed for a while
But in searching for a pefect love
I found that I could not give her a child

Now she lives a quiet life
And is a mother of a little girl
And everytime I pass her house
My thoughts go back into another world
Cause I see her little girl
Her nose is pressed against the window pane
And she thinks I'm a lonely man
Who wants to come inside out of the rain

And I've loved her since
Every doll was Shirley Temple
Soda pop was still a nickel
Jam was on her fingertips
Milk was circled on her lips

Bobby Vinton
Debut: 6/14/69
Peak: #34
Weeks: 8

Source: Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 Billboard

Waylon Jennings
Debut: 5/24/69
Peak: #20
Weeks: 12

Nat Stuckey also had a #26 country hit with this song in 1978.

Source: Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles 1944-1993 Billboard

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Grab
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 08:15 PM

"My favourite spring" by Tom Paxton. *So* designed to tweak the emotions, but it works.

Also "Almaz" by Randy Crawford.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 06:07 AM

McArthurs Park as performed by Richard Harris. God knows what it was all about but that Harris bloke knows how to sing melodrama:-)

Lots of the Child ballads must fall into this category surely?

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: GUEST,Phill
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 08:32 AM

Scrump wrote (a day or seven back in this thread)

> I just found this site that has playlists for the KE shows
> (hope it works): blue clicky (if not the url is
> http://www.chronoglide.com/wwwshome.html)

It does work, but we need more! I did some fantasy KE playlists
a while ago, but it would be nice to catalogue the real ones!
KE playlists

Anyone have such a thing?

Phill O'Sofa

Subject: RE: Melodramatic Songs: Past, Present, & ..
From: Rowan
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 02:18 AM

In the 70s Pageant often performed a "Death Bracket", complete with fog machine and the occasional 'crow' academic gown. Teen Angel (with taped motorbike) featured, as did "She moved through the fair", an advertising jingle for Chambers' Caskets and other, more traditional, folk songs. Up to the eyebrows in melodrama!

Cheers, Rowan