Okay, here's the deal for anyone who wishes to participate. We have two sets of lyrics that we will talk through the thought process for creating a melody. The previous post has a Lyric by Big Jim Merrilees, and in this post is a poem by Eugene Field that was suggested by Sam Harris. I see these as two entirely different kinds of lyrics so we will approach both of them a little differently. I think we could work on them simultaneously so I will try to comment on one and then the other throughout in each of my posts, and I encourage others who participate to do the same.

Originally Posted by Samuel (joe) Harris
Here is another Eugene Field poem. I reworked it slightly to get rid of some dated words like "methinks". It is appropriate for this time of year. It is called "A Valentine". I just found it a few minutes ago. It might be a good challenge/excerise.


Your gran'ma, in her younger days,
was just as beautiful as you
And, though her hair is snowy white,
Her eyes are still the deepest blue,

And on her checks, as fair as yours
I think a girlish blush would glow
If she recalled the valentine
She got, ah! many years ago.

A handsome man loved gran'ma then,
And wooed her in that auld lang syne;
And first he told his secret when
He sent her that first valentine,

No perfumed page nor sheet of gold
Was that first hint of love he sent,
But with the secret gran'pa told---
"I love you"---gran'ma was content.

Go, ask your gran'ma if you will,
If---though her head be bowed and gray---
If---though her feeble pulse be chill---
Does love abide? Does true love stay?

There is a portrait on the wall,
That smiles upon her from above,
I think your gran'ma can recall
The sweet divinity of love.

So I offer you no page of gold---
No sheet embossed with clever art---
But here 's a solemn pledge of old:
"I love you, love, with all my heart."

And if in what I send you here
You think love is not expressed,
Go---go to gran'ma, my dear,
And she will tell you all the rest!

Here is his original version: http://www.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/literature/eugenefield/poems/poemsofchildhood/avalentine.html



Last edited by Jack Swain; 02/02/08 12:24 AM.