HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY
Friday December 2, 2011 3:27 amIn The Legend of Sleepy Hollow there is a line where Irvin mentions the witching hour, i.e., midnight. I just glanced at the clock above my desk and saw where I have been sitting here and listening to old songs with my headphones on (so I'll not wake a sleeping house) since before 12:00, and it is now nearing the devil's hour... 3:00 am. It's a good thing I am off tomorrow, that way I won't have to worry about being sleepy at work. Anyway, with the sound now turned to a lower level and while listening to "Ol' Blue Eyes" singing, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning... I thought I might write something for my blog.
It's funny how a seeming random event can capture your mind. Earlier today (after work) as I walked in the front door Deb had the television turned to a music channel and Dean Martin was singing a song. After the song ended he introduced Frank Sinatra. I suppose it was that which caused me to want to listen to some of Sinatra's music, and this I started a few hours ago.
The Wee Small Hours of the Morning is a powerful song; yet, there is amazing few words used... only 63 in the entire song! (I had to count them, lol.) Yet, talk about a powerful use of prose in such economy of words. He has great pathos in his voice as he sings this song: I guess it is true that whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. And, at least for my taste, Sinatra was a better singer during (and after) this time in his life than ever before. Of course he recorded this song soon after his breakup and heartache over losing Ava Gardner. If you know that fact, then the next time you hear Frank's soulful voice singing...
In the wee small hours of the morning
While the whole world is fast asleep
You lie awake and think about the girl
And never ever think about counting sheep
When your lonely heart has learned its lesson
You'd be hers if only she would call
In the wee small hours of the morning
That's the time you miss her most of all
… perhaps you will be able to imagine him (as I did) just a regular guy who can't easily find sleep because he's still heartbroken over the loss of a love ):
It seems that almost all great literature, songs, poems, sonnets, etc. all owe their birth to someone writing about that which was lost... usually a love. So, this early morning, as a writer to a reader, if you can't sleep either, I offer these few words of another sad song to further fuel your insomnia... sorry (:
Here are a couple of refrains from Colin Hay's song... I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You
I don't want you thinking I'm unhappy
What is closer to the truth
That if I lived till I was 102
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
Your face it dances and it haunts me
Your laughter's still ringing in my ears
I still find pieces of your presence here
Even after all these years
I don't usually do this.. and by “this” I only mean to quote people without their permission, unless they're famous and part of public domain. This morning though I am going to quote a somewhat anonymous soul... bucklee 7. I thought I wanted to hear Colin's song again and as I was listening I read several of the comments which followed this song. This comment, more than most, made me sad for this person I don't even know, so I thought I would type his words for my readers to see.
“i listen to this song, and all i can see is her face... i hear her laughter, her excitement, and even the way she breathed when she was fast asleep. i feel her snuggle up beside me on the couch to watch a movie, and the way she held my hand when we were out and about. i miss her so much, so damn much...”
I bet if bucklee 7 already has a good voice... because of his heartbreak over this unnamed love... I would be willing to wager that he could now sing a great song about lost love. Remember... to all of my fellow insomniacs, if something doesn't kill you outright... it only makes you stronger... yeah, right ):
The last few hours listening to Sinatra, Presley, Diamond, etc. has been bittersweet, yet somewhat cathartic for me.
I now sit in a mostly darkened room with George Jones singing into my earphones: He Stopped Loving Her today; and with only the soft light from my computer screen still keeping me company... I will do what another of my favorite male vocalists (Diamond) did to help him forget. So, to Neil, Elvis, Frank, Ella Marigby, and even Father MacKenzie (lol) … here's to you (:
posted by Robin Johnson @ 3:23 AM
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