901

SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN
(from 'The Sound of Music').

[Rolf:]
You wait, little girl, on an empty stage
For fate to turn the light on
Your life, little girl, is an empty page
That men will want to write on

[Liesl:]
To write on

[Rolf:]
You are sixteen going on seventeen
Baby, it's time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful
Baby, you're on the brink

You are sixteen going on seventeen
Fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and roues and cads
Will offer you food and wine

Totally unprepared are you
To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you
Of things beyond your ken

You need someone older an' wiser
Telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen
I'll take care of you

[Liesl:]
I am sixteen going on seventeen
I know that I'm naive
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet
And willingly I believe

I am sixteen going on seventeen
Innocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies
What do I know of those

Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things beyond my ken

I need someone older and wiser
Telling me what to do
You are seventeen going on eighteen
I'll depend on you

NINETEEN, GOING ON FOREVER!
(from female to old rebel.)

[Ellen:]
You stand, Daddy dear, at a certain stage
In life, called 'being older',
I think daddy dear one should act one's age,
And do as one is told, sir.

[Pa:]
I'm told ... er?.

[Ellen:]
You are sixty going on seventy,
Maybe it's time to think?
No more old-farty prancings at parties,
After you've had one drink.

You are sixty going on seventy
Waffle a load of bull,
Think you're the bees-knees, lovin' the Bee Gees,
Father, that's so uncool!

Genteel and uninformed are you,
Of trends too unaware,
Plus a remaining flaw or two
I'm offering to repair.

You need someone clever and streetwise
Telling you what is new,
I am nineteen going on twenty
I will re-educate you.

[Pa:]
I am sixty going on seventy
Now my confusion grows!
Texting and emails, eerie blonde she-males,
What do I know of those?

I am sixty going on seventy,
I know I waffle on,
But it's all pifflin', for no-one's listenin'
They'll want me when I'm gone!

I'm a mite uninformed, ok,
On that I will agree
Buble, Beyonce and Coldplay,
All three bewilder me!

I need someone clever and streetwise
Telling me what to do,
You are nineteen going on ninety,
Ellen, it won't be you!

902

903

Layla
(Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon--from Derek and the Dominos)

What'll you do when you get lonely
And nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long.
You know it's just your foolish pride.

Layla, you've got me on my knees.
Layla, I'm begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind.

I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you,
Turned my whole world upside down.

Layla, you've got me on my knees.
Layla, I'm begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind.

Let's make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane.
Please don't say we'll never find a way
And tell me all my love's in vain.

Layla, you've got me on my knees.
Layla, I'm begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind.

Layla, you've got me on my knees.
Layla, I'm begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind.

Palin
(Layla tune)

What'll you do in your lonely Alaskan homeland,
Where not many men love you any more?
You're billed as modern maverick mommy,
Denying damned lies and myths galore!

Palin, your modeling gig's over now;
Sarah, go take a timely final bow.
Sarah, won't you please go away!

You're dim, only nominally intelligent,
Densely dull one-dimensional being,
Markedly indolent, yet rudely belligerent,
Immodest self-indulgent diva dreaming.

Palin, your modeling gig's over now;
Sarah, go take a timely final bow.
Sarah, why won't you go away!

You enjoyed mingling in a muddled election;
A kindly dodderer gave benefit of the doubt.
So suddenly a convenient lively selection,
Now just as suddenly felled, motioned out.

Palin, your modeling gig's over now;
Sarah, go take a timely final bow.
Girl, will you please go away!

Palin, your modeling gig's over now;
Sarah, do go take a timely final bow!
Girl, will you please go away-y-y-y-y-y-y!!

904

Poem by J. A. Shedd:

"He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart."

I'm thankful for: Phew, not much--
Just the Light, night, breath,
Mother, dad, hubby, sons, sister,
Paths I've taken, health we kept!