LYRICS FROM THE KROPOTKINS

Truckstop girls  (Soldier)             

You don't know the darkness in my heart
summer days drain down in coffee grounds
read a cold destruction in my eyes
feel pealing thunder from the skies

and I rock and I roll
and I roll a big stone on your grave

Truckstop girl will paint her face and fire her grill and burns you off my mind
Heavy wind with heavy water now avoid the trooper's daughter baby take your order any time

Truckstop girls know every lie avoid her eyes and any driver here
Heavy wind with heavy water now keep your eyes on the quarter
watch it watch it watch me disappear

and I rock and I roll
and I roll a big stone on your grave

Seconds past midnight  (Velvette & Soldier)  

Heighdy ho heighdy hi
One hundred twenty fifth street on a midnight creep.
All you need for tonight is forty-five dollars for a Valentine’s special.
They brushed his hair and beat him tenderly.
That fool thought death didn't know his name.

Don't hold it so tight, it's gonna bruise your head
you don't need that tonight, all you need in New York
is forty-five dollars and a Valentine’s special.
They beat his breast and singed him tenderly.
That fool thought death didn't know his name.

Yes sir, yes ma'am, don't work 'round here
babe don't go unconscious ‘til you’ve had enough.
They'll ride you hard and put you up wet
just so you don't forget the whole wide world is looking for love.

Only seconds past midnight and her leg so high
and her smile so sweet.
All you need in New York is a heart as cold as railroad steel.
They broke his bank and kissed him tenderly.
That fool thought death didn't know his name.

Sissy wa wa   (Velvette, Soldier, Rory Young)

Sally died, how did she die?
Oh Sally died, how did she die?
She died like this, oh she died like this

Sally’s living, where’s she live?
Oh she lives in a country called Tennessee
She wears short short dresses up above the knee
She like to shake that thing wherever she goes
She wanna shake that thing wherever she go

Sally died, oh Sally died just like a cherry tree
Oh she died like this, oh she died like this

Sally’s living, where’s she live?
Oh she lives in a country called Tennessee
She wears short short dresses up above the knee
She gonna shake that thing wherever she goes
She gonna shake that thing wherever she go

He look sissy sissy sissy sis
Hang down sissy sissy sissy sis
Touch the ground sissy sissy sissy sis
Turn around sissy sissy sissy sis

Oh Sissy wa wa
I found my lover
He’s so sweet
Just like a cherry tree

Crazy Hannah  (Maureen Tucker)     

Crazy Hannah’s riding the train
drinking and cursing and acting insane
Crazy Hannah’s making a fuss
stop this train put her on the bus
Crazy Hannah’s riding the train, Crazy Hannah

Crazy Hannah’s drunk again
loud and messy and eyeing all the men
Hannah’s crazy and riding the train
drinking in the club car and making a scene

Crazy Hannah’s drinking more and more
someone pick her up and put her out the door
playing her music much too loud
conductor’s pissed off and so is the crowd

Poor old Hannah’s crazy as a loon
riding this train and don’t know what she’s doing
she don’t know if she’s coming or going
she don’t care while the beer keeps flowing

Junior's groove  (Velvette)   

I’m lukewarm Lord, neither hot nor cold
who’s gonna pour water on me tonight?
my mouth is sweet as honey, my belly told me so
who’s gonna pour water on me tonight?

I’m oversexed and the Lord He provides
who’s gonna pin a hundred dollars on me tonight?
gonna run the devil up the flagpole
who’s gonna pin a hundred dollars on me tonight?

Old black Mattie’s got no change of clothes
girl got drunk and throw her clothes outdoors

I like my man who is thick at the root
get back woman you messing my stuff up
my baby giggle he don’t give a hoot
get back woman you messing my stuff up

I gotta man  (Charlie Burnham)              

I gotta man, I gotta man
I gotta man who wants my love and affection
I don't pay him no attention ‘cause I gotta nother man

I gotta word, I gotta word
I gotta word for the man who says he loves me to my soul
don't come round me with your pocket full of holes
cause I gotta word, I gotta word
and I hope he don't come knockin' too late

Starkweather  (Poem by James Tucker, edited for song by Dave Soldier)

Charlie combing his pompadour
watch hisself disappear
‘neath the weight of that great Nebraska sky.

Sometimes he felt his soul flap around
like a torn out windowshade
in the empty house where his mama died.

When the headaches got bad
there were visions Charlie had
of a cornfield with Christ a-floating high.

Christ the carpenter is nigh
Master of the Badlands
hammering people down
like crooked nails.

A 49 Merc running flat out to nowhere
with the needle pinned, running flat out to nowhere
past the withered fields and the jerkwater towns
like Indian smoke drifting high and wafting down.

When the night heat got bad
some more visions Charlie had
runnin' flat out on the blacktop center line.

And the sun bloomed millions a roses
red as blood, dripping like tears
and he’s hammering people down like crooked nails.

Forever motel  (Poem by James Tucker, edited for song by Dave Soldier)

If you could only check into a sorryass motel
one of those places where the headlights glide across the wall
big trucks wheeling by and by and by.

If you could only fall asleep and sleep for years
where souls of sleeping children slide down walls like tears
souls of sleeping children that you never had.

If you could only sleep forever in a sorryass motel
‘round souls of sleeping children in a crummy damn motel
just so long, see you later, adios, farewell.

If you could only
fall asleep and sleep for years.

Justice down south  (Soldier)

Justice in bed, justice down south
Just us in the morning with you runnin off your mouth
All last night you was a holy rolluh
Now baby you a broken down Ford

The history steamin’ off the history book's pages
Your story's history’s highly outrageous
Roll you on a crate a RC Cola
Cause baby you’re a broken down Ford

Like sweet honeysuckle from the honeybee
Like teeth gone to chatter from a sweet ice tea
Like a sleepy banty rooster 'neath a magnolia tree
Who cain't cocka doodle doo anymore

Justice in Biloxi, Mississippi by the sea
Jes 2 lazy people cain’t sleep and hardly eat
Start you up and roll your engine ovuh
This moanin' you my broken down Ford

Well it’s up to you, it’s up to you
It’s up to you, it’s entirely up to you
Throw you on a crate a RC Cola
Baby you’re my broken down Ford

On this earth  ( Soldier)

The wife girds for the coming storm
The fisherman shrugs and won't take warning
They don't belong together on this earth
they had minutes of wonderful nights
seconds of pure delight
But they ain't right together on this earth.

The household prays an act divine
Transfers their demons to a herd of swine
They don't belong together on this earth
The prayers they make demand the right
|to seconds of pure delight
But they ain't right together on this earth.

Mary waits beside the tomb
The foolish brides wait for the groom
They don't belong together on this earth
The foolish brides wait day and night
for seconds of pure delight
But they ain't right together on this earth.

The righteous long to live like Buddha
Young King David wails for Judah
They don't belong together on this earth
The righteous long all day and night
for seconds of pure delight
But they ain't right together on this earth                 
No they ain't right together on this earth.

Cricket Song  (Soldier, after Lorca)

On a bed of earth dying drunken in the sunlight
You hear the sounds of grasses as they’re being born and
Now the light of God is descending to the shadows
the sun’s a crack He tore into the sky this morning

Now everyone alive passes death’s door without singing
But you die enchanted, spilling music

Let my heart be a cricket and die singing slowly
Let women sow me into wet black earth by hand
Transubstaniate my blood into the rosy mud
where farmers sink their spades and fertilize the land

Now everyone alive passes death’s door without singing
But you die enchanted, spilling music

Old friend of the beetles and frogs that lie in shadows
sunbeams that toast you late Indian summer
Carry off your soul and turn it into light

The stars of country music greet the spring  (Soldier)

Her eyes glowed with trouble like the end of a cigarette
like the end of a cigarillio, her eyes glowed with trouble
burning in trouble like the tip of a cigarillio in the back in the dark
in a honky tonk whisky with rank cigarillios
a whip-or-will’s crying in a Hank Williams number that she can’t forget

Tears for the clear falling true harmony
til the dead looking trees dress in leaves
and the stars of country music greet the spring

Shake the rain from your hat and walk inside a silhouette
deep back in the shadow shake rain from your hat
then fade into black in the back of a barroom in Montaña in the rain
“Always late” in a barroom the jukebox is sighing a Lefty Frizzell song
with a steel guitar whine I’ll never forget

Tears for the clear falling true harmony
til the dead looking trees dress in leaves
and the stars of country music greet the spring

Wave so long Triana on the way to Montaña
the clouds in that country get lost in the canyons
they pass the horizon to dissolve in Montaña so dry and far away
the letters to daughters from old mother countries
say Patsy Cline’s singing for an old love who faded but she can’t forget

Tears for the clear falling true harmony
til the dead looking trees dress in leaves
and the stars of country music greet the spring

Whipporwill Blues  (Soldier, after Lorca)

What’s that sounding so far away?
the wind blowing through the window darlin

I dressed you up in jewels this morning
Why’d you leave me standing on this road?
When you leave me the whipoorwill’s crying
And the green vine make wine no more
He’s mourning what he loved before
And now loves no more.

You’ll never know little darlin
How I ‘d love you in the early mornings
In the early dawn
when the hard rain shakes the bird’s nest off the vine.

What’s that sounding so far away?
the wind blowing through the window darlin.

Coal Black Wind (Soldier)

The coal black wind rode in south to East St. Lou
Felt the heat close in, Mister Heat how do you do
Then she turns to read the spraypaint on the wall
said “down in hell the devil wear overalls”

It was a demon police said “baby can I accompany you”
She presented her revolver to suggest a different point of view
Dead seraph frozen where he falls
Down in hell where the devil wear overalls

“Through the bars of East St. Louis lives the dead frontier riverboat days”
where the gamblers and the rounders bet rights to their rowdy ways
police and lawyers can’t win hands at all
Down in hell where the devil wear overalls

Well I packed up my suitcase and I started for the train
Down deep in my soul I thought I felt a spreading stain
Down in hell the devil wear overalls
And the damned ride a train they call the Cannonball

Lyrics from ZAJAL

These are the lyrics of the pieces on the album Zajal. With the exception of The Stars of Country Music Greet the Spring, and Bima which is a gazhal in Farsi I read in a Sufi bookstore, they are from medieval Andalusia and in medieval Arabic, Hebrew and Spanish (known as Romance). I have found them in old Diwan collections in libraries in Spain and New York.

Krav (Battle) קְרָב
(by Samuel ha Nagid)

Krav Dome Berosho Leyefeyfiya
Asher Kol Eesh Lesachek Ba Ye-ave
Vesofo Kazkena Hameusa
Asher Kol Shochara Yivke Veyidve

Translated by Ana Nimouz:

At the start, a battle is like a very beautiful girl
with whom every man longs to play
And when the battle is over it is like a repulsive old hag
And all her suitors mourn cry and ache.

Rendered in modern Hebrew:

Beethila Krav Dome Le-eesha Yafa
Shkol Ehad Haya Rotze Ba Ve-eeta Lesahek
Vekol Mee Shetamach Ba Mitabel Veboche.


Water and Fire  ماء ونار
(by Al-A Ma At Tutili)

Bi’sa la-‘mri ma arada l-‘adh ul
‘Umrun qairun wa-‘ina’ un tawil
Ya zafaratin nataqat ‘an ‘alil
Waya dumu’ an qad asabat masil

Dam-un safuhun wa-dulu’ un hirar
Ma’un wa-nar
Ma-ajtam a illa li-amrin kubar

Ya Ka’batan hajjat ilay ha l-qulab
Bayama hawn da’in wa shawqin munib
Da’wata awuqhin ilay ha munib
Lubbayka! La’alwi li-qawl l-raqib

“Meu l-habib enfermo de meu amar
Que no ha d’estar?
Non ves a mibe que s’ha de no llegar?”

(translated from Arabic by Ana Nimouz)

Stanza 2 and 3
In my life, it's hard to hear their (censorious) words
for life is short and love’s labors are long
(I sing) to the cries that betray the one who loves
and for the tears that flow like a stream.

Stanza 1
Flowing tears and a burning chest
water and fire
if you can't be together,
live for those moments you can

Stanza 5 and 6
All hearts are wandering to Kaba.
I am torn by the passion that calls to all who believe in love
you called the sinner to come back to you.
Here I am! Pay attention to me!! Not to the spy’s words

“my lover is sick for loving me
and why wouldn’t he be?
can you see he can’t be near me?”

Beautiful Boy  אֱהִי כֹפֶר לְעֹפֶר קָם בְּלַיִל
(by Samuel Ha-Nagid) Ehi Kofer Tzvi Hefer Briti

Veahavato Betoch Libi Shmura
Asher Amar Lasahar Bealoto
"Hatireh Et Meor Panay Vatera"
Umareh Halevana Baafela
Kevareket Bechaf Alma Shchora

Ehee Kofer Laofer Kam Balayil
Lekol Kinor Veugavim Meytivim
Asher Ra-ah Beyadi Kos Veamar
"Shte meebeyn Sfatay Dam Anavim"
Veyareach Kmo Yod Nichteva Al
Ksut Sachar Bemeymey Hazehavim

(translated from Hebrew by Ray Scheindlin)

I will offer my life to the gazelle who woke at night,
to the sound of viols and melodious harps.
who saw a cup in my hand and said
“Drink from between my lips grapes’ blood!”
And the moon like a C was inscribed on
Dawn robes in golden water

I will offer my life to the gazelle who violated my alliance,
And I guard his love in my heart,
he said to the rising moon
"When you see my radiant face- will you be afraid?"
and in the dark, the sight of the moon
was like an emerald stone in the palm of a black girl.

Haldara thabyu el-Hema (If)  هل درى ظبيُ الحمى أن قد حمى 
(by Ibn Sahl)

Haldara thabyu el-Hema, An Kad Hama
Kalba Sabin Chalahu, An Maknisi

Fahawa Fee Haren, Wachafkin Mitlama
Laebath Reeyachu, Alsabaa Bilkabsi

Ma Likalbi Filhawa, Thambin Seewa
Minkum Elchusnu, Wamin Awnee Elnathar.

(translated from Arabic by Ana Nimouz)

stanza 1
Does the little fawn from Al-Hima know that
he kindled his lover’s heart where he dwelled?

stanza 2
So that is why his love is burning and pounding
like the flame teased by the east wind.

stanza 4
Was my heart a sinner because I was in love?
all of the beauty comes from you, and the sparkle comes from my eyes.


B-Abi (My Father)  بأبي ءلق 
(By Al-Qazzaz)

B-abi Ee-lku
Bil-nafsi Aliku

Hawaytu Hilalan Fil-husni Farida
A-aara El-razala Al-hadan waggida

Zanahu Rashku
Wa-ilkadu Rashiku

Badrun Yatharalab Bilsachri Almubini.
Etharun Muakrab Ala Yasmini

Falahu Mashku
Wa-ilkalbu Mashuku

Wataha Gamalan Lam Yanbor Mazida
Badrun Yatallala Fi-chusni Aatidali.
(translated from Farsi by Ana Nimouz

II would pay a ransom with my father
the most precious property my soul holds

I loved a new moon so special and unique in its beauty
He loaned his sparkle and thin neck from the deer

blessing adorn him
his figure was graceful

a full moon that is captivating with his recognized charm.
His cheeks directed towards the ground, curving on the jasmine

his figure is tall and attractive
from now on my heart is enslaved to passion

He asks (the moon) not to grow old
a full moon that appears with is fullness glory, proud of his beauty.


Raqib (The Spy)   ראקיב
(by Moshe ibn Ezra, also known as Abu Harun Musa, 1060-1139, Granada)

Ke adame filiolo alieno del amibe,
keredlo de mi betare su a raqibe!

Lo eshkach yemey cheldee
Leyl shachvo eley tzeedee
Al arsee u-marvadee
Ad boker neshakanee ve-asses peev heneekanee

(translated from Romance (early Spanish) by James DenBoer, from Hebrew by Ray Scheindlin and Sigal Trattner)

I loved a sweet boy from another clan, and he loved me
but his chaperone (spy) wants to keep us apart!

Never will I forget the night
The night he lay beside me
Upon my bed and carpet -
Until morning’s light he kissed me,
With his mouth’s nectar suckled me

Rendered in modern Spanish:
Amé a un hijito ajeno y él a mi
lo quiere apartar de mi su espía!


Bi-Moa (Without Myself) بي ما
by Jalal Ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273)

Mora safari fitad bi-moa
Onje delema goshad bi-moa
Onma-ch-ke zema nehan hami shud.

Ru-ch-ber ru-che-ma nehad bi-moa.
Chun-dar rameduuz Jan bedawdim
Mora kame-ouh bizad bi-moa.

Mow-eem hami shemas bi-moa
Mow-eem hami she-shad bi-moa.

Mora makonid yad hargezz
Ma-chod hastym yad bi-moa.

Bi-moa shode eem shad gu-yim
Eyma kehami-shehbad bi-moa.

darha hame baste bud barma
Bokshud churah-tab bi-moa.

Mow-eem zenidu bad rehide
Az-ta-aatu az fassad bi-moa.



(Translated from Farsi by AnnaT)

Devoid of self I traveled to a place
There, in the absence of I, joy filled my heart.

Without I, his obscured face, like the moon
Came forth and kissed my cheek.

In longing for my love I perished
And from that longing, birth was given to me.

I am eternally drunk, without wine.
My joy is endless, without I.

Do not remember me, ever.
For I am memory itself, without I.

I am ecstatic without myself, so I say
O me, may you always be without I.

All the doors were shut to me, and
All opened when he let me in, without I.

Me, I am the one, free of good and evil,
Free from obedience and corruption, without I.


ekol Mee Shetamach Ba Mitabel Veboche.

Lyrics from CHOREA LASCIVIA (1991)
recorded on the CD

Original Latin lyrics and translations of medieval Latin poetry, mostly on homosexual themes featured on the CD of the same name.
The text is adapted from homo- and heteroerotic Latin poetry of the Middle Ages.
Dedicated to Robert Mapplethorpe and David Wojnarowicz.
English translations of II, V, VII, & VIII by the late Thomas Stehling, by permission of his family. Translations of I & IV by Soldier.

I.   Dum Caupona Verterem

Dum caupona verterem vino debachtus,
secus templum Veneris eram hospitatus,
solus ibam prospere vestibus ornatus,
plenum ferens loculum ad sinistrum latus.

Venus clementissima, felix creatura,
cerno quod preterita noscis et futura.
Ipse sum miserrimus, res iam peritura,
quem sanare poteris tua leni cura.

"Bene," inquit, "Veneris noster o dilecte
iuvenis, aptissime cedes nostre secte.
Si tu das denarios monete electe,
dabitur consilium salutis perfecte."

"Ecce," dixi, "loculus extat nummis plenus,
totum quippe tribuam tibi, sacra Venus;
si tu das consilium, ut sat sim serenus,
tuum in perpetuum venerabor genus."

Exuit se vestibus genitrix Amoris,
carnes ut ostenderet nivei decoris.
Sternens eam lectulo fere decem horis
mitigavi rabiem febrici doloris.

Tribus reor mensibus secum sum moratus,
plenum ferens loculum, vixi vir ornatus recedens a Venere sum
nunc allevatus
nummis, atque sic sum pauperatus.

Terreat vos, iuvenes, istud quod auditis;
dum sagittam Veneris penes vos sentitis,
mei este memores; quocumque vos itis,
liberi poteritis esse, si velitis.

When I left the tavern

When I left the tavern drunk on wine,
I visited Venus's temple nearby.
I traveled alone, dressed to kill
with a full wallet on my left hip.|"

"Venus, most merciful, blessed creature,
I observe you know the past and also the future.
I'm most miserable, about to die,
but you could heal me with your gentle attention."

"We welcome," said Venus, "our fine youth
who choose to join our righteous sect.
If you donate the right quantity of cash
you will be advised about the perfect salvation."

"Look", I said, "my wallet has plenty of cash;
I will assign it completely to you holy Venus.
If you give instruction so that I will be at peace,
I will venerate your high ancestry forever."

The Mother of Love removed her clothes
to show her lovely flesh.
Spreading her out on the couch for some ten hours
I appeased the rage of my fever and pain.

I stayed with her, I think, for three months
and was respected while I had a full wallet.
Yet after leaving Venus I was relieved
of all my money and now I'm a pauper.

Young friends, may what you're hearing strike you with terror.
When the arrow of Venus pierces you
remember me; wherever you go
you can be freed [from torment] if you wish.

-from the Carmina Burana

II.   Ad Puerum Anglicum

Ad Puerum AnglicumAve puer speciose, qui non queris precium
qui te dono conparari summum ducis vicium
in quo decor et honestas delegit hospicium
forma cujus sibi capit oculos spectancium.Crinis flavus, os decorum cervixque candidula
sermo blandus et suavis; sed quid laudem singula
Totus pulcher et decorus, nec est in te macula
sed vaccare castitati talis nequid formula.Crede mihi, si redirent prisca Jovis secula
Ganimedes jam non foret ipsius vernacula
sed tu, raptus in supernis, grata luce pocula
gratiora quidem nocte Jovi dares oscula.Puellarum juvenumque votum extas publicum
te suspirant et exoptant quem noverunt unicum.
Errant quidem, inmo peccant qui te vocant Anglicum;
et vocalem interponant, et dicant angelicum.

- Hilary the Englishman (12th century

III.   The English Boy

Hail handsome boy, you who seek no gain,
Who think that to be purchased by a gift is highest vice,
In whom beauty and integrity choose their dwelling place
Whose appearance captures the eyes of all who see.
Golden hair, beautiful face, and white neck,
Winning and sweet conversation--but why praise these things one by one?
You are completely handsome; there is no flaw in you--
Except this worthless decision to devote yourself to chastity.
Believe me, if the ancient times of Jove were to come again,
Ganymede would no longer be Jove’s maid,
But you, ravished in the heavens, would give Jove
Pleasing cups by day, and even more pleasing kisses by night.
You stand out, an object of general devotion for young men and girls.
They sigh and long for you, recognizing you as unique.
Those who call you English truly make a mistake; no, they even sin.
Let them change the vowel and say angel.

Note: Ganymede, the cup bearer for Jupiter, is used in classical and medieval poetry to represent homosexuality.

IV.   Miser, Miser

Olim latus colueram, olim pulcher extiteram
dum cignus ego fuream.

(Refr.) Miser, miser!
modo niger et ustus fortiter.

Girat, regirat "furcifer"
propinat me nunc dapifer,
me rogus urit fortiter

Miser, miser!
modo niger et ustus fortiter.

Mallem in aquis vivere
nudo semper sub aere,
quam in hoc mergi pipere:

Miser, miser!
modo niger et ustus fortiter.

Eram nive candidor,
quavis ave formosior,
nodo sum corvo nigrior:

Miser, miser!
modo niger et ustus fortiter.

Nunc in scutella iaceo,
et volitare nequeo,
dentes fredentes video:
Miser, miser!
modo niger et ustus fortiter.

Once I lived on a lake,
once I was beautiful,
when I was a swan.

Misery, misery!Now I'm black and charred
through and through.

Now they turn me on a spit
I feel the searing flame
a mighty funeral pyre.

Misery, misery!Now I'm black and charred
through and through.

I'd rather live on the water
always exposed to the open air
than immersed under this
pepper.

Misery, misery!Now I'm black and charred
through and through.

I'll never be snowy white
like a gracefully formed bird
I'll be twisted like a black raven.

 Misery, misery!Now I'm black and charred
through and through.

Now I lie in the pan
unable to fly
I can see the gnashing teeth.

Misery, misery!Now I'm black and charred
through and through.

- from the Carmina Burana

V.   Graffiti from a ninth-century manuscript

Antidoto cuivis Venus indiscreta choheret,
sed discreta Venus gaudet Ganimede tenello.
Certius hoc certo nichil est, quam quod Venus omnis
expers sit mellis, si Ganimede caret.

Corpore pigmeos, hos inguine crede gigantes,
nam longam caudam quisque pusillus habet.

Sit licet iste brevis, iactura tamen brevitatis
inguine pensatur, quod longum constat habere.

For relief the undiscriminating Venus embraces anything,
But the fussy Venus takes her delight in tender Ganymede.
Nothing is surer than this: Venus would be
Without honey if she were without Ganymede.

As for bodies, they’re pigmies, but believe me they’re giants in the crotch,
For each of these little men has a long tail.

Though they may be short, the lack of height
Is compensated in the crotch, which certainly has length.

VII.   Parisius Paridi

Parisius Paridi.
Felix tua secula vidi,
infelix careo
nunc Ganimede meo.Vulgus mendicum,
nebulones, grex meretricum
turbaque lixarum
te sine leta parum.Cura tue Flore--
marcet sine te, sine flore
hit sitit--ut valeas,
plus tamen ut redeas.Nevolus absque pari
nescit de nocte iocari;
hic ait: "Hispo, redi,
cui mea vota dedi."Te sine mendico;
sed, si te tollis amico
et remeas sero,
publicus hospes ero.

-Serlo of Wilton (c. 1110-1181)

From a Parisian to Paris: happily I watched your life;
Now unhappily I miss my Ganymede.

All the crowds of beggars and bums, the flocks of whores,
And the mobs of camp followers have little joy without you.

Your Flora--drooping without you, thirsting without his flower-
His concern is that you be well, and even more that you return.

Nevolus without his mate can't play at night;
He says, "Hispo, return; I have pledged myself to you."

Without you I beg, but if you tear yourself from your friend
And return, even late, I will be host to the whole world.

VIII.   Letter to Ausonius

Ego te per omne quod datum mortalibus
et destinatum saeculum est,
claudente donec continebor corpore,
discernar orbe quamlibet.Nec orbe longe nec remotum lumine
tenebo fibris insitum,
videbo corde, mente conplectar pia
ubique prasentem mihi.Et cum solutus corporali carcere
terraque provolavero,
quo me locarit axe communis pater,
illic quoque animo te geram.Neque finis idem, qui meo me corpore
et amore laxabit tuo;
mens quippe, lapsis quae superstes artubus
de stirpe durat caeliti,Sensus necesse est simul et adfectus suos
teneat aeque ut vitam suam,
et ut mori, sin oblivisci non capit,
perenne vivax et memor.Vale domine illustria.

- Paulinius of Nola (c. 353-431)

               You and me: for all time which is given
And destined to mortal men,
For as long as I am held in this confined, limping body,
No matter how far I am separated from you in the world,
You will be neither distant from me or far from my eyes:
I will hold you, intermingled in my very sinews.
I will see you in my heart and with a loving spirit embrace you;
You will be with me everywhere.
And when released from this bodily prison
I fly from earth
To the spot in heaven where our universal Father places me,
There too I will keep you in my spirit;
Nor will the end which frees me from my body
Release me from your love.
For the mind once it has survived loss of limbs,
Continues to grow out of its heavenly root,
And therefore must keep both its understanding and affections
Along with its life.
And just as it experiences no death, it will experience no loss of memory
But remain forever alive, forever mindful.
Farewell noble master.

SOLDIER STRING QUARTET

Michael Callen music & lyrics Dave Soldier

  If you lived long before
Courbet would paint your eyes
From Monmarte prison
Genet could send you a thousand pretty lies
Someone would write lyrics like Porter
And bring them to you on his knees
No matter, someone would adore you
In this age I'm lucky to be
One who believes
Romance can live today
and though they try
To sweep our old world dreams far away
While we cling to each other we can ignore
The critics who neatly surmise
That no one can speak that pure old language
But our love tries.

N'Orleans music & lyrics Dave Soldier

Learn to sing in pidgin English and gently embark on the breezy sea
down in the cargo I hear sweet voices ringin'
you'll give thankful oblation when we land in beautiful N'Orleans

Now be glad glad glad you not traded in Charleston
where you bound on Sulivan's Island 'til you sink or swim
now be glad glad glad when they sanctify your person
and you get your new religon over there in beautiful N'Orleans

I'll take you there
to a beautiful city
I'll take you there
to the drums on Congo square
I'll take you there
every Saturday and Sunday
you will praise your Gods you landed over there in beautiful N'Orleans

There's a pretty little house for you on a slowly windey river
| don't even need to wear shoes on Rampart street
from Algiers to Treme' to the lovely Garden districts
you'll surely praise you Gods you landed in beautiful N'Orleans

Boogie on, party people

Lyrics adapted from traditional songs by the Bauls of Bengal with translations by Deben Bhattacharya

1
Only a connoisseur of the flavors of love can comprehend the language of a lover's heart: others have no clue. The taste of lime rests in the core of the fruit and even experts know of no easy way to reach it. Honey is hidden in the lotus blossom, and the bees know it. Dung beetles nestle in dung, not caring for honey.

The land talks in paradox and the flower devours the heads of fruits, and the gentle vine, roaring, strangles the tree. The blood is white and on the lake of blood float a pair of swans copulating continuously in a jungle of lust and love.

2
The incredible engine of a train makes the wheels move with organized power from the beautiful earth, fire, water, and air. But the day comes when the passenger goes, and the boiler breaks down and the engine stops and four shoulders bear the machinery to the funeral ground.

3
Mad, mad, we're all mad. Why is this word so derogatory, then? Dive deep into the heart's stream and you will find no one better than the one who is mad.

Some are mad after wealth and others for glory. Some go mad with poverty and others with aesthetic forms. Some are madly in love. The glamour of madness is great.

4
A tramp by nature and a beggar at that, she lives a strange life, almost insane, with values of her own which are contrary to those of others. Her home being under a tree, she moves from county to county all year round, as a dancing beggar who owns nothing in the world but a ragged quilt.

Lyrics from Soldier String Quartet CD

“She’s lightning when she smiles”
Transpcriptions of recorded blues 1926-1966

liner notes for "She's Lightning When She Smiles"

I began transcribing and arranging old records after listening to Robert Johnson's If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day. The performance gave me the feeling that Johnson, who I later heard was a Count Basie fan, was thinking of a big band orchestration even while playing the parts on solo guitar. When I wrote a big band arrangement of this piece and some Skip James songs for a concert at Gorgio Gomelski's club Plugs in 1983, my eyes opened to how deep and complex the music really is. The polyrhythms and microtonal intervals of the originals are so unforced and natural that listeners are unaware of them. The goal I've set is to try not to smooth over the weird patches and keep all of the strange pitches, rhythms, and phrasing that I can understand. As I continued to transcribe and arrange the work of great blues musicians, it became a school, and although I'm not a rhythm and blues performer, it has been a place from which in part my own compositions have grown. An invitation from Art at St. Ann's to perform a concert of blues transcriptions gave me a chance to pay tribute to this music. Some of the musicians are considered classics by millions of listeners while others are mysteriously ignored and seem to live on by altering the course of those fortunate enough to encounter them, the way that I suspect Robert Pete Williams helped beget Captain Beefheart.

Moanin’ at Midnight (Howlin' Wolf)

  There’s somebody knockin on my door

  well I’m so worried don’t know where to go

  well somebody’s calling me

  well calling me on my telephone

  somebody calling  call by my telephone

  well keep on calling

  tell him I’m not at home

well do not worry  daddy’s gonna be here

Clouds in my heart (Muddy Waters)

Oh look out at the weather woman I believe it’s going to rain
whoa you know I’m going to check up on my baby
  she’s going with another man

Lightning was flashing
don’t you hear how the thunder rolling
  I'm all alone by myself
don’t you hear how the wind a blowing

The weather seems so foul
clouds way deep down in my heart
the sweet little girl we made such a bad start.

By the moon & stars (Louise Johnson)

It's a full day moon goin’ down
well I saw my man but he still comin’ round and round

I said a big star is falling and it’s goin’ on for days
I goin’ hold my baby, change my evil ways

I’m gonna way down squeeze me night and day
Yes I - squeeze me night and day

If I cross my knees baby I swear I’ll be goin’ away
Now won’t you come here baby sit down on my knee

won’t you come here and sit down on my knee
well I just want to tell you that man how you have treated me.

Cypress Grove (Skip James)

I would rather to be buried in some cypress grove
then to have a country woman lord I never could call true

And when your kneebones get to achin’ and your body getting cold
you know you’re just getting ready honey for some cypress grove

Honey I would rather to be buried six feet in the clay
then be up here in New York City honey treated this a way

And I would drink muddy water, I sleep in a hollow log
before I stay up here honey treated like a dog

Yes I’m going away honey don’t you want to go
scared to go back down south them people gone kill me sure

I’m going to sing this song and I ain’t gonna sing no more
because my time has done got precious baby I just got - I got to go

Uncloudy Day (as sung by the Staple Singers)

well they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise
whoa they tell me of a home
far away so far away
whoa they tell me
of a home where no storm clouds rise
whoa they tell me
of an uncloudy day

well well well
lord they tell me lord
I got a home got a home beyond the sky
well well a home
well they tell me
of a home far far away
yea lord they tell me now
well no storm no storm cloud rise
well whoa whoa
they tell me of an uncloudy day

Sugar momma (John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf version)

Now they tell me sugar momma|
where in the world did you get your sugar from
way down in Lousiana
way down on your father’s sugar farm

You know they braggin’ ‘bout your sugar
you know they braggin all over town
You know they braggin’ ‘bout your sugar
about it all over town
the bootlegger want enough to make whiskey
you won’t sell but about 4 or 5 pounds

You know I like my coffee sweet in the morning woman
and you know I’m crazy ‘bout my tea at night
you know you come out of Lousiana babe
all I want you to do is treat me right

Future blues (Willie Brown)

Can’t tell my future lordy
I can’t tell my past
lord it seems like every day sure gonna be my last

well minutes seem like hours lordy
hours seem like days
and it seems like my woman oughta  stop her lowdown ways

well that woman I love now she’s five feet from the ground
I said woman I love now lordy five feet from the ground
yes she’s tailor made and ain’t no hand me down

Lord and I got a woman now lordy shes lightnin’ when she
lightin’ when she
lightnin’ while I said a I got a woman now she’s lightning when she smiles
Well I feelin’ so (itchy?) when she damn good lookin’ style (?)

well I know you seen that picture now lordy up on you mother’s
up on your mother’s on that shelf
I know you seen that picture now up on your mother’s shelf
well you know bout I’m gettin tired of sleeping by myself

And it’s T for Texas T for Tennessee
and it’s T for Texas now it’s T for Tennessee
God bless that woman that put that thing on me

Black Snake Moan (Blind Lemon Jefferson)

Oh ain’t got no momma now
   they told me late last night you don’t need no momma nohow

hmm black snake crawlin’ in my room
some pretty momma better come and get this black snake soon

Oh that must have been a bedbug
honey a snake can’t bite that hard
I asked my baby for 50 cents she said Lemon ain’t a dime in the yard.

If I had possesion over judgement day(Robert Johnson)

If I had possesion over judgement day
lord then there woulda been one woman would have no right to pray

And I went to the mountain and as far as my eyes could see
Lord (?) but a man got my woman and lonesome blues got me

And I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
whoa I woke up this morning my biscuit roller gone

As I folded my arms butI slowy walked away ( spoken:) I didn’t like the way she’d done
As I folded my arms and I slowy walked away
I made in my mind your troubles goin’ come some day

Now run here baby set down on my knee
I wanna tell you all about the way they treated me

PEOPLE'S CHOICE MUSIC

THE MOST WANTED SONG

Lyrics by Nina Mankin (after Dave Soldier's survey results)

She:
Ooh yeah
Everyday I think of love
I thank the angels up above
They sent me into your world
Baby let me be your girl
ooh

Lying in my silken sheets
I think of ways that we might meet
I’d be so good by your side
Baby let me be your bride

‘cause I been goin’ so wrong
and I’m thinkin’ maybe baby
you’re the one to make me right  ooh

Baby can’t you see
You’re my fantasy

He:
Joey was a travelin’ man
Long and lean with a face like a baby
And she worked the nightshift
In the bright lights down on Washington

As she filled the ketchup jars
She looked at him like the risin’ sun
Shinin’ down on his dark star
Shinin’ for the lucky one

Cause he’s be goin’ so wrong
And he’s thinkin’ maybe baby
You’re the one to make me right
yeah yeah yeah

Both
Baby can’t you see
You’re my fantasy

He
Maybe she likes reading Wittgenstein

She
Fancy dinners drinking good red wine

He
Simple livin’ in our own RV

Both
Could it be that you're exactly like me?
Yeah yeah yeah

Baby can’t you see
You’re my fantasy

THE MOST UNWANTED SONG

Lyrics by Nina Mankin (after Dave Soldier's survey results)

THE SUN IS HOT AND DRY

GONNA ROPE ME A COW

I SAY

YO! YO!

I'M LOOSE AND FREE

WHOA THERE NELLY

YOU'RE THE HORSE FOR ME!

Children's Chorus:

(one kid yells) hey everybody, it's Christmas-time!

CHRISTMAS TIME!

CHRISTMAS TIME!

JESUS, MARY AND THE MANGER        

CHRISTMAS TIME, FAMILY TIME

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING AT WALMART!

Children's Chorus:

EASTER TIME! EASTER TIME!

LOVE, FORGIVENESS AND THE BUNNIES

EASTER TIME, CHOCOLATE TIME!

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING AT WALMART!

Soprano

MEANING IS DOING! IT'S A LANGUAGE GAME!

WORDS ARE CONTENT! NONSENSE! NONSENSE!

WORDS ARE CONTENT! YAHOO!

Children's Chorus:

YOM KIPPUR! YOM KIPPUR!

SELF REFLECTION AND ATONEMENT

YOM KIPPUR, THAT'S WHAT FOR

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING AT WALMART!

Full Chorus:

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING

AT WALMART!

Soprano:

BUY SPURS THAT JINGLE

AT WALMART!

Children's Chorus:

RAMADAN! RAMADAN!

LOTS OF PRAYING WITH NO BREAKFAST

RAMADAN, SO MUCH FUN

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING AT WALMART!

Soprano

WHOA MISS KITTY!

I SAY WHOA THERE!

WHOA MISS KITTY

YAHOO! YAHOO!

Children's Chorus:

(one kid yells) Hey everybody! It's Labor Day!

LABOR DAY! LABOR DAY!

SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED AND POOLS ARE OPEN!

LABOR DAY!

ALL THE WAY!

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING

AT WALMART!

Full Chorus:

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING

AT WALMART!

Children's Chorus:

VETERAN'S DAY! VETERAN'S DAY!

SOMETHING TO DO WITH WAR AND CARNAGE

VETERAN'S DAY!

WHAT'S THERE TO SAY

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING

AT WALMART!

(one kid yells)  Hey everybody! It's Halloween!

HALLOWEEN! HALLOWEEN!

TRICK OR TREAT FOR CANDIED APPLES!

HALLOWEEN! WHAT A SCREAM!

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING

AT WALMART!

protest rant over elevator music

VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE! TWENTY-SEVEN ELECTORAL VOTES! CENTRAL POLICY ISSUES! TWO PARTY SYSTEM! STRUGGLE!

PEOPLE! COMING TOGETHER OUT OF A DESIRE TO OBTAIN POLITICAL POWER! GAIN CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT! EXECUTIVE BRANCH! MILITARY BRANCH! FOREIGN AFFAIRS! INFLUENCE POLICY! PROMOTE IDEOLOGY- FASCISM! PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS -- GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOUS! IMELDA MARCOS! PROMOTE SPECIAL INTERESTS -- SUGAR! BEEF! BANANAS! PORK BELLIES! PORK BARRELS! LUMBER! COCA COLA! THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY! THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF OPPRESSION!

WHO ENSLAVED HUMANS OF COLOR? WHO INVADED THE CARIBBEAN? WHO MURDERED ALL THE INNOCENT CHILDREN?

YOU DID! YOU! YOU! YOU!

Children and soprano on protest song

IT MAY BE YOU

IT COULD BE ME

IT'S NOT ENOUGH

TO WAIT AND SEE

AND WHEN WE ALL

LOCK ARMS AND SING

THEN BELLS OF FREEDOM

RING DING DING