Melancholy? (Maybe) (With Musical Accompaniment and Spoken Word) (Ha!)
(Detail from “1 Mississippi” by Karin Gustafson
Melancholy (Maybe?)
Come to me my melancholy baby.
Come over here girl,
Cuddle up and don’t be blue,
‘N cut your frownin’.
All your fears are foolish fancies, maybe
You listen to that gabbin’ roundin’?
You know, honey, I’m in love with you.
Don’t you know I love you, gal?
Every cloud must have a silver lining
Things’ just about to look up, Hon;
Just wait until the sun shines through.
Just you wait and come some fun.
Smile, my honey dear, while I kiss away each tear
So, give me a kiss, don’t you pout–
Or else I shall be melancholy too
Or else you gonna bum me out.
To hear the poem/song click this title: Melancholy Maybe
If you want a good if sorrowful LAUGH, I urge you to listen to the above recording of the above poem, half of which is sung by yours truly. (Yes, I have a sore throat, poor equipment, and all the rest of the usual excuses, all in this case true!)
I am posting the above for dVerse Poets Pub Poetics challenge, hosted today by the wonderful (if sometimes grim) poet Stu MacPherson. He asks us to instill our work with some combination of melancholy and beauty. My poem (for those who don’t recognize it) borrows all of its non-italicized phrases from the lyrics to the beautiful song, My Melancholy Baby, written by Marc Shaiman, Ernie Burnett, and George Norton.
Check out dVerse. And my books! poetry, GOING ON SOMEWHERE, (by Karin Gustafson, illustrated by Diana Barco). 1 Mississippi -counting book for lovers of rivers, light and pachyderms, or Nose Dive, a very fun novel that is perfect for a pool or beachside escape.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: Cut me some slack gal, dVerse Poets pub poetics melancholy, manicddaily, Melancholy Baby poem, poem translating melancholy baby into modern lingo, Poorly sung poorly spoken but funny
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ManicDDaily 
August 11, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Love this–made me smile, and a little sad too. Well done.
August 11, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Thanks, Susan. k.
August 11, 2012 at 4:49 pm
I do remember my mother saying every cloud must have a silver lining. To me this poem talks about the discomfort some people have with melancholy and how they wish to talk it away or kiss it away or cuddle it away. As the ending of your poem, I guess they don’t want to catch the mood. I don’t know what the answer to ‘melancholy’ is if one is with someone who is experiencing it…..except for just being there in the moment with them. At least that is what I’d want. Thought-provoking poem. Sorry about the ramble.
August 11, 2012 at 4:57 pm
That’s okay. You know listening to the old song in new light, there is definitely a feeling of “lighten up already.” K.
August 11, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Ha Ha–I did laugh, but from pleasure! “Maybe,” Maybe! Thank God for song, but life just isn’t a musical, though we can play it for melodrama or even tragedy when we want. When we need an answer, life should not give us the song and tap dance. Definitely melancholy.
August 11, 2012 at 4:56 pm
I do remember the original Miss Manic…. Quite lovely indeed. Regrettably unable to listen to your song at the moment, GoogleTV’s limitations, but definitely will return…..
August 11, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Hi John! So nice to see you back. k.
August 11, 2012 at 5:19 pm
i listened to the song whilst reading this (the Frank Sinatra version) and then I listened to yours. I actually found this quite bitter-sweet…and there was a southern accent (at least I think southern? in the writing anyway) that couterbalanced the song lyrics with some grit….it also made me smile- taking the song lyrics from the original to the modern… I know a few people who this could relate to! awesomely creative take on the prompt! very nicely done!
August 11, 2012 at 6:15 pm
haha…i like the two voices…nice singing too k….i like the different dialects as well…the second a bit more street or laid back than the sung….i am smiling more than i am bummed out…very artistic
August 11, 2012 at 6:16 pm
So fun, Karin. I’m a bit melacholy because my laptop wouldn’t play the audio…tells me it’s forbidden and I’m not sure how to make it happen. I wanted to hear your raspy sore throat!
August 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm
I remember that old song. Never saw it as something to smile about though until I read this. A good bit of fun K, thank you. 🙂
August 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm
I like the verses weaving of two voices….
But I can’t see the link to the audio 😦
August 11, 2012 at 10:15 pm
It’s just the “Melancholy Maybe” in purple under the poem. I’ll high light it.
August 12, 2012 at 7:00 am
How creative was this…Enjoyed the singing behind the spoken word ~
August 12, 2012 at 8:02 am
Thanks, Heaven.
August 11, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I love “Melancholy Baby”. It’s such a sweet old song.
August 11, 2012 at 7:26 pm
That was fun! Thanks for sharing it, and it’s quite a creative idea, I must say. Enjoyed everything 🙂
August 11, 2012 at 8:32 pm
I love your picture n your whimsical, melancholic ‘I love you’ song. Yes would like to hear it 🙂
August 11, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Love that last line–reminded me of the old don’t worry be happy song line–‘stop bringin ever’bodee down witchyor bad attitiude!” Sometimes silly is just silly, and sometimes, it’s really fun. I’m still grinning.
August 11, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Thanks, Joy. k.
August 11, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Heard the two voices, heard the song. Melancholy baby needs someone to keep her company as most often they get ignored. Nice write K!
Hank
August 12, 2012 at 1:25 am
inspired poem – i love the layering of two voices – the song and the poem – quirky and fun!
August 12, 2012 at 8:03 am
Thanks. k.
August 12, 2012 at 1:58 am
haha… very cool k. – you’re booked for the next music session in the pub…smiles
August 12, 2012 at 8:03 am
Yes, well, I’ll practice my guitar! k.
August 12, 2012 at 2:07 am
This is great. I was going to say how I loved the call and response aspect to the piece, but after listening to your excellent recording, which I have to say I really liked how you were able to overlay the lines, which, after listening I realized the one voice is speaking to the other, but the other is just singing their thing, almost unaware or at least non-receptive to the other party there. Which, reading it like that, is way better than how I read it from the screen alone. Super job here. Thanks
August 12, 2012 at 8:02 am
Thanks, Fred. k .
August 12, 2012 at 4:40 am
hahahahahaha ~ ah ~ how wonderful ~ the audio is fab
August 12, 2012 at 8:06 am
Thank you, Polly.
August 12, 2012 at 7:25 am
We all need someone to hug us when we are down, tell us we are loved. Very sweetly done!
August 12, 2012 at 8:41 am
This is so cool! Totally made me smile.
August 12, 2012 at 8:56 am
Thanks, MZ> k.
August 12, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Awww. You have a sweet voice, even with your sore throat. The writing is fun, and I loved hearing it. It made a big difference for me, hearing how you intended the lines to overlap, even more like a conversation.
August 12, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Thanks so much Yousei.
August 12, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Wonderful, Karin. A great riff on the prompt– xxj http://parolavivace.blogspot.com … xxj
August 12, 2012 at 4:33 pm
🙂
wonderful fun
August 13, 2012 at 6:46 am
It adds a whole new dimension to listen to poem with song as background. It struck me that some things don’t change- we’re uncomfortable with sadness, no matter what dialect it’s in, and want to try to change it. I like what you did with this prompt!
August 13, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Your song and verse were great! Very clever – sounded like a movie from the 50s.
August 15, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Brought a smile to my face!