10. Little Bird

•

Janet Skorodinsky 305 Strand Street Santa Monica, California 396-2037

-~- . - 12 songs recorded at 3-3/4 words and mus1o by Jan Skorodinsky

ORDER OF TAPE

l. THE SHOW 2. .ABIWAl - SLEEP WARM 3· LAf!l DAY 4. ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN 5. ROME IS HERE 6. -VAST 7• A SONG OF SEASONS 8. .AIO!HER NOEL 9 • l]lES!IOBS. 10. LITTLE BIRD

ll. ~HE CIRCUS 12 • A WALK l)OWN fER S ( I·. t~~ ~rJ1'f

4 j ~me and play your pretty little violin for me. ,i · I will find my toeshoes and a yellow rosary te de. We will open up the curtains and the windows too and give a show 1-re two!

You will stand upon the kitchen chair and sweetly play. I will do a curtsy and a funny little tour-je-taix.

I will keep on spinning-inning all around the room - and schottische with - the bristly bvoom.

All the snoopy tourists who visit in the spring they will come and sit along the curb and gaily sing - te ding. And the people living-iving up and dovm the street - will bring a snack - to eat.

And soon everyone will be dancing -

and amm~ing this little refrain. And the lady won't think to be asking his serial number or name - oh no! - -his social security claim -- oh no! the color or size of his frame - oh no! or why just the hell he came - who could care? when the music and shiny moonlight fill the air?

Zing- etc.

(continues) 2 the show

Come and play your pretty little violin for me.

I will find my toeshoes and a yellow rosa~y te de. We will shut up all the curtains and the windows too -- to say our shov-r is through.

Goodnight. Adieu.

end.

I've stood before you naked in my sacred pool of tears - walked the slender valleys of your trust. Somehow I've been beside you through your childhood years - I watched the little soldier turn to rust.

I know the color of your eyes from the inside out - and I have felt the trembling of your hand. And even though these separate roads seem strewn with doubt - I want you to know- I 1 d like to try and understand -- CHO. ---why I am more lonely being with you - than I seem to be when we're apart. Maybe - it's because just being with you doesn't let me in your heart.

And as I look around the room - I cry to see the boxed-up remnants pressed against the door and know that to this place - they're all that's left of me - and then I wonder - what I'm leaving for.

Maybe the loving sounds - the joy and tears - are buried somewhere deep within the wood. And if some night you lie awake and chance to hear - maybe you'll remember it was good.

Why am I more lonely being with you - than I seem to be when we're apart? Maybe it's because just being with you doesn't let me in your heart.

(continues) 2 - Anyway sl~~p warm

I know the color of your eyes from the inside out - and I have felt the trembling of your hand. And honey - though these separate roads seem strewn with doubt I guess I hope they'll help us understand -- CHO why I am more lonely being with you -

than I seem to~be when we're apart. Maybe - it's because just being with you doesn't let me in your heart.

Anyww.yr Sleep warm.

end LAZY DAY

Lazy day- and it isn't even May! February yaps at my heels.

I tell it,'~et away- Come back some winter day. Go whistle. :Pick a thistle! 1

I don't care - there's summer in the air. I can smell it baking the grass. The rain from yesterday - spit and polished up today - Not complaining -. Daisy chaining.

I suppose it's only in my nose. 01' groundhog went right on back to sleep. How can he sleep away this ripe watermelon day? Saspirilly! He's a silly!

La de dum , etc.

end ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow - in an English Country Garden? I'll tell you now of some that I know - -.

Come my love - we will dance across the floor - Snowing off the new faces that we wore. CHO. - We are dancing a pretty minuet while the music-box plays a waltz. One - two - three. One - two - three.

Crossword people - who look away from you - Verbal junkyards that clutter up my view. CHO. Pasteboard postmen who hand above the street. Funeral riders - who offer me their seat.

Antique babies - who never learned to die. Ice cream faces that melt beneath a sigh. CHO. Handcuff handshake you give me every spring • Do you think I would try to steal your ring? OHO. Starched white apron you tie around your heart. Neon streetsigns that show me where to start. CHO. --- In an English Country Garden. end HOJYIE IS HERE

Home is here love - - home is here. Here where you rest - Here on my breast.

Still your fear love -- home is here. Room of my arms shelter from harm.

Wooden walls - welded with finest care - crumble in time and fall -- leaving you bare.

But my heart -- fashioned of beating loam -- even when we must part offers you home.

Home is here love -- home is here. Whither you roam - you will be home.

end Just today -- deep in the warm of a summertime beach -- three small boys and I lay within arms reach of each down on our bare bellies in the sand.

We lifted it - and sifted it by hand - through part spread fingers .... watched it as it fell. And cried 'Oh See' at what remained unsifted.

a brokeri bit of mussel shell -- a sun-dried string of ocean grass a spindle branch of driftwood - drifted - sanded glass - -.

We tagged in single file then -- dom1 truck tire tracks - down to the sea. We stood at last in the wet - and let the sand suck our feet.

Then we went wandering - weaving in and out along the scalloped edge of water line - I traced it with a stick.

~ en about six feet etched - V\ a wave strode in and wiped out mine!

continues) 2 vast

Then it occurred to me this shallow ledge - - this is the hem-edge of the sea! the lacey part surrounding all that wide and deep. --

Silly me! Silly me! To even fancy it might keep -- my sketchy small rea tining w·all.

end

La de de de de dum.

Rock season -- tree season. lv.Line a little weaker.

Love season -- hate season. Iviine a little meeker.

Laugh season -- cry season. Mine -- a little stronger.

Leaf season -- bird season. Mine a little longer.

But today is summertime - and the willowy branches rustle green taffeta and take their chances - walking on the gusty arms of their windy lovers. Sipping sunlight - gold and warm - while the cloud birds hover. No longer remembering - so drugged with pleasure - that the lustful fall the first in the autumn weather. La de de de de dum. (continues) 2 a song of seasons

It is only in the night when the sun is sleeping - do I feel them trembling do I hear them weeping.

Cho. la de de de de dum.

end. .ANOTHER NOEL

CHORUS Noel - noel - noel noel - Noel.

Driftwood people on the Strand - Sifted throughtthe shifting sand -

·~-vearing beads and fraying tassels - Kings and queens of fallen castles.

Pretty salt and pepper faces spicing up the tasteless places waiting for the Christmas bells to ring.

Oho

Children blow their bubble hours - butterflies that have no flowers - hungry for a crust of bread and given caviar instead.

Little girls still fashion sashes out of silver bowls of ashes waiting for the Christmas bells to ring.

CHO c:- Hear the pleading pebble tears beat against the iron ears. Trim the Christmas tree with sod -- He was young - and he was god -- (continues) 2 another noel

- -Dead on someone elses mud -- lying in his wasted blood waiting for the Christmas bells to ring. --Oho. Amen.

end

Why can't I look around the bend - and see you coming and know you come for me?

And if I could - what would I really see?

Why can't I put a seed into the ground - and know for certain - it would gro-vrl

And if I could - what would I really kno-vr? CHO. When all I have to shelter me - this tattered thread-bare canopy that cannot even keep away the rain.

And sometimes - "t·rhen the soft embracing comfort arms return again -

I must admit - I 1 m vfai ting for the pain -

-----~-~o start again.

Why can 1 t I wear the winter fur and simply change to gingham as the seasons turn7

And if I could - what would I really learn'l

continues 2 questions

Wby can't I take the wild-flower from your hand and not remember it must die?

And if I could - would it really be a lie?

CHO.

--- To start again When all my tears were over dragon-flies - and lightning skies and mothers'lies.

To start again --

\fuen all my fears were over C~ptain Hookfis history books dirty loolcs nothing more.

When I was a child once before.

Rept. vs. 1 through chorus.

end. LITTLE BI@

Little bird sitting at my window - calling out so sweetly that it's almost morning! that the sun climbing up the hillside is shining everything along his way.

Little bird - do you wake the flowers? -- telling them so s1'1Teetly that it's almost morning? -- that the sun climbing up the hillside is drying all the dewdrops on his way.

If I had a wish - what would my 1-rish be? I would wish to be a birdy too! If I didn't think my mommy'd miss me - I would fly away with you ! - -we'd be

Little birds sitting at the window- calling out so sweetly that it's almost morning! Greet the sun climbing up the hillside - Oh what a lovely way to start a day! What a lovely way to start a day.

end copyright THE CIRCUS

Last night I went to the circus! I sat and I watched the parade.

The great l~on roared from his pedastal cage - and that put the silly peacock in a rage. She ruffled her feathers and fell off the stage.

Last night I went to she circus! The clown was the funniest part. His face was all puffy - his nose was all red. He tripped over everyone's feet, and he said, "Get out of my way- or I'll cut off your head."

Last night I went to the circus! And I saw the daring young man. He flew through the air with the greatest of easi - but the pretty young girl on the other trapeze got dizzy from height and decided to freeze.

Last night I went to the circus! I saw such remarkable things! A lady in pink had a bear on a chain. He danced when she gave him a glass of champagne. The lady said he was quite simple to train.

Last night I went to the circusl

The elep~ants stood in a line. A man on the tightrope was glistening and grand. Then somebody shot him with a rubber band. He fell with no net - and he got a big hand. (continues) 2 the circus

Last night I went to the circus! The music was played on a drum. A man came around in his high collared shoes with popcorn and pretzels and peanuts and booze - collecting old money - and yesterday's news.

Last night I went to the circusl I saw things I couldn't believe! I saw the fat lady all ironed and pressed - the half and half person - with only one breast - the snake charmer - charming his slithering guest.

Last night I went to the circus! I laughed and I laughed til I cried. With animal droppings adorning the floor - I waved to the crowd as I backed out the door. I'll never go back to that place anymore.

I'll never go back to the circus again. The sight of a funeral gets under my skin. I'd rather sit home and turn into a stone. Or put up a tent - and get drunk all alone.

end.

Lovers still are blissing - but even as they're kissing - forked tongues are hissing his and her capers.

While the world is waiting for fate to be fating - and hate to be hating like an enigma - for leaves to be leafing - thieves to be thiefing - grief to be griefing in the cinema ---

I take a walk down Kenter Street. And for a little while - wait - instead of enter. I think of you - and smile --

of when you took my hand - and ran me down the grassy beach. We splashed into the shadow tide that crept across the hillside - and out of reach.

(continues) . 2 a wal~ down kenter

You'd toss your lion mane. And once you gave to me all the 14 Karat window panes that shimmer brightly out across the sea - at sunset time.

Then - you went away. On fancy feet of flattery - you climbed the swirling staircases of pretty lady 1 s lives - shining up their faces as you'd climb. You shined up mine!

Times - I know that violence is trapped in nets of silence and carried off to islands of propriety.

And I hear the fancy sillies - and the golden bubble frillies by evangelist hillbillies of society.

And then - - I walk down Kenter Street. And for a little while - wait - instead of enter.

I think of you and smile.

12 songs recorded at 3-3/4 words and music by Jan Skorodinsky

ORDER OF TAPE

1. THE SHOW

2. A~YWAY - SLEEP WARM 3. LAZY D.AY 4. ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN 5. HOME IS HERE 6. VAST 7. A SONG OF SEASONS 8. ANOTHER NOEL 9. §UESTIONS. 10. LITTLE BIRD 11. THE CIRCUS 12. A WALK DO\iN KENTER