Saturday, August 2, 2008

I Don't Want to Live in Texas When It's May

"I Don't Want to Live In Texas When It's May" is a family collaboration - I wrote a poem which became lyrics once my son Ted set them to music. For the video the instruments are all played by Ted, Diane is in charge of images and your blogger "Annie in Austin" is the singer.

But for my play Roots In Austin this song belongs to the character Caroline.

I don't want to be in Texas when it's May ... no, the place I long to be is far away.

She may be having fun as an Austinite now, but she misses Illinois when the lilacs bloom at Lilacia Park in Lombard.






Most of this song sounds like a rollicking beer joint tune, but one stanza was designed for flower geeks. If you can't catch some of the lilac names, here's a transcription:

Just the list of names is wonderful to me -
"Ludwig Spaeth", "President Lincoln", "Charles Joly".

The Syringa roam worldwide -
let petite "Miss Kim" inside,
Happy members of one great big family.


All songs, performances and videos are copyrighted. This video made for station stsrec.

4 comments:

Carol Michel said...

Annie, what a great song, one to tap your feet to! Those lyrics could only have been written by a true lilac lover. It's one of your best.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Annie in Austin said...

Thank you, Carol! My son's concertina playing is amazing and making the video was a memorable experience.

Annie

Heather said...

(Clap, clap, applause, applause, Woo Hoo!) Well done, all of you! I know where to come next spring when I'm missing the Lilacs. One of my very favorite cut flowers in the spring. There is an empty lot filled with lilac bushes a few doors away from my home. This year I was over there weekly, cutting them for bouquets around my home. Love 'em! Cheers Heather www.heather-ravenlady.blogspot.com

Tabor said...

Makes me smile.