Here’s a little ditty (a short, simple song) to help ease (make something unpleasant easier) your way into a new work week. When we’re not looking forward to going to work, we sometimes say, “Another day, another dollar,” expressing a feeling that we do routine work, the same type of work day after day, to earn a living, or to make enough money to live.
Even people who like their job as I do sometimes feel like they want to stay in bed on a Monday. I hope this little song puts a smile on your face, as it did mine. And to those people who don’t have to get up and work on Mondays, I have special message for you at the bottom of this blog post.
~ Lucy
P.S. At the beginning of the video, the singer says that she has to admit (say without wanting to) that she’s wearing her pajamas, which are clothes we wear to sleep in.
“Living in a Tree”
by Priscilla Ahn
Living in a tree,
Yeah that’s where I’d like to be,
When the world falls down (collapses; is destroyed).
No one can say nothing,
Which I guess means they’ll say something,
But I won’t be around (won’t be here).
I’ll be in my tree,
Living free,
As any child would wanna be.
Chaos (completely without order; complete confusion) in the streets,
Lonely hearts bear (contain; have) lonely beats (each movement of a heart),
In a world carved (shaped from something hard) with steel and stone.
Miscommunication (not communicating well) leads to fear and hesitation (pausing (stopping temporarily) before doing something),
And it won’t leave me alone.
But now in my tree,
I’m living free,
As any child would wanna be.
Maybe you and me can make a home for us and someday free from the strongest wood of the tallest tree and we’ll be,
Living in my tree,
Living free,
As any child would wanna be.
Lucy shared with you her favorite Christmas carol (song) on Tuesday, so I thought I would talk about my favorite one today, on Christmas Eve (eve is short for evening, but here means really the day before Christmas, December 24th). Like Lucy, I found it difficult to choose my favorite because I like so many of them. And like Lucy, I thought about my childhood and the carols I first learned to love.
I remember each year my family and I would go to St. Columba Church (just a few blocks from our house) on Christmas Eve and hear these wonderful songs and hymns (religious songs, usually sung as part of a religious service or event). The church was always crowded (usually with people you didn’t see in church except on Christmas!), but the mood (atmosphere, feeling) was one of joy and real happiness to be celebrating this great day of Christmas.
The choir (group of singers) was always joined by a man named Connelly, a singer who was a member of the church community who had a beautiful, deep, powerful baritone (very low-sounding) voice. (Everyone called him “Pops,” but I’m not sure why. Pops is an (old) informal term meaning “dad” or “father.”) Toward the end of our celebration, Pops Connelly would have a solo (singing by himself), and it was always the song, “O Holy Night.” (Holy means sacred, dedicated to God, very good.) Each year when I heard it, it reminded me of the “true” spirit of Christmas, of why we were there. The song was written originally as a poem in French in the 19th century (1800s) and was later translated into English.
This rendition (version, performance) was done by the incomparable (unable to be compared to anyone else, because he is so great) Nat King Cole, a popular American singer in the 1940s and ’50s. Cole doesn’t have the same deep voice, but he always sings with emotion, and it is difficult not to be moved (affected emotionally) by the way he interprets (performs) this carol.
A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it on this “holy night”!
~Jeff
“O Holy Night” sung by Nat King Cole
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonderbreaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
Saviour = someone who saves or rescues you from some danger; here, Jesus Christ long lay = for a long time there existed/there was pining = experiencing some pain (mental or physical) because you have been disappointed in love; wanting or desiring the return of someone you love felt its worth = believed that it was valuable weary = tired rejoices = celebrates yonder = over there, at a great distance, far away (old-fashioned, poetic term) breaks…morn = begins a new morning, a new day, with the sun rising Fall on your knees = kneel, put both knees on the ground as if to pray divine = relating to God Christ = literally the “anointed” or chosen one; here, Jesus Christ, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas (the “mas” is short for Mass, the Catholic religious service)
Although Christmas is considered a Christian holiday, in the U.S., many people who are not Christian celebrate it as a secular (non-religious) holiday. One thing people love about Christmas, even if they are not religious, is the Christmas carols, songs to celebrate this holiday season.
When I was young, it was not uncommon during the weeks leading up to (right before) Christmas for carolers to come to the front door. Christmas carolers are groups of people who go from door-to-door (one house to the next) singing Christmas songs. School groups, church groups, groups of neighbors or friends, would get together, usually informally, to go Christmas caroling. When a group of carolers come to your door, you and those in your house become the audience–you applaud and if the group is small or if you know some members of the group, you may offered them a snack, such as a cookie or slice of cake, or even a holiday-related drink, such as apple cider (like apple juice) or eggnog (drink made with egg, cream, spices, and sometimes alcohol). Then, the carolers move on to the next house. These days, it’s less common to see Christmas carolers, and I can’t remember the last time I had Christmas carolers come to my house in Los Angeles.
In the Christmas spirit, Jeff and I agreed that we would each pick our favorite Christmas carol for the blog. (Jeff will post his on Christmas Eve, December 24th.) I found this to be a very difficult choice to make because I love listening to and singing carols, even when it’s not Christmas, to the dismay (distress; pain) of anyone around me. To choose just one among so many is nearly impossible.
After a lot of thinking, I picked “Little Drummer Boy.” A drummer is someone who plays the drums, of course, which is the musical instrument where you hit a round top with sticks. (The lyrics “pa rum pum pum pum” represents the sound of the drum.) I love its melody (main notes in the song) and the story of a poor boy who wants to honor (pay respect to) someone important (in this case, Jesus), but all he has is his music to give.
To all of you, our wonderful listeners, I wish you a very happy holiday and a wonderful new year!
~ Lucy
P.S. This is another wonderful version of the song sung by the Vienna Boy’s Choir.
“Little Drummer Boy” by the Harry Simeone Chorale
Come, they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest (best) gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum To lay before (present to) the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit (appropriate) to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary (Jesus’ mother) nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time (to maintain the tempo or rhythm), pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
As you probably know, Oprah Winfrey has a very popular talk show on American TV called “Oprah,” and to kick off (start) the show’s 24th season, the group Black Eyed Peas perform a special live (not recorded beforehand) version of their hit (popular) song “I Gotta Feeling” in downtown Chicago.
What Oprah didn’t know was that there was a surprise for her: a flash mob. A flash mob is a large group of people whose members know to be at a particular place, at a particular time by communicating electronically, such as through email or Twitter. It’s pretty amazing what this flash mob does!
~ Lucy
“I Gotta Feeling”
The Black Eyed Peas
(4 times)
I gotta (got a) feeling…
That today’s gonna (going to) be a good day
That today’s gonna be a good day
That today’s gonna be a good, good day
Today’s the day
Let’s live it up (spend one’s time in a very enjoyable way)
Twenty-four seasons
Let’s give it up
Look how she smash it
Like Oh My God
Jump off that sofa
Keep watching…OPRAH
I know that we’ll have a ball (have a lot of fun)
If we get down
And go out
And just lose it all (relax completely; lose control)
I feel stressed out (anxious; worried)
I won’t let it go
Let’s go way out spaced out
And loosing all control
Fill up my cup Mazel tov (Jewish expression meaning “congratulations”)
Look at her dancing
Just take it… OFF
Let’s paint the town (go out and enjoy ourselves)
We’ll shut it down
Let’s burn the roof
(2 times)
Cause I gotta feeling… (WoooHooo)
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good, good night
I gotta feeling
Tonight’s the night (HEY! )
Let’s live it up (Let’s live it up)
I got my money (I’m paid)
Let’s spend it up (Let’s spend it up)
Go out and smash it (Smash it)
Like, oh my God (Like, oh my God)
Jump off that sofa (Come On! )
Let’s kick it OFF
Fill up my cup (Drank)
Mazel tov (La chaim)
Look at her dancing (Move it Move it)
Just take it… OFF
Let’s paint the town (Paint the town)
We’ll shut it down (Shut it down)
Let’s burn the roof (Woooooo)
And then we’ll do it again
Let’s do it (4 times)
And do it (2 times)
Let’s live it up
And do it (3 times)
Do it, do it
Let’s do it (3 times)
Do it, do it, do it, do it
Here we come
Here we go
We gotta rock Easy come, easy go (something that you get easily can go away just as easily)
Now we on top
Feel the shot
Body rock
Rock it don’t stop
Round and round
Up and down Around the clock (all the time; without stopping)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday
Get, get, get, get, get with us
You know what we say (say)
Party everyday (x2)
I gotta feeling (WooHooo)
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good good night
In this week’s English Cafe 203, Jeff talked about the classic movie Casablanca. The main hit (very popular) song from this movie was “As Time Goes By.”
The video below has a montage (collection of short videos edited together) from the movie. There are spoilers(information that will tell you what happens in the story), so if you haven’t seen the movie yet and want to see it, you may only want to listen, and not watch the montage.
~ Lucy
“As Time Goes By”
(music and words by Herman Hupfeld; sung by Frank Sinatra)
You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental (basic) things apply (is applicable; is relevant),
As time goes by.
And when two lovers woo (try to gain each others’ love)
They still say, “I love you.”
On that you can rely (depend)
No matter what the future brings,
As time goes by.
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date (old-fashioned).
Hearts full of passion (strong emotion of love) Jealousy (the emotion of wanting what others have) and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate (partner; lover; wife),
That no one can deny.
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory (recognition for achieving something great)
A case of do or die (something that must be done, even though it is difficult and/or dangerous)
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.
I recently got around to seeing a small-budget (made with little money) 2007 movie called Once, and I haven’t been able to get the music from the film out of my head.
The movie isn’t a musical (movie with a lot of singing and dancing), but music plays a very large part in the film. The film takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and is about a struggling musician who busks (plays on the street) and who meets a young Czech immigrant (person who moves permanently to another country) who sells flowers on the street. The film was a favorite at the Sundance Film Festival, and won “best foreign film” at the 2007 Independent Film Awards, awards given to smaller independent films (films not made by a major movie studio (company)). I really enjoyed the movie.
The main song from the soundtrack (collection of songs from a movie) is called “Falling Slowly,” and it received an Academy Award in 2008 for “best original song.” In fact, all of the original songs in the movie were composed (written) and performed by the two lead actors, who in real life, are not actors, but musicians. Since seeing the movie, I can’t get this tune (song) out of my head. I hope to infect (give the disease to) you, too! If you like this one, here is the other song, “If you want me,” that’s been haunting (won’t leave) me even more!
~ Lucy
“Falling Slowly”
by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
I don’t know you, but I want you All the more for that (even more because of that0
Words fall through me, and always fool me
And I can’t react (respond)
And games that never amount to (result in) more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out (come to a result on their own)
Take this sinking (falling into the water) boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ll make it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back Moods (emotions) that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough and warred (had a battle) with yourself
It’s time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody (main notes in a song)
I’ll sing along
QUESTION:
Hyun in Korea wants to know what “hanky panky” means.
ANSWER: Hanky panky is used in two major ways. First, “hanky panky” is used to describe a secret sexual relationship that is against the rules or that is not generally acceptable, perhaps because the two people involved are married to other people, or they work in a company that does not allow its employees to be romantically involved. If you suspect something is going on, you migh say, “I think there is some hanky panky going on between those two.”
A second way it is used is to describe improper or bad behavior, often something that is done secretly so other people, such as those in authority (with power), don’t know about it. It’s usually something that is bad or wrong, but that is not too major or important. For example, your mother packs (puts into one container) you a lunch with healthy foods, but you trade (give something in exchange for something else) your carrots for someone else’s candy. One day, you return home and your mother sees a candy wrapper (paper that candy is packaged in) in your lunchbox. She may say, “I think there’s some hanky panky going on here.”
There is also a very well known oldie (old, classic song) that mentions “hanky panky.” I’ll let you decide which meaning the song is referring to.
~ Lucy
My Baby Does the Hanky Panky (1963)
by Tommy James and the Shondells
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky!
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky!
I saw her walking on down the line.
You know I saw her for the very first time.
A pretty little girl standing all alone.
Hey baby, can I take you home?
I never saw her, never really saw her.
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky!
I saw her walking on down the line.
You know I saw her for the very first time.
A pretty little girl standing all alone.
Hey baby, can I take you home?
I never saw her, never really saw her.
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky!
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky,
My baby does the hanky panky…
Guido in Rome, a listener and friend of the podcast, sent us this amusing (funny) video. This is a musical performance by a group called “Improv Everywhere.” Improv is short for improvisation, which means to create a performance without preparation. Clearly these performers have rehearsed (practiced) this performance, but it doesn’t make it any less amusing.
This takes place in a shopping mall food court in Los Angeles. A food court is an area in a shopping mall with a lot of fast food restaurants and a large common (shared) area with many tables and chairs where people sit to eat. What these unsuspecting (unaware) shoppers never expected was a musical performance like this!
By the way, the woman who begins the song and who is wearing the funny hat works at a chain of fast food stands/restaurants with locations in many California shopping malls called “Hotdog on a Stick.” They are well known for their lemonade, a sweet drink made with lemons, and corn dogs, hot dogs wrapped with a type of bread and deep fried (see picture).
Lemonade spilled across the countertop (a flat surface for working, usually in the kitchen).
There’s ice and lemons everywhere now.
I’ve got to clean it up.
Can I get a napkin, please?
I’m going to need some just like these.
I’ve got three or four, but I might need more.
Can I get a napkin, please?
Ah man! Can I get a napkin, too, by chance (possibly)?
I have spilled some mustard (a yellow paste people put on their hot dogs and hamburgers) on my pants.
What a pain, it’s a shame, this is probably going to stain (leave a permanent mark),
If I don’t get a napkin…
We both need napkins, that’s a fact.
That’s true. It’s napkins that we lack (don’t have).
We’re agreed, we’re in need,
On our knees we humbly plead (beg),
Can we get a napkin, please?
Can I get a napkin, please?
I promise that we’re not wasting trees.
I’ll take one from you, and from this hot (attractive) girl, too.
Can I get a napkin, please?
I need a napkin.
I have an infant (baby) in my arms,
And I don’t mean to cause alarm (make others worried or anxious)
She just hurled (vomited) on my pearls, she’s my darling little girl
But, can I get a napkin…?
I’m the janitor (someone whose job is to clean),
The working man you all adore (love)
Sweeping up this dirty floor,
Boy, my left foot sure is sore (hurting).
I just want a chance to show the world that I can dance!
It’s difficult to think of classic American rock without thinking of the Eagles. The Eagles formed in the early 1970s in Los Angeles and broke up (stop working together) in 1980. They were one of the most successful rock groups and had two of the best-selling albums (recording with many songs) of all time.
In 1994, they reunited (became a group again) to go on a tour (performing in many cities) called “Hell Freezes Over.” We use the expression, “when hell freezes over,” when we want to say very forcefully that we don’t intend for something to happen again. For example, if your wife or girlfriend asks you every week if you will take her dancing, but you hate to dance, you may get angry at her and say, “I’ll take you dancing when hell freezes over!” (That’s not a very nice thing to say, but you get the point.) To freeze over means for a liquid (something wet) to get so cold that it becomes solid or hard. Hell is the very hot and horrible place that Christians believe bad people go to after they die. So by naming their tour “Hell Freezes Over,” the Eagles is saying they they had never intended to get back together and to tour; this is something very unexpected.
The title of this song is “Desperado.” A desperado is someone who is reckless or who doesn’t think of what will happen before doing something. Desperado can also refer to a criminal or someone who does not follow the law or society’s rules.
~ Lucy
“Desperado”
by the Eagles
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses (think clearly; act sensibly)?
You been out riding fences (sitting on the divisions or barriers between two properties or two options) for so long now
Oh, you’re a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasing you
Can hurt you somehow
Don’t you draw (get a card in a card game) the queen of diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
The queen of heats is always your best bet (something that gives you the best chance for success)
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid (put carefully) upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can’t get
Desperado, oh, you ain’t getting no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they’re driving you home
And freedom, oh freedom, well, that’s just some people talking
Your prison (jail) is walking through this world all alone
Don’t your feet get cold in the wintertime?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
It’s hard to tell the nighttime from the day
You’re loosing all your highs and lows
Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate (door in a wooden barrier or fence)
It may be raining, but there’s a rainbow (an arch of many colors in the sky) above you
You better let somebody love you,
You better let somebody love you, before it’s too late
We’re in the middle of summer and it has brought to mind (made me remember) the song “Summertime.” This is a song that was part of a well-known musical (show or movies with singing) called Porgy and Bess, and was written in 1935 by the famous composer (someone who writes music) George Gershwin. This song is now a standard, which is song that most people recognize and is played and performed a lot.
George Gershwin wrote this song to sound like a spiritual. A spiritual is a style of song that was originally developed by African American slaves (people owned by other people and forced to work without pay) to express religious feelings and later, as a part of their protest (expressing disagreement) against slavery. Today, you’ll hear spirituals in churches and other places of religious worship.
This version of “Summertime” is performed by two jazz legends (extremely famous people): Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
~ Lucy
“Summertime”
written by George Gershwin
performed by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Summertime,
And the living is easy
Fish are jumping
And the cotton is high
Oh, your daddy’s rich
And your ma’s good looking
So hush (be quiet) little baby
Don’t you cry
One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up (to wake up in the morning) singing
Yes, you’ll spread (open to its fullest) your wings
And you’ll take to (go to) the sky
But (un)til that morning
There’s nothing can harm (hurt) you
Yes, with daddy and mommy standing by (nearby and watching or waiting)
Summertime,
And the living is easy
Fish are jumping
And the cotton is high
Oh, your daddy’s rich
And your ma is good looking
So hush little baby
Baby, don’t you cry
Guido in Rome, a listener and friend of the podcast, sent us this amusing (funny) video. This is a musical performance by a group called “Improv Everywhere.” Improv is short for improvisation, which means to create a performance without preparation. Clearly these performers have rehearsed (practiced) this performance, but it doesn’t make it any less amusing.
