"Zilch" (A Fugue)

Day 9 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

It is gorgeous today!! Temps are only in the 50s, but the sun is brilliant, and there's a cool breeze blowing. I washed some bedclothes, put them out on the line to dry, and they were dry in no time. Ran some errands today. Andrew had an eye doctor appointment -- long overdue -- and found, NOT to his surprise, that he needs glasses. He has astigmatism in both eyes, and the right is worse than the left, just like Thomas. He picked out some attractive frames, but they were a bit tight; had to order the right size, so in a week or so I'll share a pic of him with his new specs.

I'm very much in the mood to start playing in the dirt. I need some new interesting shade plants. Anyone have any suggestions? I have a lot of shade and partial shade in the front yard. Need something new this year but don't know what.

Since I feel so good today, here is a fugue from The Monkee's third album. It fascinated me when I was younger. It is a nonsense thing, and would probably be fun to try to perform if you've been drinking! lol "Zilch" was written by Davy, Mike, Peter, and Micky, and performed by (spoken by) all four as well.

Trivia about "Zilch": The Monkees would sometimes enter public places performing it; "Mr. Bob Dobolina" was a name heard over a paging system (and really, if you heard that name paged, wouldn't you try saying it over and over again just to hear the way it rolled off the tongue?); "China Clipper calling Alameda" came from the Movie "China Clipper"; "Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self-defense" is from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" (and is also performed in the song "No Time"); "It is of my opinion that the people are intending" is from a political speech; They Might Be Giants sometimes perform "Zilch" in their live show, and the "Never mind the furthermore...." line is featured in their song "Memo to Human Resources"; "Zilch" was just nonsense, which explains the name; it all added up to ... nothing. (My sister Barbara recently wrote a fugue about four of the family cats that is so good. I wish I could share it with you, but since you don't know the cats in question it probably really wouldn't make any sense. lol) So with no further ado, here is "Zilch":

Lyrics:

By David Jones, Micky Dolenz,
Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork

1st Part
Zilch!
Mister Dobalena, Mister Bob Dobalena
Mister Dobalena, Mister Bob Dobalena
Mister Dobalena, Mister Bob Dobalena
Mister Dobalena, Mister Bob Dobalena

2nd Part
Zilch!
China Clipper calling Alameda
China Clipper calling Alameda
China Clipper calling Alameda
China Clipper calling Alameda

3rd Part
Zilch!
Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self defense.
Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self defense.
Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self defense.
Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self defense.

4th Part
Zilch!
It is of my opinion that the people are intending.
It is of my opinion that the people are intending.
It is of my opinion that the people are intending.
It is of my opinion that the people are intending.




"Shades of Gray"

"She"

"Your Aunty Grizelda"

"Last Train To Clarksville"

"Papa Gene's Blues"

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

"Shades of Gray"

Day 8 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

"Shades of Gray" is a beautiful song, beautifully written and beautifully performed. It is from The Monkees' third album, "Headquarters", released May 22, 1967 (I was 13 months old!). This was the first album that had significant songwriting and instrumental performances by the members of the band instead of session musicians. The only instruments in this song not played by members of the bed were the French horn and the cello.

"Shades of Gray" was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, with Davy and Peter sharing lead. Hope you enjoy:

Lyrics

When the world and I were young, just yesterday,
Life was such a simple game, a child could play.
It was easier then to tell right from wrong,
Easier then to tell weak from strong,
When a man should stand and fight or just go along.

But today there is no day or night,
Today there is no dark or light,
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.

I remember when the answer seemed so clear,
We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear.
It was easier then to tell truth from lies,
Selling-out from compromise,
Who to love and who to hate, the foolish from the wise.

But today there is no day or night,
Today there is no dark or light,
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.

SOLO

It was easier then to know what was fair,
When to keep and when to share,
How much to protect your heart and how much to care.

But today there is no day or night,
Today there is no dark or light,
Today there is no black or white,
Only shades of gray.
Only shades of gray.

"She"

"Your Aunty Grizelda"

"Last Train To Clarksville"

"Papa Gene's Blues"

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"