The beautiful poem by miss Sylvia Plath The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here. Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed-in. I am learning peacefulness, lying by myself quietly As the light lies on these white walls, this bed, these hands. I am nobody; I have nothing to do with explosions. I have given my name and my day-clothes up to the nurses And my history to the anesthetist and my body to surgeons. They have propped my head between the pillow and the sheet-cuff Like an eye between two white lids that will not shut. Stupid pupil, it has to take everything in. The nurses pass and pass, they are no trouble, They pass the way gulls pass inland in their white caps, Doing things with their hands, one just the same as another, So it is impossible to tell how many there are. My body is a pebble to them, they tend it as water Tends to the pebbles it must run over, smoothing them gently. They bring me numbness in their bright needles, they bring me sleep. Now I have lost myself I am sick of baggage—— My patent leather overnight case like a black pillbox, My husband and child smiling out of the family photo; Their smiles catch onto my skin, little smiling hooks.
My 2 cents –
Okay I know that this is a poem…being sung to music. But I love Sylvia Plath and I couldn’t Resist Sharing it. It is so pretty.
[Verse 1] Take me back to old Yazoo Everything up here is new I can’t stand it, just must landed Going back to Old Yazoo
[Verse 2] Everything you do People got their eyes on you It’s compelling, y’have me yelling Going back to Old Yazoo
[Bridge] If you don’t like beans and rice Get your rice and beans If you don’t like greens and ham Just get your ham and greens
[Verse 3] How long will I have you wait? Standing at the station gate Broken hearted, gotta get started Going back to Old Yazoo
[Chorus] Oh, take me back to Old Yazoo Everything up here is new I can’t stand it, just must landed Going back to Old Yazoo Everything you do Peoplе got their eyes on you It’s compеlling, y’have me yelling “Take me back to Old Yazoo”
[Post-Chorus] If you don’t like beans and rice Get your rice and beans If you don’t like greens and ham Just get your ham and greens Lordy, lordy
[Verse 4] How long will I have to wait Standing at the station gate I’m broken hearted Gotta get started Going back to old Yazoo
[Refrain] Yazoo (Yazoo) Yazoo (Yazoo) Yazoo (Yazoo) Yazoo (Yazoo) I am going to Yazoo, that’s where I belong Everything I tell you seems to be all wrong Yazoo (Yazoo) Yazoo (Yazoo)
[Vocalizing Interlude]
[Outro] Going back to old Yazoo (Going back to old Yazoo)
My 2 cents –
My son felt like this was a silly song. To me it feels like old Jazz. It has a lovely feel to it. And it is different than the music you hear today.
I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam Yet, I know it’s true that visions are seldom all they seem But if I know you, I know what you’ll do You’ll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream
La-la, la-la, la, ah, ah, ah But if I know you, I know what you’ll do You’ll love me at once The way you did once upon a dream
I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam And I know it’s true that visions are seldom all they seem But if I know you, I know what you’ll do You’ll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream
My 2 cents –
This version has a dreamy feel to it. I love the song overall, but this one suits the song better.
Pattimouse 