mandolin Archives - ANNE MCCLARD

March 11, 2022March 11, 2022

Looking for Jimmy B

Jimmy Buffett never asked me to marry him. I never met him, but he and his music evoke a South Florida beachy vibe, which is exactly what I thought of when I heard the random three words given to me as a prompt for this song–“crocodile,” “any time” (given as one word), and “shallow.” These words landed my imagination in Key West, a place I have never been, but now would love to go. I would relish a visit to the La Te Da! Who knows what might happen?

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Anne Page McClard · Looking For Jimmy B

Lyrics

I’ve been Askin’ friends I know
Lookin’ high and lookin’ low
For a man by the name of Jimmy B
We were friends, you see
Forty years ago, on a white sand beach,
He sang a little song, asked to marry me.

He sang…
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La, la-la, la-la-la , La, la-la, la-la-la
Won’t you marry me?

I was thinkin’ t’was a joke
Comin’, from a shallow bloke
Wasted away in Margaritaville
With nothin’ but time to kill
Lost his mason jar, no shaker nor salt
Bet you money now, he’s lookin for it still

So I sang…
See you later alligator
After a while crocodile
Any place, any time,
Maybe I’ll see you down at the La Te Da

Long ago when I was young
Seemed like life was full of fun
For a man by the name of Jimmy B
He loved life, you see.
After all these years, I missed the Florida sun
I missed that silly man that asked to marry me

He’d sung…
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La, la-la, la-la-la , La, la-la, la-la-la
Won’t you marry me?

I was Wandrin’ on the strand
Fallin’ down into the sand
Checkin’ out old dives, went to the La Te Da
La Te Dah, da-da
Forty years gone by, hope it’s not too late
It’s been a long wait, at the La Te Da

And, he sang…
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La, la-la, la-la-la , La, la-la, la-la-la
Won’t you marry me?

And I sang…
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La te-da, la-la-la, la te-da, la-la-la
La, la-la, la-la-la , La, la-la, la-la-la
I will marry you …Down at the La Te Da

November 21, 2020

Bristlecone Pine

Those of you who know me, know that I am caring for my 93 year-old mother. She long ago expressed her interest in having her ashes released in the Bristlecone Pine forest on Mount Evans, Colorado when her soul has departed to wherever souls go. In this song I equate her with a Bristlecone Pine. Against all odds from the moment of her birth, she has survived the changes of time. The song is written as a waltz about the lasting dance that she will have among her sister pines.

Anne Page McClard · Bristlecone Pine

Lyrics

In her first act of defiance
She extended a crooked limb
Small soft fist, her hand
A show of self reliance
Her mother gently lay her down
on carpet of alpine moss
Seed sown in tundra
A prayer she’d soon be found

She dreams at night
of her lasting dance
High at timberline
You’ll find her spinning with the stars
Among the bristlecone pines

A seedling’s tendrils drilled deep
In breach of limestone and ground
Gave her strength to endure
Assaults of wind, ice, and sleet
Another year of casting seeds
As winter yields to spring
Her trunk twists and turns
in time with earth’s lead.

She dreams at night
of her lasting dance
High at timberline
You’ll find her spinning with the stars
Among the bristlecone pines

She survived changes of time
Became a graceful old soul,
Tree beyond compare, a
Beautiful bristlecone pine
She’ll waltz there with her sister pines
Her soul will whisper in the wind
Caress pink asters
And kiss blue columbines

She dreams at night
of her lasting dance
High at timberline
You’ll find her spinning with the stars
Among the bristlecone pines

You’ll find her spinning with the stars
Among the bristlecone pines

November 21, 2020

Hummingbird

One day last summer I sat on the back deck practicing fiddle tunes on my mandolin. A hummingbird lit directly in front of me on a tomato cage, not more than four feet away. As I played, it seemed to be nodding in time to the music, and stayed there through at least seven tunes. I had never seen one still for such a long time. What a thrill. That moment inspired this song. We fell in love, and that’s not a lie.

Anne Page McClard · Hummingbird

Lyrics

I once heard a hummingbird sing
Know it seems like a fanciful thing
He sang a song as sweet as sweet tea
Beautiful words he sang to me

Listen and you can see reality
If you watch you can hear the truth
Open your eyes to the world around
Open your mind to magical sound

We danced by the light of the moon
In his silvery wings I did swoon
He glittered in the starry night sky
We fell in love, that’s not a lie

Listen and you can see reality
If you watch you can hear the truth
Open your eyes to the world around
Open your mind to magical sound

He perched awhile then flew away fast
Whispered to me, our love will last
I dream of his song by day and by night
Not heard a word or ever caught sight

I gaze to the heavens above
I think, maybe I’ll hear my true love
Listen and look, there’s a chance you’ll see
If you see him tonight , send love from me

Listen and you can see reality
If you watch you can hear the truth
Open your eyes to the world around
Open your mind to magical sound