Hello Folks,
Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's I was a member in good standing with the Conejo Valley Poetry Society. We had a lot of really great poets involved, with meetings every couple of weeks and a general poetry reading once a month in the coffee shop of the old Border's Book Store in the Thousand Oaks Mall. Much of my poetry was written with them. We'd get together to display our new writings for a class critique and hopefully improve our technique. I always thought there was value in that, even though I might not always agree with the comments. A Taste Of Seduction is the result of my enjoyment of the writings of my friend David Alan Foster. His humor and alliterative style always made me smile, if not laugh. So I wrote this as a kind of tribute to Mr. Foster and his work. A Taste Of Seduction Thought I'd go out For a taste of seduction With some passion on the side Guilt and regret I'd forget In that doggie bag, to go On further reflection Illicit love Though on the menu I can't quite digest Other rich dishes Like half baked sex And steamy affaires Are out of my budget Better I stay home Than become some fast fool Jack T. Leyton 1995 Short and simple. There'll be a few more along the way. Take care. Stay safe and well. Cheers, Jack 🖖✌️
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Hello Folks,
This was written in the dark days of the reign of George W. Bush. It hearkens back to the old days of the 1930's Great Depression. But, one must always adjust for inflation. I can remember those stark times quite keenly. Luckily for me I had just landed a delivery job that I was able to keep right up to my retirement. This is dedicated to the bad old days of just fill-in jobs until the good one arrived. Buddy... Can I tap You for a Buck? Asking for cash is a bummer Panhandling off ramps sure sucks I'm a guy like any other Buddy... can I tap you for a buck None thought my firm would go under Then NAFTA competition struck Didn't know they'd got our number When suddenly our number was up Buddy... can I tap you for a buck? My dot com interest scurried When Wall Street hit its flurry My wife is awfully worried We just lost the house Maybe, next goes the spouse Union wage, now offshore dollar a day That corp'rate free trade muck Trades all our freedoms away All that Repo-publican bunk Yet, they're never jailed for their junk Wish I had a piece of Congress Since my excess tax holds it up Now, we've got all this war stress Where were you when nine-eleven struck? Buddy... can I tap you for a buck? Jack T. Leyton 2003 This poem was even more true after the crash of September 2008. Very painful. It probably rings more true for the dark days of the reign of King Donald as well. Hopefully, now, we may be heading back to a "normal" existence. Maintain hope. Never assume...! Stay Safe and Well. Cheers, Jack 🖖 ✌️ Oh, Ziegfeld came about in 1978. I was working as a clerk in the storeroom at The Burbank Studios, at the time on the old Warner Bros. lot on Olive Ave. Across from the storeroom on Stage 16 they were shooting a musical biography of Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr called "Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women" starring Paul Shenar and a bevy of beauties including Samantha Eggar and Valerie Perrine. The made for TV movie was directed by Buzz Kulik, who was known for directing the CBS anthology series Playhouse 90 and many episodes of The Twilight Zone.
When they started shooting on Stage 16, I'd go over on my lunch break and watch the action. I knew a bit about Ziegfeld's career and of the artists who had been in his Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway in the 20's and 30's before movies became more profitable. Entertainers like Fanny Brice, Billie Burke, Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Helen Morgan, W.C. Fields and more. I wanted to see who they'd cast and when I found out the very popular, in 1978, Valerie Perrine was in it, I made sure to check it out. Along the way, while watching the filming, the idea of a song from 1974 reappeared in my head, and I put it to paper while on my breaks at work. I had a tune for it in mind and I figured I'd go over to the production and see if anyone would be interested. As it turned out, a production secretary told me that all the songs for the show were already set. They were period songs from his life and it was too late to add anything. She wouldn't even listen or look at it. This song was originally meant for an ingenue like Liza Minnelli, who was very popular at that time, having been successful in the musical film of Cabaret. I had started my preliminary sketch of the lyrics after seeing her in the movie in 1974 But since I didn't write music at that time, it just stayed in my head and was primed to take off for the Ziegfeld movie. I don't have a recording of it, but I hope you enjoy the lyrics. Oh, Ziegfeld Grandma used to tell me, of Broadway long ago How she got her chance to sing and dance With the very best of shows, by singing... Oh... Ziegfled, Flo Ziegfeld, remember me? I am the one you saw in that show called "Gay Paree" You promised me a big part in Your show at the Winter Garden But, winter's come, and I am still in the cold Oh... Ziegfeld, Flo Ziegfeld, please look at me I've got the charm and talent you know they want to see You promised me all Broadway A show on the the Great White Way But, shows have come and gone, and I'm still alone Oh, how my mother'd be proud No longer just one of the crowd Seeing me walk on to the stage To the audiences cheers and raves Oh... Ziegfeld, Flo Ziegfeld, I'm here at last I'm here to take my place in the ranks of your great cast I'm here ready to swing in When are we going to begin Mr. Ziegfeld, let's get on with it Mr. Ziegfeld, let's get on with it Mr. Ziegfeld, let's get on with the show Jack T. Leyton 1974 I'm hoping to record it someday with a young lady who can do it justice. But.... We'll see... 🖖✌️
Hello Folks,
The idea for this lyric-poem came from having a cup of coffee one rainy evening in a small cafe on Reseda Blvd in Tarzana. As I watched the rain dribble down the window next to where I was sitting, it put me in a kind of trance. After I had jotted down my initial ideas on a few napkins, I realized I had to run to my car to get my notebook. In the process of working out the following flow of consciousness, I soon found that my lead line worked better as the chorus, which was the magic section that started it all off. I hope you enjoy the result. Memories of You Friday night's stale glare C.D.'s blast and blare Cars whiz by like phantoms through the air Not finding peace I swear Not finding hope or care Time flies... still, I see you everywhere City lights, city sounds, city sights Helpless, lost in memories of you Misty night, sipping rounds, sitting tight Trying to drown my memories of you None were ever better lovers Mates of the soul, best of pals Never a thought of any others What were the doubts not worked out Sleepwalking moments of my lifeline The up's and down's, in's and out's of chance Couldn't dream you'd be stuck in my mind In that unreal, unlikely haze, romance City lights, city sounds, city sights Helpless, lost in memories of you Misty night, sipping rounds, sitting tight Trying to drown my memories of you Drizzled rain streaks the glass I'm viewing Bright colors fade to shades of gray Forgetting exactly what I'm doing Lost in a lonely hearts parade Jack T. Leyton 2000 I've got a music demo of this floating around somewhere. When I figure out how to work this whole computer electronics facebook system, I may post it as well. Stay Well, Be Safe Jack ?✌️
Hello Folks,
Here I am working the Torch Song genre again. But, there's a good catch to this one. I'll be putting a copy of my demo with this so you'll be able to hear what it sounds like. I find writing any lyric is personal. But, with Torch Songs it's even more so. A bit of peeping in a look at the usually protected emotional insides. so here it is. I hope you enjoy it. The Moment You Loved Me I never knew my future could be The wonderful moments you share with me I never knew all past heartache would flee Till the moment you loved me The moment you loved me I never knew a life lived so bright Beautiful days and soft tender nights I never knew how a child feels delight Till the moment you loved The moment you loved me I've been through storms and the deserts of pain Heartache so raw, how could I love again Alone as an orphan, what good to complain Then you came to me... and everything changed I never knew loves promise to keep We're now the dream I'd just seen in my sleep I never knew I could feel so deep Till the moment you loved me The moment you loved me Jack T. Leyton 2009 I guess I could say that much of my writing is my own dreams and desires being projected out. Like having been in a sad place and trying to work my way out of it. Such is poetry, and music. I hope this finds you in a better place. And, if you can, take a listen to my demo. Cheers, ?✌️ |
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