Lyrics as Poetry

Do you think of song lyrics as poetry?

If you listen closely to songs you will hear the poetry. This is very basic rhyming poetry
and some of it is very contrived but it is poetry none the less. The newest form of song
poetry is Rap and Hip Hop. It certainly has the beat and makes one tap their feet. It also
speaks of hardships and life's tribulations. It is very expressive in a blatant sort of way.
These young singer - songwriters have found their own form of expression and it is very
popular among teenagers and young adults.

The earlier form of this type of music is called "Blues". It has been around since the early
twentieth century. It came to fame in Memphis, TN. It is said Elvis Presely really loved
this form of song and some of it is expressed in his music. I believe this to be true. Blues
and Jazz are the two truly American genre's of music.

Ever think of Bluegrass as poetry? Due to the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"
Bluegrass has made a comeback. It was very popular when I was growing up in the
south. We sometimes called it mountain music. My ancestors settled in the mountains of
Western North Carolina where many learned to play some musical instrument and sang
along. Country music back then was more Bluegrass than it is today. Read some of the
lyrics of a few of the songs from the movie below. The lyricists are mostly unknown and
the songs are no longer in copyright as far as I know.

'I AM WEARY LET ME REST'

Kiss me mother kiss your darlin
Lay my head upon your breast
Throw your loving arms around me
I am weary let me rest

Seems the light is swiflty fading
Brighter scenes they do now show
I am standing by the river
Angels wait to take me home

Kiss me mother kiss your darlin
See the pain upon my brow
While I'll soon be with the angels
Fate has doomed my future now

Through the years you've always loved me
And my life you've tried to save
But now I shall slumber sweetly
In a deep and lonely grave

Kiss me mother kiss your darlin
Lay my head upon your breast
Throw your loving arms around me
I am weary let me rest

'KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE'

There's a dark and a troubled side of life
There's a bright and a sunny side too
Though we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

Keep on the sunny side always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day it will brighten all our way
If we keep on the sunny side of life

Oh the storm and its fury broke today
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear
The clouds and storm will in time pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear

Let us greet with a song of hope each day
Though the moment be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Savior always
To keep us every one in His care

'OH DEATH'

Oh death
Oh death
Won't you spare me over til another year

Well what is this that I can't see
With ice cold hands taking hold of me
Well I am death none can excel
I'll open the door to heaven or hell

Whoa death someone would pray
Could you wait to call me til another day
The children pray the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach

I'll fix your feet til you can't walk
I'll lock your jaw til you can't talk
I'll close your eyes so you can't see
This very hour come and go with me

In death I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To drop the flesh off of the frame
The earth and worms both have a claim

Oh death
Oh death
Won't you spare me over til another year

My mother came to my bed
Place a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm my feet are cold
Death is a movin upon my soul

Oh death how you're treatin me
You close my eyes so I can't see
Well you're hurtin my body you make me cold
You run my life right out of my soul

Oh death please consider my age
Please don't take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you'll remove your icy hands

Oh the young the rich or poor
All alike to me you know
No wealth no land no silver or gold
Nothin satisfies me but your soul

Oh death
Oh death
Won't you spare me over til another year
Won't you spare me over til another year
Won't you spare me over til another year

Can a building be poetic? Yes, I believe it can be very poetic. If you have ever traveled
to Europe and took tours of the many ancient cathedrals and palaces you will see poetry
in stone. An architect is first of all an artist. He or she must learn the many facets of a
building and be able to put them together to come up with something new. So it is with
written poetry. A poem can be put together in many ways to express a thought with its
many insinuations.

Do you love competition? If so you must visit the Poetry Slam webiste for more
information. http://www.nps2002.com/ and
http://www.slampapi.com/new_site/background/what_is_national_slam.htm.

If you are a teenager and love poetry there is an excellent site to see many poems by
renowned authors. Please visit http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html. There are
180 poems on this page just for you.