Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

[NeoMatrix]

The Guy in the Glass

(by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934)

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass.
(In grateful memory of the author, Dale Wimbrow 1895-1954)

[Debs1964]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

I'd never read that before, it's very thought provoking, thank you

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

Lyrical Inspiration to the extreme.....
This is how my ex-girl friend dumped me many years ago.
We where making out on the beach with Meatloaf playing on the radio.
Her exact words to me as she lip sync this Meatloaf song.

*********************
And she kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
I want you (I want you)
I need you (I need you)
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad (Don't be sad)
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
I want you (I want you)
I need you (I need you)
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad (Don't be sad)
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Now don't be sad (Don't)
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Baby we can talk all night .
But that ain't getting us nowhere... (see ya later biarch)....
*******************************

The ex-girlfriend did me a favour, a short time later I meet my wife of 30 years 25 married.

I'm sure others have a lyric or two for inspiration good or bad..?

[emujo]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

The Guy in the Glass

(by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934)

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he's with you clear up to the end,
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy in the glass.
(In grateful memory of the author, Dale Wimbrow 1895-1954)

What's a "pelf"?

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

What's a "pelf"?

The meaning of the word "pelf" is too pursue dishonest wealth and material gain above all else in life.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

Introduction:
This ballad is about a rich property owner who loses an expensive horse in a mob of wild mountain horses(brumby's).
A great reward is offered for the return of the expensive Colt. Many horseman/stockman gather to help return the lost Colt, but only a single horseman is able to do the dangerous task at the climatic end. This poem has been written to a song making it a very worthy ballad in Australian history..


The Man from Snowy River
(By Banjo Paterson )

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around That the colt from old Regret had got away, And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray. All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far Had mustered at the homestead overnight, For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are, And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.

There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup, The old man with his hair as white as snow; But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up -He would go wherever horse and man could go. And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand, No better horseman ever held the reins; For never horse could throw him while the saddle girths would stand, He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast, He was something like a racehorse undersized, With a touch of Timor pony - three parts thoroughbred at least -And such as are by mountain horsemen prized. He was hard and tough and wiry - just the sort that won't say die -There was courage in his quick impatient tread; And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye, And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay, And the old man said, "That horse will never do For a long a tiring gallop - lad, you'd better stop away, Those hills are far too rough for such as you." So he waited sad and wistful - only Clancy stood his friend -"I think we ought to let him come," he said; "I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end, For both his horse and he are mountain bred.

"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side, Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough, Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride, The man that holds his own is good enough. And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home, Where the river runs those giant hills between; I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam, But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."

So he went - they found the horses by the big mimosa clump -They raced away towards the mountain's brow, And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump, No use to try for fancy riding now. And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right. Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills, For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight, If once they gain the shelter of those hills."

So Clancy rode to wheel them - he was racing on the wing Where the best and boldest riders take their place, And he raced his stockhorse past them, and he made the ranges ring With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face. Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash, But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view, And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash, And off into the mountain scrub they flew.

Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black Resounded to the thunder of their tread, And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead. And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way, Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide; And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day, No man can hold them down the other side."

When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull, It well might make the boldest hold their breath, The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full Of wombat holes, and any slip was death. But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head, And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer, And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed, While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet, He cleared the fallen timber in his stride, And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat -It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride. Through the stringybarks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground, Down the hillside at a racing pace he went; And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound, At the bottom of that terrible descent.

He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill, And the watchers on the mountain standing mute, Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still, As he raced across the clearing in pursuit. Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet, With the man from Snowy River at their heels.

And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam. He followed like a bloodhound on their track, Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home, And alone and unassisted brought them back. But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot, He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur; But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot, For never yet was mountain horse a cur.

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise Their torn and rugged battlements on high, Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze At midnight in the cold and frosty sky, And where around The Overflow the reed beds sweep and sway To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide, The man from Snowy River is a household word today, And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.

[emujo]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

The meaning of the word "pelf" is too pursue dishonest wealth and material gain above all else in life.

Well, I've learned 2 things today...1, "pelf" ( I originally thought you misspelled it and meant "self"), and 2, I hate written down ballads. I actually read the 1st one, and it was painful. I gave up after the 2nd line on the last post. maybe it works better when accompanied by music. Emujo

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

Well, I've learned 2 things today...1, "pelf" ( I originally thought you misspelled it and meant "self"), and 2, I hate written down ballads. I actually read the 1st one, and it was painful. I gave up after the 2nd line on the last post. maybe it works better when accompanied by music. Emujo

Re :Man from Snowy-River
Okay. Thanks for the valid comments; I appreciate your humility as well. I've listen to what you've said. Maybe I should change the center-justify paragraph format to poem style left-justifed,which enables the ballad to be read a bit easier?

I cannot delete the Man from Snowy river poem as it's passed the delete/edit period.
System admin do not reply to any PM's,so I don't wish to repost a duplicate of the edited poem.

[NeoMatrix]

[Iowatech]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

Any chance you know someone who could put these to music?
If I remember correctly, that's the story behind Procol Harum.

[Tonerbomb]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

The ex-girlfriend did me a favour, a short time later I meet my wife of 30 years 25 married.

I'm sure others have a lyric or two for inspiration good or bad..?

Neo props to you and the Mrs. for the years together, Me and Mrs. Bomb have similar numbers at 35/30. But what inspired this thread, an epiphany or something????

Thanks to Iowatech for the procol harum post !!

a couple of my favorite ballad crooners are Tom Petty and Gordan Lightfoot..................

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

Neo props to you and the Mrs. for the years together, Me and Mrs. Bomb have similar numbers at 35/30. But what inspired this thread, an epiphany or something????

Thanks to Iowatech for the procol harum post !!

a couple of my favorite ballad crooners are Tom Petty and Gordan Lightfoot..................

Kudos to you and Mrs bomb, an I should hope you will see many more years...
Re: Epiphany
Overall I felt that some people could use a tad of inspiration, both youngun's an some of us oldies.
Some of the threads on CTN appeared to be going in circles. That said,
over the years I found a good old Aussie bush ballad or song lyrics can lift the spirit
when the days get long an droll. After that it's a carton of beer with a rum chaser or two.

My father an I have written bush poetry over the years. Some of these literacy works, have
won recognition in competitions. I would be interested in reading compositions from other
people, and the experiences they have had in their life.

[Tonerbomb]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

Kudos to you and Mrs bomb, an I should hope you will see many more years...
Re: Epiphany
Overall I felt that some people could use a tad of inspiration, both youngun's an some of us oldies.
Some of the threads on CTN appeared to be going in circles. That said,
over the years I found a good old Aussie bush ballad or song lyrics can lift the spirit
when the days get long an droll. After that is it's a carton of beer with a rum chaser or two.

My father an I have written bush poetry over the years. Some of these literacy works, have
won recognition in competitions. I would be interested in reading compositions from other
people, and the experiences they have had in their life.

Thanks for that Neo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all need inspiration from time to time ! Thats when I pop in one of my late fathers Gordan Lightfoot cd's!!!!!!!.....

[Shadow]

Re: Ballads/Poems/Lyrical Inspiration

The Soul of The Man.pdf

[NeoMatrix]