Thursday, February 26, 2009

Gone With The Wind

(Tune: "Gone With The Wind")

Gone with the wind, just like a leaf that has blown away.
Gone with the wind, my faith in you flew away.

Political promises still ring in my ears
But the truth's different from how it appears

And now all is gone, gone is the promise of better days
Gone with the wind, here in the city that you betrayed
Just like a flame, hope burned brightly
Then became an empty smoke dream that has gone,
Gone with the wind.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Mood Imbroglio

(Tune:"Mood Indigo")

You ain't been blue; no, no, no.
You ain't been blue,
Till you've had that mood imbroglio.
That feelin' goes stealin' straight to the crux
While I sit and sigh, "My mayor sucks".

Always get that mood imbroglio,
Since my mayor's sad decline.
In the evenin' when lights are low,
I'm so lonesome with my wine.

'Cause there's no mayor who cares about me,
I'm just a soul who's
bluer than blue can be.
When I get that mood imbroglio,
I keep praying he'll resign.

Recorded songs coming

A jazz singer friend in LA is recording some of my songs here and sending along a CD. I'll rip the sucker and post the individual songs online. She is damn good -- this is something to look forward to!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Lies For Sale

(Tune: "Love For Sale")

Lies for sale,
Appetising new lies for sale.
Lies that you may freely quote,
Lies designed to get your vote,
Lies for sale.
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who's prepared to pay the price,
For a political device?
Lies for sale.

Let idealists pipe of truth
In their childish way
I know all the tweaks of truth
Better far than they.
If you want the thrill of truth,
I've been through the mill of truth;
Old truths, new truths,
Every truth but true truth.

Lies for sale.
Appetising new lies for sale.
My ideas you can promote,
Believe in me and cast your vote.
Lies for sale.
Lies for sale.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The City Mayor

(Tune: "Eleanor Rigby")

Ah, look at all the politicians
Ah, look at all the politicians

The city mayor talks to the press as if nothing were terribly wrong
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that he wears for the voters outside
Thinks he can hide

All the politicians
Why must they always lie?
All the politicians
They make you want to cry

The city mayor writing the words of a speech that he thinks is enough
Playing his bluff
Look at him squirming, hoping the truth will not catch up and make him resign
Where is the sign?

All the politicians
Why must they always lie?
All the politicians
They make you want to cry

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Ex-Mayor

(Tune: "Nature Boy")

There was a man
A very smart ambitious man
They say he wandered very far, very far
Beyond propriety
A little sly
With wand'ring eye
But not so wise
Was he

And then one day
A certain day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings
This he said to me
"The greatest thing
You'll ever learn
Is speak the truth
And hear truth
In return"

Sunday, February 15, 2009

A Tragic Day

(TUNE: "A Foggy Day")

A tragic day
In Portland town
It had me low
And it had me down
I heard the mayor
With much alarm
When he confessed
He dropped a bomb
How long I wondered
Would he hang on
When would I wake up
And find him gone
And suddenly
He had a change of heart
And in tragic Portland town
His resignation
Was a brand new start

The Polling Booth Song

(Tune: "Whiskey Song" and ending from Mahagonny)

Oh show me the way to the next pretty mayor
Oh don't ask why, oh don't ask why
For if I don't find the next pretty mayor
I tell you I must die, I tell you I must die
I tell you, I tell you,
I tell you I must die

A fraud in Puddle City
You now must say goodbye
You've lost your dear old Portland
And must resign, oh don't ask why
A fraud in Puddle City
You now must say goodbye
You've lost the city's voters
And must resign, oh don't ask why

Oh show me the way to the next polling booth
Oh don't ask why, oh don't ask why
For if I don't find the next polling booth
I tell you I must die, I tell you I must die
I tell you, I tell you
I tell you I must die

A fraud in Puddle City
You now must say goodbye
You've lost your dear old Portland
And must resign, oh don't ask why

You can put a white shirt on him
You can tie a windsor on him
You can put a smile on his face
You can take a picture of him
Cannot help a fallen mayor

You can remember the good times
You can recite all the speeches
You can vote again for him
You can throw him a party
Cannot help a fallen mayor

You can forget all the lying
You can forget all the kissing
You can forget all the forging
You can pretend he's honest
Cannot help a fallen mayor

Cannot help him or you or me
Cannot help him or you or me

Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Boy From City Hall

(Tune: "The Girl From Ipanema")

Tall and tan and brash and handsome
The boy from City Hall goes flirting
And when he's winking, each one he's seeing goes -- ah

When he talks, it's like a sermon
The boy from City Hall's convincing
The voters to support him, and they go -- ah

Oh, but I listen so sadly
Because I know that he's lying
Soon everything turns out badly
And each day, when he's at City Hall
I'm counting the days till his fall

Tall and tan and brash and handsome
The boy from City Hall keeps talking
But now no one is listening, and we go -- ah

Bye Bye Blackbird

(Tune: "Bye Bye Blackbird")

Pack up all your tricks and lies,
Say goodbye,
No alibis,
Bye bye blackbird.
Pack your things and out the door,
Know the score,
No mentor,
Bye bye blackbird.

No one here can trust or comprehend you,
You wrote your own ticket, now it's adieu.
Make the bed and cut the light,
We want you out of here tonight,
Blackbird bye bye.

Demeanor Of You

(Tune: "Nearness Of You")

It's not the john kiss that upsets me
Depresses and shocks me, oh no
It's the demeanor of you

It's not your skilled obfuscation
That killed my elation, oh no
It's the demeanor of you

When you face the press and the lights are bright on you
All my saddest thoughts come true

I need no more lies to enchant me
If only you're grant me, the right
To demand you leave tonight
So please resign, despite
The demeanor of you

Friday, February 13, 2009

I'm Beginning To See The Light

(Tune: "I'm Beginning To See The Light")

I never cared much for selfish lies
There's nothing in them that unifies
And when I look deep into your eyes
I'm beginning to see the light
I never went in for double-talk
I applaud those who walk the walk
And when I hear you I go in shock
I'm beginning to see the light
Used to believe in Portland town
We're progressive all around
Then you turned it upside-down
There'a a four-alarm fire now
You keep looking 'round for a scapegoat
You think what you did is a footnote
I regret giving you my vote
I'm beginning to see the light

Thursday, February 12, 2009

A Modest Proposal


WANTED: SINGERS to gather at City Hall on a regular basis and sing these songs and others like them as a continuing musical protest against the mayor.


It might work this way: 4 or 6 or 8 of you who work downtown would bring your lunch one day a week, say Wednesday, and gather at City Hall to eat and sing some of these songs over the lunch hour. Have fun. Keep your spirits up during the long wait for a recall election. Keep the issue alive.

Is there someone who can run with this idea?

Depending on the day, I might be able to join you. Contact: cdeemer(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Replaceable You

(Tune: "Embraceable You")

Disgrace me, you sad disgrace of a mayor
Disgrace me, you sad replaceable mayor

Just one look at you
My hopes fell over the edge
You and you alone
Betrayed the dreams that you pledged

I hate all the many lies that you told
Above all, I want from you something bold

Don't be a haughty mayor
Sign your resignation, please do
My sad replaceable you

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Sammy

(Tune: "Alfie")

What's it all about, Sammy?
Is it just for this moment you live?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Sammy?
Are you meant to take more than you give,
Or are you meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Sammy,
Than I guess it is wise to be cruel.
And if life belongs only to the strong, Sammy,
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Sammy,
I know there's something much more,
Something even politicians can believe in.
I believe in trust, Sammy.
Without our trust you just exist, Sammy.
Until you win the trust you've lost,
You're nothing, Sammy.
When you walk let conscience lead the way,
Listen when it says, Resign today.
Sammy, Sammy.

Friday, February 6, 2009

I Could Write A Book

(Tune: "I Could Write A Book")

If they asked me
I could write a book
About the way you hide
And whisper and look
I could write a preface
On what went wrong
And how this mess got prolonged
And the simple secret of the plot
Is that the mess gets far worse than you thought
And the world discovers as my book ends
Your resignation alone makes amends

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

(Tune: "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes")

They asked me how I knew
My mayor was true
I of course replied
Something here inside
Cannot be denied

They said some day you'll learn
Politicians burn
When your trust is wise
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes

So I chaffed them
And I gayly laughed
To think they could doubt my trust
Yet today
My trust has flown away
My mayor is a bust

Now laughing friends deride
Tears I cannot hide
So I smile and say
A voter's trust can die
Smoke gets in your eyes

Monday, February 2, 2009

Night And Day

(Tune: "Night and Day")

Night and day
You are the mayor
Only you, despite lies,
It isn't fair
Whether lying to the press
Manipulating all your mess
You're still the mayor
Night and day

Day and night
How is it so
That so much deception follows
Wherever you go
And no one gives a damn
They just say that you're their man
You're still the mayor
Day and night

Night and day
Give me a break
This fraud you designed has created
A moral earthquake
It's depressing when I see
So many saying foolishly
That you're the mayor
Night and day
Day and night
Night and day

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

(Tune: "Leavin' On A Jet Plane")

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here at City Hall's door
I hate to have to tell my friends goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
It's early morn
A policeman's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So pray for me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Tell me that someday I'll wear a crown
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh Portland, I know I let you down

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, I know these things were wrong
Ev'ry place I go, I'll think of you
Ev'ry speech I give, I'll give for you
When I come back, these handcuffs will be gone

So pray for me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Tell me that someday I'll wear a crown
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh Portland, I know I let you down

Blowin' In The Wind

(Tune: "Blowin' In The Wind")

How many lies must a city mayor tell
Before you call him a liar?
How much deception must one man do
Before you put out the fire?
How many times must he lie to your face
Before he triggers your ire?

The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind
The answer is blowin in the wind.

How many times must the press have a scoop
Before you accept what is true?
How many times must a story be changed
Before all the lying accrues?
How many voices that rise does it take
Before you bid him adieu?

The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind
The answer is blowin in the wind.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Guests welcome

Have a song parody you'd like to be considered for this blog? Send it along to:

cdeemer(at)yahoo(dot)com

"There's no accounting for taste," and I'll publish only those that work for me.

The Ballad of Sam Adams (guest submission)

THE BALLAD OF SAM ADAMS
(A medley, with apologies to the Kingston Trio)

[Spoken:]
These are the times that try men's souls. In the course of our city's history, the people of Portland have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened. Today, a new crisis has arisen. The mayor of Portland, our own beloved Sam Adams, is being attacked by a bevy of homophobes attempting to force him out of office. Citizens, hear me out! This could happen to you!

[Sung, to the tune of “MTA”]
Well, let me tell you of the story of a man named Sammy,
It’s a tragic and fateful shame.
He stepped out of a meeting and stepped into the men’s room
and his life was never the same.

But will he ever resign? No he’ll never resign,
though his name is much maligned.
He may ride forever through the streets of Portland
as the mayor who never resigned.

[Tune: “Tom Dooley”]
I met him in the men’s room,
there I took his hand.
Met him in the men’s room
purty much like we planned.

Hang down your head, Sam Adams,
Hang down your head and creen.
Hang down your head, Sam Adams,
poor Beau was seventeen.

I kissed him in the men’s room,
maybe once or twice.
Kissed him in the men’s room
against my staff’s advice.

(Oh yes) I kissed him in the men’s room,
maybe a minute or two.
Beau couldn’t keep his mouth shut,
So what was I s’posed to do?

Hang down your head, Sam Adams,
Hang down your head and creen.
Hang down your head, Sam Adams,
poor Beau was seventeen.

‘Bout this time tomorrow
Don’t know where I'll be.
If it hadn't a-been for Breedlove
I coulda just taken a pee.

[Tune: “Hard, Ain’t It Hard”]
Well, it's hard. Ain't it hard? Ain't it hard (oh, yes)
to love one who never did love you.
Well, it's hard. Ain't it hard? Ain't it hard, great God,
to love one who’s still too young to screw!

The first time I kissed Beau Breedlove
he was a-standin' by a stall,
woulda left if I had any shred of courage,
but I couldn’t get it up at all! (An’ I was singin’)

Well, it's hard. Ain't it hard? Ain't it hard (oh, yes)
to love one who never did love you.
Well, it's hard. Ain't it hard? Ain't it hard, great God,
to love one who’s still too young to screw!

[Reprise: “MTA”]
Now, you citizens of Portland, don't you think it's a scandal
how Sammy has to pay and pay?
Fight the right-wing whackos! They’re all out to get him
All because poor Sammy is gay!

But will he ever resign? No he’ll never resign,
though his name is much maligned.
He may ride forever through the streets of Portland,
as the mayor who never resigned.
[Repeat]

--Submitted by "An Anonymous Citizen"