Category Archives: Black and White

Still Not Over You Yet

Music & Lyrics: Marie-Lynn Hammond

well it rained so hard in my dreams last night
that when I woke I thought the streets would be wet
and you loved me so sweetly in my dreams last night
I don’t know how I’ll ever forget
oh something about you has touched me so deep
that I can’t get away from it even in sleep
thought I try, oh I try
but when I woke up this morning I woke up alone
and the pavement outside was as dry as a bone
it was only my cheeks that were wet
guess I’m still not over you yet

well I tried to find a little peace of mind in the day
I locked up all my memories tight
but like a thief in the darkness who is sure of the way
you stole back to trouble my nights
oh something about you has touched me so deep
I could swear that I’m holding you there as I sleep
and I sigh, oh can you hear me sigh
but when I woke up this morning I woke up alone
and the pillow beside me was hard as a stone
and all I could find was regret
guess I’m still not over you yet

they say that we learn every time we get burned
so how come the older we grow
the wounds go deeper and deeper
and the heart doesn’t want to let go

well it rained so hard in my dreams last night
that when I woke I thought the streets would be wet
and you loved me so sweetly in my dreams last night
I don’t know how I’ll ever forget
oh something about you has touched me so deep
that I can’t get away from it even in sleep
thought I try, oh I try
but when I woke up this morning I woke up alone
and the pavement outside was as dry as a bone
it was only my cheeks that were wet
guess I’m still not over you yet

Les deux amies

Music: M.L Hammond & Marilyn Lerner   Lyrics M.L Hammond

Hélène et moi dans la chaloupe, au lac tous les étés
à flot sous un soleil éblouissant
nos journées se déroulent sans fin en longues procession
comme les vagues qui nous bercent si doucement

Hélène qui porte ses quinze ans comme une robe décolletée
me parle sans cesse des gars de Montréal
et moi, deux ans plus jeune, j’ai tellement peur qu’elle m’abandonne
que j`invente des aventures sentimentales

quand il pleut elle me fait écouter Claude Leveillée
« Sur un cheval blanc » il chante, « je t’amènerai »
Hélène soupire en regardant la pluie
« Mon Dieu » dit-elle, « c’est monotone ici! »

refrain :
Ah, la chaleur de la jeunesse, le vent frais de l’innocence
mais on s’imaginait captive d’un langoureux ennui
comment savoir et faire comprendre aux deux amies qu’a ce temps-la
elles étaient surement au paradis

Au coucher du soleil l’air frais nous chasse dans le chalet
on allume les lampes a huile, on sort les jeux
un petit peu plus tard maman propose de lire nos cartes
si on ne la prend pas au sérieux

« Regarde », dit-elle,« Le roi de cœur entouré de carreaux,
il t’offre, Hélène, caresses et diamants;
mais gare a la dame de pique, jalouse et mecontente –
elle cherche a te voler ton bel amant. »

Hélène, les yeux brillants, se tourne vers moi en murmurant
« J’ai hâte de vivre dans le monde comme une femme dans un roman
mon roi de cœur et ses jolis valets
a tour de rôle deviendront mes jouets! »

refrain

la dernière fois que l`on s’est vu, Hélène m’a confesse
qu’elle était seule avec ses deux petits
car son mari l’avait abandonne sans un vieux sous
ainsi ses rêves d’antan se sont enfuis

et moi je mène une vie d’artiste, je joue avec des mots
solitaire et sans grand’ renommée
et quant au jeu d’amour j’en sais la vérité maintenant
j’ai perdue plus souvent que j’ai gagne

Helene et moi ne croyons plus aux galants cavaliers
on songe plutôt a la douceur des jours ensoleilles
au bord du lac a cette époque fleurie
quand nous étions si jeunes, au paradis

refrain

Translation:
Helene and I at the lake every summer, drifting in the rowboat under a dazzling sun; the days unfold in an endless procession like the waves that rock us gently. Helene wears her fifteen years like a low cut dress and talks non–stop of Montreal boys; while I, two years younger, afraid she might abandon me, invent romantic adventures. When it rains she makes me listen to Claude Leveillée, who sings “On a white horse I will take you away.” Helene watches the rain and sighs “My God, it’s boring here…”

chorus:
Ah, the warmth of youth, the fresh breeze of innocence; but we thought ourselves trapped in a languid ennui. How to know, how to make those two friends see, that surely in those days they were in Paradise?

At sunset the cool air chases us indoors; we light the oil lamps and take out games to play; later mama offers to read our cards and predicts for Helene a handsome lover, the King of hearts, who will bring jewels and caresses; and a jealous rival – the queen of Spades. Helene whispers eagerly to me how she can’t wait to go live in the world like a woman in a novel. The king and all his handsome jacks she says will become her playthings.

chorus

The last time I saw Helene she confessed she was alone with her two kids – her husband had taken off without leaving her a penny. As for me, I lead a solitary life, struggling to be a writer. And I’ve learned the truth about love: it’s a game I’ve lost more than I’ve won. Helene and I no longer believe in those knights in shining armour; rather, we dream of those sunlit days by the water, when time was in full bloom and we were so young, in Paradise.

Chorus

Nobody Knows What’s Happening to Love

Music & Lyrics: Marie-Lynn Hammond

one more time two people are saying goodbye
and one more time everyone’s wondering why
they were such a perfect couple, how can this be so?
there are reasons, but sometimes even they aren’t sure that they know

and maybe it’s because her mother
maybe it’s because his father
maybe it’s what they did or didn’t do
maybe it’s the times we live in
the strain of this nuclear age
where men have the power
and women have only rage
or maybe it’s just that her eyes are brown
and her lover’s eyes are blue
maybe it’s a phase the whole damn world
is going through
but whether it’s all or none of the above
ah, nobody knows what’s happening to love
no nobody knows what’s happening to love

and one more time we try to figure love out
old-fashioned dreams collide with newfangled doubt
oh there are couples who seem to make it, with or without romance
but even they can’t tell you how much is due to chance

and I’d say we’ve got a problem
right before we begin
we’ve got these heads full of rational thinking
wrapped inside this animal skin
with a heart caught in between
that tries to balance on a very fine line
ah, if you ask me it’s a case of bad design

and you can lie on that couch for hours
digging up the dirt
analyzing all your memories
reliving all your hurt
but in the end you’re still a prisoner
locked inside your cell
the only difference is now
you know the walls too well

every corner, every crevice
every mark upon the floor
ah you know everything except how to find
the key to the door

and maybe it’s because your mother
maybe it’s because your father
maybe it’s what they did or didn’t do
maybe it’s the times we live in
the strain of this nuclear age
where men have the power
and women have only rage
or maybe it’s just that your eyes are brown
and your lover’s eyes are blue
maybe it’s a phase the whole damn world
is going through
but whether it’s all or none of the above
nobody knows what’s happening to love
ah, nobody knows what’s happening to love
no nobody knows what’s happening to love

so one more time two people are saying goodbye
and one more time everyone’s wondering why
we were such a perfect couple, how can this be so?
there are reasons, but sometimes even I’m not sure that I know

Shades of Grey (the Major’s Song)

©1990 Marie-Lynn Hammond

he was in the front row wearing jeans and an old leather jacket
and I have to say that right away he caught my eye
and after the show he said I loved all your songs
but the one about your mother almost made me cry

and I thought, hey, this is one sensitive man, and besides he had these incredible eyes,
not blue, not green, but some mysterious colour in between

so I joined him for a brandy and the talk flowed like honey
we talked about music, and travelling, and kids
then he offered to walk me to the place I was staying
and as we walked I finally asked him what he did

[spoken] And he said, Well, uh, I’m a major, then he paused; so I said, A a major what? And he kind of laughed and said, No, what I mean is—I’m an army major. And I thought huh? This is a man who told me he plays classical piano; he listens to Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell for heaven’s sake; he adores children; he got all choked up over my rather feminist song about my mother! How can he be in the army?

we want it black or white, we want it night or day
we want it wrong or right, not these—shades of grey

so we walked and I fell silent and he said what’s the matter
and the moon was high and golden and I wished I didn’t know
his eyes were like the ocean, I could smell the sweet salt smell of him
and I had to laugh at fortune for this neat little blow

and I said, Hey Major, don’t you know who I am
I’m one of the ones who stopped Vietnam
I’m a peacenik, Major, now don’t you see
we’ve both just met the enemy

And he said, Not so fast now, I see my job as a peacekeeping job too. And I said, yeah, I’ve heard that one before; and he said, Hang on, do you really know what you’re judging here? And I said, Unfortunately, all too well. You see—

my father was a soldier and I’m a soldier’s kid
he was in the war then he stayed in the army and I saw what it did
to him, to my mother, to my brother and me
and that’s why I’m not so keen on the military

and the major said:
we want it black or white, we want it night or day
we want it wrong or right, but it doesn’t work that way

I mean if we’re really enemies then why our strong connection
surely life’s too short to run from such a sweet mystery
and I’m sorry that you’ve had it rough but look, I’m not your father
so: I’ve got some leave coming up—why don’t you think about going to Greece with me?

And I almost said, Forget it, Major! I can’t do that. Because we both know this is about more than just my father. I mean, the bottom line is your job could mean killing people. But then I looked at those eyes and I thought, are those the eyes of a murderer? Beside’s he’s not asking you to marry him! So I said O.K., I’ll think about it, and I’m still thinking about it. In fact I’m thinking about a lot of things, like…

my father was a soldier, he was hawk to my dove
he was might, and I was righteous, he made war while I made love
and because I was doing it all for peace
it troubles me now to see
it was me who first drew those battle lines, and named him the enemy

we want it black or white, we want it night or day
we want it wrong or right, not these—shades of grey

So you’re probably wondering: did I go to Greece with the major? But not so fast—what is it makes you want to believe this song is about me anyway? Maybe it’s only part me and part someone else’s story … maybe I changed things, or made other things up; maybe none of it’s true, or maybe it’s only true the way the moon is true, or the ocean … but we’re all the same, aren’t we?

we want it black or white, we want it night or day
we want it wrong or right, not these—shades of grey

But I will tell you one small thing that is true: there was a man once, and his eyes weren’t blue, and his eyes weren’t green … they were some mysterious colour in between …

Pleine lune

Music: M.L Hammond & Marilyn Lerner   Lyrics: Paul Savoie

Qu’est-ce qui nous fait jaser autant
se regarder si tendrement
chacun devient bien indiscret
et revèle un grand secret
C’est la lune (2)

qu’est-ce qui nous fait vibrer comme cà
assez pour faire sauter les toits
bientôt chacun va s’éclater
soit pour rire ou pour pleurer
c’est la lune (2)
c’est sans doute la lune

REFRAIN:
l’amour, lorsqu’il se vit
donne grande fortune
ressemble à une nuit
qui offre pleine lune

qu’est-ce qui nous fait danser comme ça
avec du feu au bout des doigts
le coeur en l’air, les pieds au vent
avec la nuit pour son amant
– c’est la lune (2)

qu’est-ce qui nous rend tous un peu fous
la voix en trombe, le coeur si doux
voilà que s’ouvre tant d’horizons
comme des fusils dans nos chansons
– c’est la lune (2)
c’est sans doute la lune

REFRAIN

Non-literal (but poetic) translation by Paul Savoie

Full Moon

what’s making us so chatty, so catty
and so thoroughly indiscreet?
(it’s the moon, it’s surely the moon)

why are we so excited, so ignited
laughing wildly, on the verge of tears?
(it’s the moon, it’s surely because of the moon)

CHORUS:
By love’s sweet folly we are graced
like the sky enraptured by the moon’s face

we move so lightly, so sprightly
minds tuned in, hearts turned on
(it’s the moon, it’s surely because of the moon)

we’ve gotten so marvellously unravelled,
journeying on roads untravelled
(it’s the moon, it’s surely because of the moon)

CHORUS

Sisters and Friends

Music: M.L Hammond & Marilyn Lerner   Lyrics M.L Hammond

it was New Year’s eve, I was home alone
feeling just a little bit sorry for me
because the one who I thought was my own true love
apparently didn’t agree

and I was crying the old year out
when it hit me this was no way to begin
so I sat down at the piano
and I sang the New Year in (I sang)

chorus:
let the lovers come and go
bringing their own kind of joy and sorrow
when you wake up tomorrow
sisters and friends will be there

well ain’t it funny how your head knows that something is over
it’s all so clear in your mind
but the heart is stubborn and it won’t let go
yes it lags a year behind

chorus

so here’s to Carol, Denise
Marilyn, Lisa,
the Jackies and Barbara
and even some men
like Stephen and Ben
and others whose names
test my power to rhyme
but they know who they are
they are friends for all time

chorus

and if they don’t swing you quite so high
well they’ll never lay you so low
let the lovers come and go
sisters and friends will be there

Temagami Round

Music & Lyrics: Marie-Lynn Hammond

if we lose this forest if we savage the land
we might as well be cutting off our own right hand
for we and the earth are one
under the moon, under the sun

Eve Gave Adam the Apple

Music & Lyrics: Marie-Lynn Hammond

they say Eve gave Adam the apple
Adam didn’t want it at all
but though Adam was fussy that old Eve was a hussy
she talked him right into the fall

they say Eve gave Adam the apple
the poor man didn’t know what for
but as soon as he gave in to her original sin
the Big Boss kicked them out the door

Chorus:
oh Eve, you got a bum rap, sister
Eve, I think you’ve been framed
whoever wrote the Bible should be sued for libel
’cause since then all your daughters
have been taking the blame

they say we’d still be in the garden of Eden
having picnics if it weren’t for Eve
at least that’s what the Pope and the Ayatollah
and guys like that would have you believe

oh but let’s take a look at what happened
after paradise was no more
Eve invented agriculture and art
Adam invented war…

…and nuclear technology to threaten our ecology
and sneaky male theology to dictate our biology
I think Adam and his buddies owe us all a big apology

Chorus

they say Eve gave Adam the apple
now pardon me if I sound crude
but no matter who they say seduced who that day
Eve was the one who got screwed

Chorus

we’re either whores or witches, madonnas or bitches
Eve, I think we’ve been framed
enough of this invective, let’s have some perspective
it’s been ten thousand years and we’re still taking the blame
but Eve we’ve had enough and things are starting to change
oh Eve we’re gonna clear your name

Why Do I Have This Thing for Jewish Men

Music & Lyrics: Marie-Lynn Hammond

Chorus:
oy veh oy vey oy vey oy veh oy veh
why did I have to fall for another Jewish guy today
my heart’s like a bagel got a hole in the middle
been shafted again and again
oh why do I have this thing for Jewish men

’twas in college that I met my first one, Leonard Jay Mandel
he drew me like a magnet though why I could not tell
for me, a good French Catholic girl, I saw this could be tough
so I prayed that he’d convert but I guess I didn’t pray hard enough

’cause he dumped me right around the time I’d hoped to meet his folks
I was hurt—I didn’t understand till I heard his buddy joke
“Shiksas are only for practice”—well you’d think I’d have learned from that
but no then I had to go fall for the buddy—Myron Rosenblatt!

Chorus

well Myron left me for a blonde and oh how I did pine
at least till Joey Gold appeared, and later Sheldon Stein
when I’d bring them home maman would roll her French Canadian eyes
and then she’d serve tortiere for lunch—you know those minced pork pies?

well they’d leave quite quickly after that and then maman would say
“Mon dieu don’t you meet any Catholic boys? I think I will have to pray
a special novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to help you!”
“Well that’s great,” I’d tell her, “but remember Ma, Jesus was Jewish too!”

Chorus

now why with our dominant WASPy culture, why do I have this thing?
Jewish men don’t tend to look like Robert Redford, they don’t look like Sting
but maybe that’s it—it’s my hot French blood that requires the exotic
or maybe it’s the heavy religious trip making them, like me neurotic
(Naah…!)
maybe I just like them ’cause they’re passionate and smart
Jewish men have chutzpah, they have chumour, they have cheart

so what’s the problem then you say
why do I lament today
I’m getting to that right away oy vey oy vey oy vey

(you see) Jewish men will floor you they will love you they’ll adore you
they’ll pursue you and they’ll woo you they will do such wild things to you
they’ll wine you and they’ll dine you and they’ll call it dough well spent
they will want you they will haunt you some might even share the rent
but when it’s time to tie the knot and end the dizzy whirl
you can bet your ass they’ll up and wed some good Jewish girl!
(well I know there are some that don’t but trust me to pick the ones that do…)

Chorus

Science Is Wonderful

Music & Lyrics: Marie-Lynn Hammond

Chorus:
science is wonderful
science is grand
but there’s one thing about science
that i don’t understand
they can build a bomb to destroy the world
they can put a man on the moon
but they can’t find one safe and easy way
to keep sperm out of the womb

Mike and Ann were Catholic and they didn’t want any kids
but the church said they had to use rhythm so that is what they did
do you know there’s a name for people who practice rhythm faithfully?
yup—we call ’em parents—now Mike and Ann have a family of three

chorus

Jane and Lynn and Catherine put their faith in the IUD
wasn’t long before all of them were mothers to be
so Catherine got a diaphragm the next time round ’cause she didn’t know what else to do
now Jane and Lynn have one kid each—Catherine has two

chorus

if men could get pregnant, you know what we’d see
birth control research would be bigger than the defence industry
they’ve got a million medical marvels to delay your trip to the tomb
but they can’t find one safe and easy way to keep sperm out of the womb

now I grew up in the sixties and we all went on the pill
till we saw it was making us moody, fat, depressed and ill
the trouble is the fellows all got used to it, they thought it was the norm
now you show a safe* to a sixties man, the poor darling can’t perform!

chorus

* A 1960s term for condom