Category: Music

Dear Friends, A Letter To You

Dear friends

Last night I went out

Enjoyed myself

Good company and plenty of fun

There were some children there

I saw the children laughing

At the foolish antics

Of us silly adults

I arrived back home

After midnight

Then I read in bed

Some of my blog comments

Responses to my recent poems

About “We can help the children”

I was deeply touched

I started crying

Emotions tore at my heartstrings

Tears flooded my soul

Your replies were sincere

And compassionately moving

Dear friends

I thank you

One and all

May our solidarity

“Help the children”

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

Let Us Not Be Silent

Let us not turn a blind eye

Clear the dark clouds from our sky

Extract our heads from the sand

Join our national brass band

Blow loudly on your trumpets

Let us stop being pawns and puppets

We’re not the sheep of their lands

We can be the blanket for our lambs

A collective sheet, protective and grand

 

Let us not be silent and bland

Clear the stage, make a stand

The worlds suffering children need us

Before they’re herded onto the bus

Like lambs to the slaughter

Imagine, our sons and daughters

Laying on concrete, alone and caged

Crying, weeping, could it be our ice-age

We’re distraught and outraged

Compassion, love, is paramount on centre-stage

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

When Do They Play

For all the wrongfully incarcerated children around the world, what sort of humans have we become to allow such heart-wrenching home-wreaking, that will undoubtably cause permanent damage to the innocent children. “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treat its children.” – Nelson Mandela.

When Do They Play

 

Our emotions are boiling on high

Lowly governments are hiding like spies

When do the children play

Where do their Moms and Dads stay

Why should we have to pray

This is not our humane way

Promised tomorrows should be theirs today

Please, when do the children play

https://youtu.be/7a4DCxAi020

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

 

When Do They Play

For all the wrongfully incarcerated children around the world, what sort of humans have we become to allow such heart-wrenching home-wreaking, that will undoubtably cause permanent damage to the innocent children.

When Do They Play

 

Our emotions are boiling on high

Lowly governments are hiding like spies

When do the children play

Where do their Moms and Dads stay

Why should we have to pray

This is not our humane way

Promised tomorrows should be theirs today

Please, when do the children play

https://youtu.be/7a4DCxAi020

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

 

The Ship Song

There’s not a lot more I can say about this classic song, “The Ship Song”, by Nick Cave, and a special video clip for you all to enjoy. The Ship Song Project – Sydney Opera House reinterprets Nick Cave’s iconic song. Performed by Neil Finn, Kev Carmody and The Australian Ballet, Sarah Blasko, John Bell, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Opera Australia, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan and The Sydney Symphony, The Temper Trap, Daniel Johns and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Nick Cave –

The Ship Song lyrics

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything comes tumbling down

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
When I must remove your wings
And you, you must try to fly

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

All The World is Green

Here’s a great love song from the Master of Lyrics, Tom Waites. and a visually artistic video to enhance his glorious words

“All The World Is Green”

I fell into the ocean

When you became my wife

I risked it all against the sea

To have a better life

Marie you’re the wild blue sky

And men do foolish things

You turn kings into beggars

And beggars into kings

Pretend that you owe me nothing

And all the world is green

We can bring back the old days again

And all the world is green

The face forgives the mirror

The worm forgives the plow

The questions begs the answer

Can you forgive me somehow?

Maybe when our story’s over

We’ll go where it’s always spring

The band is playing our song again

And all the world is green

Pretend that you owe me nothing

And all the world is green

We can bring back the old days again

And all the world is green

The moon is yellow silver

Oh, the things that summer brings

It’s a love you’d kill for

And all the world is green

He is balancing a diamond

On a blade of grass

The dew will settle on our graves

When all the world is green

From <https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tomwaits/alltheworldisgreen.html>

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

To Be by Your Side

Nick Cave is one of my favourite singer/songwriters, and this beautiful love song is a wonderful piece, both musically and lyrically, and the flapping sound of birds wings in the background of this video adds to the aura of this glorious song

I’m having another day of magical reflection

My mirror’s silver backing is singing to me

Caressing my heart

Soothing my soul

 

To Be by Your Side

Nick Cave, Bruno Coulais

Across the oceans across the seas,
Over forests of blackened trees.
Through valleys so still we dare not breathe,
To be by your side.

Over the shifting desert plains,
Across mountains all in flames.
Through howling winds and driving rains,
To be by your side.

Every mile and every year,
For everyone a little tear.
I cannot explain this, dear,
I will not even try.

Into the night as the stars collide,
Across the borders that divide
Forests of stone standing petrified,
To be by your side.

Every mile and every year,
For every one a single tear,
I cannot explain this, dear,
I will not even try.

For I know one thing,
Love comes on a wing,
For tonight I will be by your side,
But tomorrow I will fly.

From the deepest ocean to the highest peak,
Through the frontiers of your sleep.
Into the valley where we dare not speak,
To be by your side.
Across the endless wilderness,
Where all the beasts bow down their heads.
Darling, I will never rest
Till I am by your side.

Every mile and every year,
Time and distance disappear
I cannot explain this, dear no,
I will not even try.

And I know just one thing,
Love comes on a wing
And tonight I will be by your side.
But tomorrow I will fly away,
Love rises with the day
And tonight I may be by your side.
But tomorrow I will fly, tomorrow I will fly,
Tomorrow I will fly.

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

Downhill Run

A dreamy love poem I wrote in May 2018, which was published by Prolific Pulse Press, in their Anthology Heart Beats, edited by Lisa Tomey.
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Beats-Anthology-Lisa-Tomey/dp/1736562002


Downhill Run


I was dreaming

Plotting and scheming

Following you skiing

Running the slope, gliding

Twists and twirls

Loops and hoops

Our hearts were racing

Downhill and dancing

Spirals and swirls

Joyous smiles

Swishing faster and faster

Swooping last to first

Silver and gold

Winners and grinners

Your curls unfurl

Ruby hair unfolds

Beauty I behold

Frozen bliss

We kiss

Soul to soul








Ivor Steven (c) 2018