| Verses explained | Activities |
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In Consert |
Just music and lyrics |
I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance,
That I could make those people dance,
And maybe they'd be happy for a while.
But February made me shiver,
With every paper I'd deliver,
Bad news on the doorstep...
I couldn't take one more step.
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside,
The day the music died.
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singing "This'll be the day that I die,
This'll be the day that I die."
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Now do you believe in rock 'n roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well I know you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm 'n' blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned,
No verdict was returned.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx,
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.
The birds flew off with the fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the halftime air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance
'Cause the players tried to take the field,
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed,
The day the music died?
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So Jack be nimble Jack be quick
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend"
And as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan's spell
And as the flames climbed in high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing...
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father Son and Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the musid died
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Homework Read the original text + the 'key' comments. You should also read the 'activities' part, and be well prepared for what you are expected to do at school. One lesson Organize 6 groups, one for each stanza. When you have split the differences concerning the choices, discuss the content of your stanza. Do you agree with Cindy Y Hwang (check the information on the net!), or do you have other ideas and opinions? You are supposed to comment on every 'key'! Listen carefully to your stanza while checking the text. What can you say about the rhytm, rhyme, allitterations, etc., etc. ? Do you think the text, meaning and music work well together ? Explain why! What do you consider to be the theme of the song? Will it be possible to imagine other themes? Put your heads together and make up at least a couple of other suggestions! Homework If you haven't finished what you were expected to do at school, do it at home. There are a lot of people, music, etc. mentioned in the comments. Your group is supposed to choose one piece of music, find the text someplace (e.g. on the net!), play it in class and comment on it. One lesson Presentation of the homework. Each of the groups are supposed to present the chosen piece of music, and to play it. Time available = appr. 40 minutes / 6 (so hurry up!!) |