dancing in the living room
to The Beatles Twist and Shout
shaking off all the gloom
working it all out
will I dance tomorrow?
you better believe it mate
because there’s always something to look forward to tomorrow
and free dancing feels great
I do a little bit of a twist
a bit of rock around the clock
I like to give it my best
a bit of pop and lock
if anyone wants to join me
rock, techno, blues or pop
there's no aggro or shaming
just celebrating music until you drop
Ref: Photos are of my copy of ‘Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles. Songs written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. All lyrics copyright 1967 for the world by Northern Songs Ltd. England. E. M. I. Records Parlophone (The Gramophone Co. Ltd.). Hayes – Middlesex – England. Made and printed in Great Britain. Produced by George Martin. Cover by M C Productions and The Apple. Staged by Peter Blake and Jann Horwarth photographed by Micael Cooper. Wax figures by Madame Tussauds. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
The first song I remember on the radio went "yeah, yeah, yeah"
and I was hooked by The Beatles ever after
consequently I grew my hair, hair, hair
and started collecting their records with a passion
their sound, their humour, their fashion and flair
saw me seeking out everything about them
I kept stories and photographs in scrap books with care
each song, disc and artwork a gem
with Sgt Pepper came another cultural dare
vivid record store window displays everywhere
I would walk into the stores to simply stare
at the remarkable gatefold covers before me
the front was a collage of iconic people paired
with the centrefold image of musical royalty
the back was a lyric sheet with every song bared
the sleeve a psychedelic wave of pink glory
Sgt Pepper cardboard cutouts were such a fun share
and the concept all came together
in the music of this diverse alter ego so rare
that my musical interests exploded
Sgt Pepper anecdote note float
Being a child, I had no money to buy this masterpiece
the cover art alone had me longing for a copy
at least on the radio they let it play, play, play
I listened, listened, listened
every day, day, day
when money was finally raised, raised, raised
enough to make my purchase
I rushed to the record store
I rushed to my home
I removed the inner sleeve
I gently slid out the immaculate shiny black vinyl disc
I put the record on the turntable
I ever so carefully lowered the needle
I turned out the lights
I sat midway between the speakers
with the album cover on my lap
my head resting back
my eyes closed
and for the first time
I heard the whole album through
'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
to 'A Day In the Life' ending with "Lucy Annie Allouette" (reversed tape repeating)
uninterrupted
floating high into this musical heaven created by musical gods
I was transported to a new world of artistic possibility
I praised, praised, praised
This week’s DVerse prompt is from Mish, Poetics: Inspired by Album Cover Art. I collect LPs as a hobby, so it was tough finding the right criteria for making a selection. But then I discovered I didn’t need to. The Sgt Pepper album cover is self selecting because it paved the way for everything wonderful that was to come. As much as I love all kinds of music and vinyl album art, it was The Beatles who paved the way for me.
Poetry Days #28
All poems are my own and subject to copyright. See the reference for cover art images sourced above. I do not use AI. I do not want AI to use my work.
masters of lyric masters of music masters of harmony master songsmiths you raised us as you raised yourselves from notation illiterate to craftsmen majestic the birds when they hear your melodies listen hushed in admiration and learn you connected us across lands of difference, waters vast and cultures divergent universal emotions spilled when we heard your work in your lives you have sung our lives our joys and sorrows our hopes and aspirations our loves and losses our frivolities and consequence and still our hearts open to your words as if our own we know them part of the human life song playful, raaucous, challenging, beautiful full of pleasures and sadness as you endure beyond all before you you mark the significance of your generation you inspire generations to come your song has lived long and will not fade while we can listen because we hear with hearts and minds that will always quicken or quieten in tune with your words and music
Today’s dVerse prompt is from Sannaa. She asked us to write in a form of traditional poetry called “panegyric” poetry. Poetry of effusive praise.
poetography.ink 