"Pack up you troubles
in your old kit bag
and smile, smile, smile."
My mother used to sing
me that song every once
in a while.
-=-
"While you Lucifer to
light your fag"
first time ever hearing
a cigarette called that
who knew someday I'd be
taking a drag.
-=-
"What's the use in worrying
it never was worthwhile"
I would sing along as
we drove downtown
it really passed away
the miles.
-=-
The songs one remembers
from childhood
whether bad or good
whether happy or sad
whatever they might be
they all creep up
as a distant memory
calling out to me.
-=-
I also knew that it
was a long way to
Tipperary but I didn't
know the way I only knew
that is where the sweetest
girls stayed.
-=-
My mother's songs stay
with me and follow me
through my days
Moon River always
seemed like a place
I'd like to see somehow
along the way.
-=-
The Ray Coniff singers
inviting me to the Cabaret
always seemed like it
would be a cool place
to go soon since there's no
sense sitting alone in
my room as they sang
in unison.
-=-
I knew when I was young
that if I was going to
San Francisco to wear
flowers in my hair.
All thanks to my mother
who sang about how
wonderful it was there.
-=-
I actually spent a lot of
time dreaming about California
but never went until I was
in my 30s but I heard how
all the leaves were brown
and the skies were grey
funny enough I never saw
it that way.
-=-
Now I spend my days
Sitting in morning sun
Sitting until the evening
comes, watching the ships
roll in, and watching em
roll away again.
-=-
I did make it to the
dock of the bay.
_____________________
1. Pack up your troubles 2. Long way to Tipperary 3. Moon River 4. Cabaret 5. San Fransisco 6. California Dreamin 7. Sitting on the Dock of the bay
Thanks for reading! -Sam
About the Creator
ᔕᗩᗰ ᕼᗩᖇTY
Sam Harty is a poet of raw truth and quiet rebellion. Author of Lost Love Volumes I & II and The Lost Little Series, her work confronts heartbreak, trauma, and survival with fierce honesty and lyrical depth. Where to find me
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Comments (22)
"Nicely explained!"
Marvellous, Sam. I absolutely love this!
Congratulations 👏🏼🎉
It's like reading a song! Very well done.
Wow! Love the poem and the music!, 🌹🌹
I really enjoyed this!! And learned a few things too: like that "a lucifer" was a popular match of the day. And that before Liza gave it life, the RC Singers kinda doused the fire in "Cabaret"! Thanks, Sam, for the read and trip down memory lane and new lessons learned.
Congratulations Sam on your top story. Good job 👏👏👏👏
Definitely gonna be listening to these 🫶🏻
You've highlighted some of the very best old songs ever in a great piece. Andy was one of my favorites, both as a child and as an adult. Congratulations on a much deserving Top Story, Sam!
A wonderful playlist and a beautifully nostalgic poem💖
Your poem beautifully captures the nostalgia. Truly heartfelt and delightful!
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My mom played a lot of Andy Williams when I was growing up. Love the trip down memory lane. ⚡💙⚡
Such a wonderful, dreamy singsong. As a boy, we always called cigarettes fags, but the first time I used the word on Vocal I had to explain it, to avoid confusion 🤣 Congratulations on the TS and thank you for the music, which I will have a listen to later today, starting with Otis.
Oh I love this Sam - I love the way you’ve weaved song lyrics so effortlessly into your poem. Brill - what smashing memories you have of your mum.
🎉🎊 Congratulations on achieving Top Story! 🏆✨ So well deserved! 🙌👏 Your talent shines through every word! 🖋️💫 Keep inspiring and soaring to new heights! 🚀🌟 🥳🎈💐 Way to go!
I like how you tied in personal history and emotions to these songs which are so memorable. Congratulations. A little fyi- the part about grey skies and brown leave reference the place ( I think New York) they were in at the time of writing this song, but dreaming of California where the sun shines.
awesome memories. congratulations on TS, it's well deserved. I often sing songs my mom sang to me. One of my favorites is by Nelson Eddy. When I grow too old to dream. It's a bittersweet song. I never met my great aunt. My mom and her mom came to America when mom was only 5. Aunt Lily stayed behind. The last song mom remembered Aunt Lily singing was When I grow too old to dream. While I want to cry at that memory, it also makes me want to smile and the love shared between my mom and her aunt.
🌹great memories here, Sam. Thanks for bringing them back <3
The music of our parents can bring back some wonderful memories. There are great selections here. Cabaret is such a joyous song. San Francisco is a great tune about one of the most beautiful cities in the US. California Dreaming is one of my all-time favorite songs. And you are right California is not about brown leaves and gray skies. We have beautiful blue skies here in California and there’s a lot of color beautiful green leaves flowing through the breeze and beautiful, red and blue and pink, yellow, and orange flowers. I love California. And of course, the dock of the Bay is one of my ultimate ultimate ultimate favorite favorite favorite songs. It is so peaceful and so beautiful and just sang so wonderful. I can never tired of that song. Thank you so much. This is a great read, and I really enjoyed listening to all the music.
So lovely and beautifully reminiscent! Nice work Sam :)
A wonderful musical journey, and I remember the Tipperary song from when we had to sing it in school...