the ASCAP blues

the ASCAP blues

 

 

 

 

i'm a too long song

trying to break onto your chart

a heart playing taps

as winter's mood revises itself

into a spring reveille

 

if only you could pretend

that a heart's sales are good enough

i would spin you into forever

 

the "B" side just as willing.

 

 

 

erin-cilberto

2/3/19 

Reviews

[kentuck14]

The "B" side is sometimes the real us in a relationship. We may try to get someone to play that "A" side, the thing we "think" they want to hear . . . when all along we are too full of fear of rejection to just be ourselves. How many relationships fail to climb the "charts" because we dress ourselves up in the trappings of the "A" side?
Great poem, J.
Tom

[jacob erin-cilberto]

love your insights, Tom...thank you for visiting and sharing them...
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Great music references here. Do today's teens even know what a "B" side is? There is a bit of romance sneaking in here too. Good one. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

probably not record-wise, or romance-wise---:)))
thanks, Lydi.
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

Smiling here....I think you are right!

[Onlyme]

Ironically true Jacob, people normally did buy the records for the " A side". But the majority of the times the "B side" was even better. But alas a lot of people never even took the opportunity to listen to the b side at all. So missed out on the experience and enjoyment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Dawn.
j.

[Neville]

Those B sides were often something else, I kind of lost track of the times after one or two plays, I found more meaning and gained more from them, than the track I purchased in the first place... and having arrived at this point of opinion, I can now see certain emerging parallels in a whole range situations life throws at us.... N

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, Neville,
j.

[Neville]

........... :) N

[Rye]

I like this, found it intriguing. Nicely done & said

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you again, Ryanna.
j.

[Rye]

not a problem again 😉😁

[andrew mitchell]

Like John, I had no idea of ASCAP and I’m not sure of the meaning intended behind this one other than music trying to break into the charts and how the singles and radio play had to be around 3minutes. No long plays allowed! Maybe that’s all the time one has to impress someone special on the dance floor before the music stops.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like your take on this one, andrew...thank you.
j.

[Jimmy Yetts]

A (single) heart's sales are rarely good enough--both sides have to be sold.
Apparently, willin' ain't gonna do it.
Old number; brilliant new jacket!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Jimmy,
j.

[emmajoy]

What a clever theme you've placed amongst your words, j. There's always a wake-up call to be found when reading your poems. I knew/know absolutely nothing about ASCAP! Seems ok to have an extra chapter added to a book.. far longer than a musical work of art, yet overlong songs are considered - wrong or misjudged or - just might it be that an unusually long song is/was diluting sales of two shorter ones?!

The fact that you've used past goings-on in such a poetic way is very clever, plus, of course, your writing has its usual sharp definition, j. Thank you so much for showing me how!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

appreciate your kind words, and insights, em.

thank you,

j.

[Phill Oz O'fee]

A wonderful reflection on the highs and lows of being a member of ASCAP; it is also worth noting (for anyone reading this review). The ASCAP Foundation is dedicated to nurturing the music talent of tomorrow, preserving the legacy of the past and sustaining the creative incentive for today's creators through a variety of educational, professional, and humanitarian programs and activities which serve the entire music community. (There statement - not mine) ... great share my friend... :-)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights and kind review, Phill...
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Didn't know the first thing about The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, so this made me look it up to get this poem in context despite its allogoric designs. Of course both versions are equally appropriate and written with your usual Mastery Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, John,
j.