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       THIS ONE DOES IT FOR ME!

A Thought for Today

Keep the smiles coming, even as the year runs out.

 

Hi Ken & Rod,

I think "The Word Before Good-Bye" is my all time favorite. I have every book I could ever get my hands on... and I love them all, in fact I cherish them. But, my all time favorite ...."The Word Before Good-Bye".

Rod, what was it that inspired you to write it? At any rate, you will never know how wonderful it is that you are back with us and we have this wonderful site and flight plan to look forward to. Thank you!

Happy Holidays.

MCL171

Thanks for an interesting contribution, MCL171 (wish I knew your real name, though) and Happy Holidays back at you!

This particular song has appeared in a number of McKuen books and on a couple of albums, most notably "Seasons in the Sun" Vol. 1. It also appears on "An Evening in Vienna" but as far as I can ascertain hasn't yet made it onto CD.

As to the motivation behind the song, we'll have to wait and see if Rod comes up with an answer in one of his daily Flight Plans.

This is my last column before the festive season kicks into high gear so it's the perfect time for me to wish all our readers a joyous and blessed Christmas. May the days ahead be filled with friends, love and laughter. Who could wish for anything more? 

I'll be back next week with the final column of the year.

                                - Ken, Johannesburg, December 20

notable birthdays Anita Baker o Hortense Calisher o Charlie Callas o Irene Dunne o Harvey Firestone o Uri Geller o George Roy Hill o Max Lerner o Janet Reed o Branch Rickey o Audrey Totter o Kim Weston
Rod's random thoughts Even in the face of “no,” move ahead.

The only way to know the lightning is to touch the thunder on home ground.

Grumblers ought to be made to form a circle open only to themselves.

THE WORD BEFORE GOOD-BYE

What is the springtime after all ?
Only the other side of fall.
Oh, if I could have
I'd have made you a sunny sky.
Hello's the word before good-bye.
Sometimes it rains, sometimes it shines
yet the things I want are seldom mine.

How much of Summer can we hold
before we turn and find we're old ?
The things our mirrors tell us are all lies
Hello's the word before good-bye.
Sometimes it's dark, sometimes it's fair
yet when I go home at night
nobody's there.

Perhaps the next wind that blows in
will bring you back to me again.
Till then remembering just makes me what to cry,
Hello's the word before good-bye.
Sometimes you loose, sometimes you win
yet I can't forget what might have been.

                       - from the album "Seasons in the Sun" Vol. 1, 1967

© 1967, 1970, 1986, 2000 by Stanyan Music Group & Rod McKuen. All Rights Reserved
Birthday research by Wade Alexander o Poetry from the collection of Jay Hagan o Coordinated by Melinda Smith
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