Take This Tune

Posted: Monday, April 26, 2010 by Travis Cody in
7



Take This Tune is a feature hosted by my pal Jamie at Duward Discussion. Jamie puts up a video prompt complete with lyrics to the song, and the task is to find another song or to write something inspired by the title of the song or something in the lyrics.

I really enjoy participating in Jamie's feature because of where the prompts take my thoughts and emotions. I get to take credit for this week's prompt. I suggested a beautiful song from an oddity...an Andrew Loyd Weber musical that was not outrageously successful. The song is Whistle Down the Wind, from the musical of the same name.

I'm including the lyrics, but I encourage you to listen to the song as well.

Whistle Down The Wind
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Whistle down the wind
Let your voices carry
Drown out all the rain
Light a patch of darkness
Treacherous and scary

Howl at the stars
Whisper when you're sleeping
I'll be there to hold you
I'll be there to stop
The chills and all the weeping

Make it clear and strong
So the whole night long
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I will not abandon you my precious friend

So try to stem the tide
Then you'll raise a banner
Send a flare up in the sky
Try to burn a torch
And try to build a bonfire

Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I'm there

So whistle down the wind
For I have always been
Right there

Howl at the stars
Whisper when your sleeping
I'll be there to hold you
I'll be there to stop
The chills and all the weeping

Make it clear and strong
So the whole night long
Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I will not abandon you my precious friend

So whistle down the wind
Let your voices carry
Drown out all the rain
Light a patch of darkness
Treacherous and scary

Every signal that you send
Until the very end
I'm there

So whistle down the wind
For I have always been
Right there.



I continue to be visited by a flood of old memories. I'm grateful for it, because it helps me gain more perspective about where I reside in this moment of my life.

This sonnet was composed using a Shakespearean rhyming scheme.

Wind whip'd white caps on the steely gray bay,
Tempestuously rolling toward shore.
Cold bites hard, more winter ice than spring rain.
Vortexes of angry clouds promise more.
Within such uncheck'd volatility
Did the course of a fast friendship reside.
Only alive when running wild and free;
Never quiescent, rarely satisfied.
Yet often comes that day when paths diverge,
When the lives of men find distinct purpose,
Youth foregoing witless pursuits to merge
In honor with the few and the proud, and thus,
For duty, one met his untimely end.
So shall I always remember my friend.



This has been an original poem by Travis Cody, copyright 2010.

7 comments:

  1. Interesting that we both went for the storms in life. That is a wonderful sonnet. Thank you for sharing it.

  1. Akelamalu says:

    My first thought when I saw Whistle Down The Wind was of the Hayley Mills film of that name - I just loved it!

    I also love your sonnet Trav. :)

  1. Wow Travis, this new journey for you is kicking a** indeed. I hope some of these are being submitted...

  1. Ivanhoe says:

    I never heard of that musical, but the tune was very Weber-ish, if you will. I'll keep an eye on our theater if it ever comes around :)

  1. You do sonnets like you invented them, Travis.

  1. Jamie: I'm enjoying the sonnet exercise.

    Akelamalu: I don't know that movie, but I do like Hayley Mills.

    V: I'm dabbling a little, trying to figure out what the market is.

    Ivanhoe: I don't know if it's still being produced, but the premise is interesting.

    Julia: I don't know about that, but thanks for the positive feedback!

    TC: Thank you dear!