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intricate plays
of romance and its ways
will last
with the beat of blue
When the beat is blue.
When the beat is blue
And the beat is blue!
    *    *    *    *
    One more. I couldn’t seem to stop.
EVERYDAY
    Every day
they came anew
My darling, everyday
these thoughts of you
Everyday
and every hour
Thoughts of you
still hold me in their power
Every day
I try forgetting
but I can’t say goodbye
I’m never sure
that we can never be
and all my dreaming
brings a hope that clings
and every day
I love you more.
    Oh, there are more songs. But enough is enough.
    No. One more. My attempt at romantic philosophy.
LOVE
    Verse:
    They call it sweet romance
They crown it king.
But who can ever know
its meaning?
With every word and phrase
we rhyme and sing
And yet alone they make
no solid thought to take.
    Chorus:
    Love
isn’t a flame
That scorches a name
in your heart.
Love
isn’t a song
That’s borne you along
from the start.
Love
isn’t the thunder
isn’t the lightening
or the rain.
Love
isn’t the wonder
isn’t the frightening
or the pain
and love
isn’t the glow
that each lover knows
but never sees
Love
is all of these .
    Amen . Selah . Hic jacet . So much for love. At the age of 21.
    *    *    *    *
    In 1965, my family (wife and 4 children) moved to a community in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Eventually, it grew into a gated community. And, eventually, I met Nick Perito.
    While I knew him – and enjoyed his sparkling company – Nick became Perry Como’s music director, arranging, conducting and writing songs. Which is where I came in. During the next few years, we collaborated on several songs. One of them became the title song of Perry Como’s Christmas album. I rewrote the lyrics of a song I’d written years before. Nick added a new melody. It was:
I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS
    I wish it could be Christmas
Forever.
I wish the snow
would never go away
Because that’s when I’m with you
and have you for my own
Because that’s when I never
have to leave you alone
I’d never ask for other things
if only
The Christmas tree
could sparkle every day.
If time could stop forever
each day and each tomorrow
I wish that Christmas
never went away.
(OR)
I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS
    (My rewrite, as recorded)
    I wish it could be Christmas
forever
I wish that glow
would never fade away
with friends and loved ones near us
‘round the Christmas tree so tall
We hear the church bells ringing
Dear Lord
bless us one and all.
I know I’d be content
now and forever
if those Christmas lights
would sparkle every day
There’d be candy canes
and mistletoe
and children singing
carols we know
carols we know
If love and peace n earth
would always stay
I know it could be Christmas
everyday.
    Apparently, someone (Nick, Perry Como et al, least of all me) wanted a full laundry list of Christmas elements – friends, loved ones, Christmas tree, church bells, Dear Lord bless us, Christmas lights, candy canes, mistletoe, children singing, carols we know, love and peace on earth. How come we couldn’t squeeze in Santa Claus and sleigh rides?
    What bothered me was the change in approach in the conclusion. What had been a wish for Christmas pleasures became a political hope for peace on earth. A bit much for a simple Christmas song. I don’t remember if Bob hope used the same generalizing approach on his Christmas show. I hope not. I know he said it was his favorite Christmas song which, again, (as I being a curmudgeon here) disturbed me because I associated SILVER BELLS with Bob Hope and Christmas.
    *    *    *    *
    The next song Nick and I did together worked out a little better. Perry Como sang it on another of his albums. The music, quite lovely, was composed by Nick, ASCAP. Lyrics by me (now also ASCAP.)
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
    Verse:
    I found your photo
in a drawer tonight
I’d forgotten it was there
I stared at your face
for hours and hours
Wondering if you still care
    Chorus:
    Do you remember me,
As I