The title for this essay is Arguendo. It is a Latin phrase. It means for the sake of argument. This is not an essay about Latin phrases but rather it is an essay about music. Arguendo, I would contend that the best poetry is written by the lyricists who write the words to the music that we sing. In this case of course I am speaking of civilized music, which excludes such things as hard rock, metal works, or something of that sort.
Unfortunately, lyricists always wind up in second place because the songs are identified by the writers of the music rather than by the writers of the lyrics. But I will say once that arguendo, the best poetry being written these days comes from the men and women who write the lyrics to the songs we sing.
For a number of years, I have thought that one of the very great lines appears in the chorus of a song written by Terence Winch called When New York was Irish. It has to do with those from abroad who are now making their home in this country. The lines from the chorus are:
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad
To grow old in a new world through good times and bad…
Those of us who are the descendants of English-speaking people are fortunate. When our ancestors left what used to be called the British Isles, they were going to a new world where the language was familiar. I realize that there were certain prejudices about those who spoke the English language with an Irish, Scottish or Welch accent. After a hundred or perhaps a hundred and fifty years, those prejudices have about run their span of life. But think of those who came from non-English speaking countries who had not only to master life in the new world but a new language as well. Ah, but this is getting away from poetry.
Perhaps for example the lyrics to “When New York Was Irish” will give you a hint of the poetry that was involved. Here are the lyrics to Terrence Winch’s “When New York Was Irish.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t20Vl7jQ24I&feature=fvwrel)
I’ll sing you a song of days long ago
when the people from Galway and the County Mayo
and all over Ireland came over to stay
and take up a new life in Americay.
Chorus:
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad
to grow old in a new world through good times and bad
all the parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes
when New York was Irish, full of joys and heartbreaks.
Back to the verses:
We worked on the subways, we ran the saloons
we built all the bridges, we played all the tunes
We put out the fires and controlled City Hall
we started with nothing and wound up with it all
You could travel from Kingsbridge to Queens or mid town
from Highbridge to Bay Ridge,
from up town to down
from the East Side to the seaside’s
sweet summer scenes
we made New York City our island of dreams.
I look at the photos now
brittle with time
of the people I cherished when
the city was mine
O, how I loved all those radiant smiles
how I long for the days when we danced in the aisles.
Chorus:
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad
to grow old in a new world through good times and bad
all the parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes
when New York was Irish, full of joys and heartbreaks.
The hope here is that you will agree that the lyrics from “When New York Was Irish” represent an example of good poetry. Now, because I write these essays, I must say that the lyrics, particularly in the chorus, are examples of fine poetry.
Now we turn very briefly to the title of this essay. For some time when I had the labor relations responsibility for AT&T, a lawyer was assigned to me. His full name was Hilliard William Willard Caning. His main stock in trade was that he held a degree from Harvard Law School. I doubt that he ever considered poetry as one of his accomplishments. But what this shows is that the author of Ezra’s Essays learns from others. Now if William Caning has a degree from Harvard Law School, I would suggest that the title “Arguendo” ought to command attention and respect. While Bill Caning probably knew nothing about poetry and music, some thoughts from many years ago provided the title for this essay. We should not be critical of poetry that comes from H.W.W. Caning via the Harvard Law School.
Particularly I hope that you enjoy the poetry of “When New York Was Irish.” As for me, I will always remember “growing old in a new world.” It may be that my ancestors who made the trip had exactly that feeling.
A final note about the reference to ceilis in the lyrics: ceilis, a Celtic word, are happy occasions, a party with music, dancing, and often storytelling. The lyrics, as you can see, are tied in to ceilis and wakes. The Irish are distinguished by their enjoyment of wakes. They may be the only specimen of mankind to enjoy wakes. But there it is. So I leave you humming “growing old in a new world” as an example of poetry that is elegant and happy.
E. E. CARR
October 15, 2012
Essay 705
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Kevin’s commentary: In this essay pop makes it clear that those who write lyrics are the premier modern-day poets. Using my astounding powers of deduction, we can thus assume that Pop would probably enjoy rap music, in that it tends to be extraordinary lyrics-focused and what’s more the lyrics rhyme.
Take as example the chorus to Drake’s “Best I Ever Had”:
[Chorus:]
Baby you’re my everything, you’re all I ever wanted
We could do it real big, bigger than you ever done it
You be up on everything, other hoes ain’t ever on it
I want this forever, I swear I could spend whatever on it
Cause she hold me down every time I hit her up
When I get right I promise that we gone live it up
She make me beg for it, till she give it up
And I say the same thing every single time
I say…
You the fuckin’ best
You the fuckin’ best
You the fuckin’ best
You the fuckin’ best
You the best I ever had,
Best I ever had
Best I ever had
Best I ever had
I say you the fuckin’…
Pure poetry, right? He rhymes “it” with “it” three times, following it with the all-too-original harmony of “up” three times. Anyway, if anybody knows any Irish rappers give me a heads up and I will forward their efforts to Pop; I think they will be the most appealing of all.