I'm back from visiting Joe, and I will tell you all the bad news some other time.
I myself have never been a huge Sinatra fan. As far as Ratpackers are concerned, I much prefer Sammy Davis, with or without the Jr. I will, however, jump into the fray and come out in favor of High Society, which I always found delightful, especially Sinatra and Celeste. Der Binger is, of course, playing Der Binger. Not to be confused with Der Brucer, who plays Der Brucer.
Sinatra changing lyrics? Well, on one occasion, I think he improved them, and--pray I don't get struck by lightning!--it was a Sondheim song, Good Thing Going. Sondheim wrote, "alright, tough" and Frank changed it to "okay, tough", which I think gives the line more bite because of the palatal stop (k).
Having seen the film of New York, New York, the title song belongs exclusively to Liza for me, and Frank's version is always very sad, because you can hear his voice going, and all I can think is, "What he would have done with this song ten years earlier!"
HUAC: Far be it from me to pass up a chance for self-promotion. This is a lyric I wrote some years ago, never been set, for a show concerning that political era. The show may yet see light of day:
Are you now, or have you ever been
In love with me?
Did we both ever take an oath
Of loyalty?
Don't refuse to answer on the grounds
That this line of questioning
Is out of bounds.
Do you now, or did you in the past
Betray my love?
No more games: time for naming names.
(See list above.)
Does your heart possess the need to know
That I sought its violent
Overthrow?
Swear that you renounce the party line,
Or you may be pressured to resign.
Are you now, or
Have you
Ever been
Mine?
All these years we two have shared the load,
Fellow-travelers on a crooked road.
Read this through with care before you sign.
Are you now, or
Have you
Ever been
Mine?
© 2004 William F. Orr
