This week's LitRock tune on Issa's Sunday Service goes all the way back to the early days of the renowned Greek bard, Homer. Notably, this was a song not replicated in Cream's recent dinosaur reunion. Here's Wikipedia's take on the song's inception:
The lyrics were written by Martin Sharp on the back of a beer mat, which he gave to Eric Clapton after a chance meeting. These lyrics were put to a melody inspired by Judy Collins' version of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" and chords inspired by The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City".
This is all news to me and I will let a sharper ear than mine ferret out the veracity or lack thereof here. I had always assumed the lyrics were by Peter Brown who, along with Keith Reid and Robert Hunter (who co-wrote all but one of the songs on the new Dylan album, Together Through Life, which I'm listening to as I type), are among rock's premier, if relatively unrecognized, classic lyricists. Sharp, who was Clapton's artist flatmate at the time, also designed the renowned cover for the album, Disraeli Gears, on which "Tales of Brave Ulysses" appeared.
The featured poem this week, as we count up from issue #1, is from Lilliput Review #10, in February 1990. Who knew a toad and a bucket of salt was so limiting? Enjoy.
Mercy?
Do you ask for mercy?
You will be given a toad
and a bucket of salt,
and nothing more.
Do not ask for more.
There is none.David Castleman
evening cool--
the toad who comes out
I call "Lucky"
Issa
translated by David Lanoue
best,
Don
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