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pambowen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:05:57 +0000

Now that November is over, you won’t see a song lyric a day, but that does not mean you won’t hear from me. I can’t promise a blog a day, but today I am putting up an English sonnet. I wrote this for the Inland Empire California Writers Club Christmas party coming up on Saturday. The prompt was “decorations.” Writing sonnets is a lot like writing lyrics: syllable count and rhythm matter! Enjoy!

Decorative Sonnet

by Pam Bowen

In decoration, human nature finds
A way to make the world a better place,
By exercising our creative minds
To hang a work of art in every space.

That Douglas fir is looking rather plain.
It needs white lights and baubles pink and blue.
Your biceps bare, in spite of all the pain,
Is begging for a butterfly tattoo.

A virgin earlobe left without a gem
Is sure to raise an eyebrow at the least.
Landscapers, paper hangers, all of them
Can’t leave a wall or garden plot in peace.

Perhaps the Lord God has made all things good,
But humans would improve them if we could.

Country-Fried Fair

pambowen — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:55:37 +0000

Do you have fond memories of going to the county fair? The rides were fun, but I mostly remember the smells of the fair food: greasy, sugary, and a treat we got to have once a year. This was in the days before Hot Dog on a Stick came into every mall. We had to wait till the L.A. County Fair in Pomona opened the week after school started to get a hot dog on a stick and a hand-dipped ice cream rolled in nuts.

This is song #30 for November 30, the last of my PaSoWriMo challenge lyrics. I reached my goal of 30 lyrics in 30 days. Some of them are already being musicated by co-writers. One, “No Alcohol Beyond This Point” is fully demoed and ready to post. Watch for it.

Thanks to those of you who have encouraged me along the way with your comments and facebook posts. Let’s do it again next year!

COUNTRY-FRIED FAIR
by Pam Bowen

CHORUS:
COME ONE, COME ALL IN EVERY TOWN!
BRING SOME MONEY, AND WE’LL CHOW DOWN.
SMELL HOT GREASE AND SUGAR IN THE AIR.
I’LL MEET YOU AT THE COUNTRY-FRIED FAIR.

Verse 1:
Chicken strips
Fish-n-chips
Fried burritos
Five taquitos
Hot hush puppies
Deep fried Twinkies
Hot dogs on sticks
Battered Snickers

CHORUS

Verse 2:
Funnel cakes ‘n’
Chocolate bacon
Cotton candy
Kettle corn
Soft ice cream in
A waffle cone
Nothing’s better’n
Battered butter

CHORUS

Bridge:
What’s the matter?
You don’t wanna get fatter?

CHORUS

You’re Missing a Great Sunset

pambowen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:31:35 +0000

Inspired by something Amy said when we were all yacking away, ignoring the beautiful sunset, this is song #29 for November 29.

YOU’RE MISSING A GREAT SUNSET
by Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
Standing on the windy pier, I looked west.
You faced eastward, shading your cellphone screen,
Drawn away from me by some important text.
I didn’t think then what it could mean, but I said

CHORUS:
YOU’RE MISSING A GREAT SUNSET:
YELLOW-ORANGE AND PURPLE-BLUE.
I’M HERE NOW, BUT WHERE ARE YOU?
YOU’RE MISSING A GREAT SUNSET.

Verse 2:
Alone I stand, facing west on the pier.
Time explained what your distraction meant.
Your mind and heart flew far from here.
Whatever love we may have had just went. So…

CHORUS

Bridge:
Wherever you are I wish you well.
I’m still here, living for now.
The gift of today is enough,
Awake to the beauty all around.

CHORUS

Cleaning for the Boyfriend

pambowen — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:26:33 +0000

On this, my 59th birthday, I am posting a song inspired by meeting our daughter’s new boyfriend. Even though I admit cleaning my house is mostly about MY ego, I made myself more selfless in the song. Hope you like it. Song #28 for November 28. A little blues number for a Monday:)

CLEANING FOR THE BOYFRIEND
by Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
Mama’s getting out the mop for when she’s done the sweeping.
She’s getting out the mop for when she’s done the sweeping.
She’s cleaning for the boyfriend like he’s gonna be a keeper.

Verse 2:
Mama’s picking up the clutter and chasing after dust.
She’s picking up the clutter and chasing after dust.
She’s cleaning for the boyfriend like he’s gonna be a son.

Verse 3:
I say, “Mama, stop fussing, you’re making me nervous.
“Mama, please stop fussing, you’re making me nervous.
“The house looks fine, it don’t have to be perfect.”

Verse 4:
She says, “I love you, baby, and I wanna make you proud.
“You know how much I love you, and I wanna make you proud.
“I’m cleaning for the boyfriend to make him stick around.”

Verse 5:
You know mamas and the things that they do.
Yeah, you know your mama and the things she’ll do.
She’s cleaning for the boyfriend out of love for you.

Implant Bar and Grill

pambowen — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:23:50 +0000

Here is song #27 for November 27, inspired by a certain restaurant with busty waitresses. Enjoy.

IMPLANT BAR AND GRILL
by Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
Hey, man, want something to eat?
Let’s go out, it’s my treat.
The wings are not all that’s hot
At my favorite dining spot.

CHORUS:
IT’S HARD TO TELL WHAT’S REALLY REAL
AT THE IMPLANT BAR AND GRILL.

Verse 2:
Chicken strips with dipping sauce,
Short-short skirts and push-up bras.
The specialty, corned beef and cabbage,
Low-cut tops with lots of cleavage.

CHORUS

Verse 3:
Chili dogs or chili fries,
Shiny smiles and black-fringed eyes.
Rib-eye steak or stuffed pork chop,
Girls endowed over-the-top.

CHORUS

Red Starbucks Cup

pambowen — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:20:27 +0000

This is a draft and a list song. Those are my excuses for its lameness, but wait till you see tomorrow’s—lamer yet. I am going to finish my 30-song challenge, but I am running low on inspiration and energy, so unless the Heavenly Muse kicks in today or tomorrow, don’t expect much. It’s all good (or maybe fair). This is song #26 for November 26.

RED STARBUCKS CUP
By Pam Bowen

CHORUS:
IT’S A SURE SIGN OF THE SEASON
‘SPECIALLY WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE FREEZIN’
WRAP THEM ROUND AND WARM THEM UP
ON A HOT RED STARBUCKS CUP.

Verse 1:
Red foil bags of Christmas Blend,
Starbucks cards a cinch to send,
Pumpkin spice or eggnog latte,
Posters for Nutcracker ballet.

CHORUS

Verse 2:
Store décor in green and red,
Lattes flavored gingerbread,
Christmas cups with cute ice skaters,
Pre-packed box of cranberry bliss bars.

CHORUS

Verse 3:
Fat or skinny peppermint mocha,
Get the kids a tall hot cocoa,
Or maybe caramel apple spice,
They all make the season bright.

CHORUS

Amigoland

pambowen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:32:22 +0000

Again, based on a book title. This is song #25 for November 25. Hope you like it.

AMIGOLAND
by Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
You can dance Salsa at Amigoland.
Three nights a week there’s a Latin band.
Bare-shouldered barmaids in Mexican skirts,
After tequila, I’m starting to flirt.

Verse 2:
But a hard-hearted hottie came in last night.
I fell for her beauty, right at first sight.
I swear at Bachata I’m one smooth partner,
But she wasn’t letting it go any farther. She said

CHORUS:
YOU CAN GIVE ME A HUG, YOU CAN HOLD MY HAND,
BUT NO MORE THAN THAT IN AMIGOLAND.
AIN’T TAKIN’ THE PLUNGE, AIN’T JUMPIN’ THE BROOM,
FRIENDS WITHOUT BENEFITS DON’T NEED A ROOM.

Verse 3:
We danced until closing, my feet were damn sore.
I hoped after that, she might go for more.
Moved in for a kiss, but she turned her head,
Gave me a big, shiny smile and said

CHORUS

Bridge:
Never queridos, only amigos
Never queridos, only amigos
Que lastima….amigos.

CHORUS

Who Are We Thanking?

pambowen — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:26:32 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, all! I’m pretty sure this song is preaching to the choir, but I wrote it yesterday, appalled at the shopping traffic blocking up the streets of sleepy little Temecula. It bothers me when I hear people call this a national, SECULAR holiday. Who are we thanking, then? This is song #24 for November 24.

WHO ARE WE THANKING?
By Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
It’s the day before Thanksgiving
And the shoppers are out shopping
Buying a turkey, stuffing, and yams,
Pies, potatoes, rolls, and a ham.

Verse 2:
Someone’s at home cleaning the place,
Stretching the table to make more space,
Worrying over the small details
It takes to make a monster meal.

CHORUS:
WE KNOW WE CAN PACK THE FOOD AWAY,
BUT WHO ARE WE THANKING, ANYWAY?
REMEMBER THE LORD AND SING HIS PRAISE
GIVE THANKS TO HIM, BLESS HIS NAME.

Verse 3:
Let’s cram the calories for a week
Into one meal ‘fore we fall asleep.
Taking a nap is just as well
So we can hit the midnight sales.

CHORUS

Bridge:
We took the Christ from Christmas
And the thanks from Thanksgiving
And gave both days to vices:
Overeating, Overspending.

CHORUS

All My Exes Drive a Lexus

pambowen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:42:02 +0000

“Commissioned” by Rhonda Parish, here is a silly song for the day before Thanksgiving. I am thankful for Rhonda’s hint, for the support I get from all of you in my journey (musical and spiritual), and for God’s grace. This is song #23 for November 23.

ALL MY EXES DRIVE A LEXUS
by Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
I’ve been selling Lexus for seventeen years,
And I meet a lot of female buyers.
When I chat them up and get to know them,
I imagine a romance starts to growin’

CHORUS:
I’VE BECOME A LAUGHINGSTOCK
AMONG MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LOT.
IT’S HUMOROUS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE
THAT ALL MY EXES DRIVE A LEXUS.

Verse 2:
The sly girls will get me to go on a date
Hoping I’ll lower their interest rate.
They bat their eyelashes, my head starts to spin
And I offer them more for their trade-in.

CHORUS

Verse 3:
After she’s charmed me into making a deal,
She takes off as soon as she takes the wheel.
I can sell her a car, but I can’t make her stay.
D’you suppose I should start selling Chevrolet?

CHORUS

Scribble

pambowen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:56:28 +0000

This song was inspired by my friend Jenny who was broken-hearted to realize that a book she loaned to a friend and never got back contained some early scribbles her baby boy made. Some scribbles hold important moments of our lives. This is song #22 for November 22.

SCRIBBLE
by Pam Bowen

Verse 1:
She snatches a picture book, tears in her eyes
From the book-drive box she planned to donate,
“I just can’t give that one away,” she cries,
“It has Jacky’s first crayon scribbles in it.”

CHORUS:
IT’S JUST A SCRIBBLE; THROW IT AWAY.
SCRIBBLES DON’T MEAN MUCH ANYWAY.
THAT’S NOT TRUE: THINK A LITTLE—
LOVE LIVES INSIDE THE SMALLEST SCRIBBLE.

Verse 2:
Since he had a stroke, our Grandpa can’t speak,
So we give him a pencil and pad to mark.
His scribbles and sketches we struggle to read:
Do you think that’s a coffee cup or a heart?

CHORUS

Bridge:
A marriage license in the sacristy,
Signing the escrow with a notary,
Who knew it would take so long?
Napkin lyrics to your next hit song,
Hearts in a border on a phone-call doodle—
Thank God for the gift of scribble.

CHORUS