Musical Tributes to Wally

Ever since I got the news last night, there’s something I wanted to share with you guys. I’m sure punha, Shayna, and the other musicians will have something to share too.

singing…

Don’t know why, there’s no sun up in the sky…
Stormy Weather, since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps rainin all the time.

Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy Weather … since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps rainin, all the time

Since he went away, the blues walked in and met me!
If he stays away, old rockin chair will get me.
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more …

Can’t go on, everything I had is gone!
Stormy Weather, since my man and I ain’t together
Keeps rainin … all the time.

Keeps on rainin all … the … time …

almost in tears

So sorry I missed my chance to know a great and influential man. (((((everyone)))))

Along these lines . . .

I was listening to oldies last night before trying to get some rest, and “Hooked on a Feeling” came on.

I only remember the first verse, so here goes:

I can’t stop this feeling
Deep inside I’m weeping
Wally, you just don’t realize what you did to me.

Someone else feel free to add on whatever verses (and chorus) I missed.

Dream Weaver
Gary Wright

I’ve just closed my eyes again
Climbed aboard the dream weaver train
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind

(chorus)
Ooh dream weaver
I believe you can get me through the night
Ooh dream weaver
I believe we can reach the morning light

Fly me high through the starry skies
Maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of fantasy
Help me to forget todays pain

(chorus again)

Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side(

chorus again,

then fade out with the following
repeated several times…)Dream weaver

Well, over in the 1000th postparty/wake, I started (to the tune of “Cisco Kid”) “Wally 7 was a freind of mine…”, but I couldn’t finish it. It’s up for grabs.

I can’t sing, but I played taps on my trumpet today for about 5 minutes before I cracked and had to stop. I had my own little commemoration ceremony in my room, in remembrance of out dear Wally. I’m going to miss him dearly.

Forgive me, I’m not a lyricist…

THOSE STRAIGHT DOPE DAYS
ChiefScott:
Do you remember the good days at Straight Dope?
The flirters were endlessly bold
The Pit was a patchwork of flaming
And each Wally posting was gold
We’d scroll down the forum lists together
And everything round us was fine

Ed Zotti:
Now the boards are dead and bare
No joie de vivre anywhere
Et maintenant we drink a bitter wine

Dopers:
Those Straight Dope days we used to know
Where have they gone, where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those Straight Dope days

ChiefScott:
Do you remember those wonderful parties?
The splendor of Dopers’ cuisine
Our extravagant, milestone soirees
The gayest the Internet’s seen
It’s funny but since we lost Wally
We’ve gone to the other extreme
No-one’s posting parties now
We’d only flame them anyhow
I even find I’m missing Wally’s schemes

Dopers:
Those Straight Dope days we used to know
Where have they gone, where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those Straight Dope days

ChiefScott:
It’s funny but since we lost Wally
We’ve gone to the other extreme
Perhaps we all misjudged the lad
Perhaps he wasn’t quite that mad
And how we miss his entertaining schemes

Dopers:
Those Straight Dope days we used to know
Where have they gone, where did they go?
Eh bien, raise your berets

ChiefScott:
To those Straight Dope days

Dopers:
Eh bien, raise your berets
To those Straight Dope days

Kat: C’est magnifique! Thanks.

At times like these, when someone as witty as ol’ Mr. M7 was falls down and cracks his skull open and dies a horrible miserable death right in the prime of his life and … oh, sorry, I got carried away there … anyway, I think a ray of good old-fashioned macabre sunshine is what we need right now.

I’m sure Wally would snigger at this little ditty being sung at his funeral:

Ted Kennedy’s Song
(sung to the tune of the Irish Washer Woman song)

Oh …
My father is dead,
And my mother is dead,
And my brother is dead,
And my brother is dead,
And my brother is dead,
And my nephew is dead,
And my wife is a drunk,
And my car doesn’t float.
I wish I still remember who wrote those lyrics … their tastelessness transcends all boundaries of offensiveness to where there’s nothing left over but a big belly laugh. sigh

I wrote a instrumental song a while back, very pretty and musical. I would like to honor it in Wally’s name. I decided to call it: “A song for Wally” If I happen to go to the Vegas gathering–I’ll bring my guitar and play it. Other-wise, I’ll probe around and try to find a way to get it on the net as a sound file.

P.S. if anyone here has the equipment to convert a tape recording to CD (Satan??). Email me at Antifluxx@aol.com --I’ll pay a few bucks for the deed.
On a side note:

Yes, the boards are a little empty right now. I’ve felt kinda sad all day. But the cloud will pass (it is starting to pass for me). I had a few little interactions with Wally on the boards but do not hold a tee in knowing him as well as some of you. Time will heal the pain, frustration, sadness, grief, etc… I predict that in a week the boards will be back to normal.

… but I suppose Neil Peart is. This is the song I also quoted in the condolances thread Shanya started.
Rush - Afterimage

Suddenly –
You were gone
From all the lives
You left your mark upon

I remember –
How we talked and drank
Into the misty dawn
– I hear the voices

We ran by the water
On the wet summer lawn
– I see the foot prints
I remember –

– I feel the way you would
– I feel the way you would

Tried to believe
But you know it’s no good
This is something
That just can’t be understood

I remember –
The shouts of joy
Skiing fast through the woods
– I hear the echoes

I learned your love for life
I feel the way that you would
– I feel your presence
I remember –

I feel the way you would
This just can’t be understood…
Music by Lee and Lifeson
Lyrics by Peart

fare thee well my bright star
i watched your taillights blaze into nothingness
but you were long gone before I ever got to you
before you blazed past this address… (there’s more in the middle, but I’m editing to the good stuff.)

fare thee well my bright star
it was a brief brilliant miracle dive
that which i looked up to and i clung to for dear life
had to burn itself up just to make itself alive
and i caught you then in your moment of glory
your last dramatic scene against a night sky stage
with a moment so clear that it’s as if you’re still before me
my once in a lifetime star of an age
so fare thee well my bright star
last night the tongues of fire circled me around
and this strange season of pain will come to pass
when the healing hands of autumn cool me down

That’s just an excerpt, but you get it. It’s a stunning song, Fare Thee Well, from the Indigo Girl’s first albumn. Here’s mud in your eye, :wally

Cool, Kat!

What’s my cut of the royalties? When do we have studio time?

By R.E.M.

Everybody Hurts

*When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
when you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don’t let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it’s time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
if you feel like letting go, (hold on)
when you think you’ve had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don’t throw your hand. Oh, no. Don’t throw your hand.
If you feel like you’re alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you’re on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
when you think you’ve had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.)*
– Sylence