It's Always Summer in My Mind

Although this is a piano-jazz ballad, it was inspired by several songs Brian Wilson wrote for The Beach Boys, especially "Your Summer Dream." 

Note: there's a lyrical change in the 2nd verse which differs from the recording.

As usual the recording is just me and Janice Friedman (on piano) recorded in her living room with a hand-held Olympus voice recorder.

Brian Wilson

"It's Always Summer in My Mind"

(click on the title to listen)

When autumn colors come to paint the park,
and skies grow dark, I’m not inclined
to let the season choose the clothes I wear,
for it’s still summer in my mind.

And when my radiator murmurs low

and winter snowdrifts form, I find
I’m by the seashore in the balmy air.
And it’s still summer in my mind.

I found my love as cotton clouds blew by,

one sweet July, long, long ago.

But then September came and summer said goodbye.

Years pass and I still love her so.

So...

when laughing daffodils declare, “It’s spring,”
and skylarks sing just to unwind,
their shining fineries can’t compare to mem’ries

of her and summer in my mind.

It’s always summer in my mind.

A Johnny Mercer summer in my mind.

It’s always summer in my mind.

Words & Music © 2011 by Lee Charles Kelley

West Sixty Ninth Street Music (ASCAP)

Rough Demo

Vocal: Lee Charles Kelley

Piano: Janice Friedman

Last Train to Mercerville

This one has generated a bit of interest here and there, especially the big band version recorded by Laura Ainsworth on her CD Necessary Evil. Note: after the introductory verse the lyric is made up almost entirely of Johnny Mercer song titles (in bold below).

"Last Train to Mercerville"

(click on the title to listen)

 

Sometimes in quiet contemplation

when all the world seems tired dull and stale,

bored to tears with my computer’s cursor,

I yearn for an amusifying verser

whose clever lyrics always cure my alienation.

So if you share my fond preoccupation

with good old tunes that tend to tell a tale,

and words just terse enough not any terser,

as written by a certain Johnny Mercer,

perhaps you’d care to meet me at the railroad station…

...where Mister Bob White is Trav'lin’ Light

and dustin’ his shoes to The Blues in the Night.

Down on Skylark Lane, past Early Autumn Hill,

he’s boardin’ the last train to Mercerville.

Where Laura rides too on that train passin’ through.

On each train I caught, John, I Thought About You.

You were just Too Marvelous for Words at least until

your words charmed all the birds in Mercerville.

                  On the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe,

                  they know Something’s Gotta Give.

                  But the Mercer Line runs great 
                  and tonight I’ve got a date

                  to Accentuate the Positive.

And isn’t it fine, Come Rain or Come Shine,

to ride that old friend to the end of the line.

Ah, The Summer Wind, The Autumn Leaves that spill

across the track that takes you back to Mercerville.

(whistling interlude)

Watch her glide alongside the Moon River,

and Dream when you’re feelin’ blue,

where Fools Rush In
lovin’ the spin that they’re in

And the Angels Sing a Tin-Pan Alley hymn for you.

Well, that’s how it goes, and, John, these phrases I chose

fit Hoagy and Henry and Harold and those

the Old Music Masters who gave us a thrill

with jazzy strains aboard those trains to Mercerville.

I was born old fashioned, I’m Old Fashioned,

I love the moonlight, still. 

I’m just insane about that train,

a-hoo-wee-de-hoo-wee, to Mercerville.

                 Hop on board. Take a trip on a train, hop on board.

                 Day In, Day Out, 
                 That Old Mercer Magic has me in its spell

                 and Anyplace I Hang My Hat Is Home, Goody Goody,

                 The Days of Wine and Roses, Tangerine,
                 Jeepers Creepers, Time to Hit the Road to Dreamland,

                 and in The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,    
                 I Remember You.

Music & Lyric © by Lee Charles Kelley
West Sixty Ninth Street Music (ASCAP) 

Piano: Janice Friedman, Vocal & Whistling: Lee Charles Kelley

It Was Just Like Love

Several years ago I saw a young actress on an entertainment show. She was asked about the rumors that she had been romantically involved with a famous actor. "No, we're just friends," she said. "But it's one of those friendships some people have, you know, where it's almost like you're in love."


Hmmm, I thought. There might be a song there...

"It Was Just Like Love"

(click on title to play tune)

It was just like love,
without the aggravation,

a rich blend of
warm friends, cool conversation

plus the thought
that rain or shine you've always got
great company.

That sounds a lot
like love to me.

It was just like you
to keep my engine purring

while guys you knew
were the same bad dream, recurring.

I still don't know
what made you feel you had to go
through all that fuss 

when it was so
much like love with us.

Bridge

I guess I should have understood
the rules of the game,

should have used those tools of the game
that make hearts dance.

But sad to say I'm like those wayward
fools of the game

who'd rather wait for one true love
than waste time on romance.

Yeah, it was just like me
to fix what isn't broken.

To late I see
some things should have stayed unspoken.

But in a blaze
of reckless honesty our days
of fun were done.

I spoke one phrase
and watched you run.

(solo, repeat bridge)

It was just like bliss
that couldn't clear the runway.

At last we kiss,
though not quite in the fun way.

It's all gone bust,
yet as we kiss goodbye I trust
you'll share this toast.

"Wasn't it just like love almost?"

'Cause it hurts just like love almost...

Words & Music © 2006 by Lee Charles Kelley 
West Sixty Ninth Street Music (ASCAP)

Recorded at Birdland in NYC during a Tierney Sutton singing workshop.

Christian Jacob (piano), Trey Henry (bass) & Ray Brinker (drums). 

Opening piano by Janice Friedman. Vocal by Lee Charles Kelley.