By The Landlord
Ladies and Gentleman of the Song Bar Jury Stellar,
Patrons of the Pump, Grand Society of the Cellar,
Eloquent Inspiration of the Lyrical Vote,
Esteemed Arbiters of Musical Taste and Note,
I would like to gratefully accept this opportunity
Without prejudice, but with pride and impunity,
To introduce, with some vaguely artful arc,
For our latest topic - ‘acceptance’ - ideas to inspire and spark.
So where to begin? Pluck some books from the shelf?
Accepting could be anything – situations, objects, or simply just oneself.
But first, if acceptance came out as some speech
How best to do it, with impact, emotion and reach?
To go lengthy and serious, would that be handy
Like Richard Attenborough after '82's Gandhi?
Go humble and thankful? Can that always convince?
Or better to go grab it, and run, just like Prince?
Do a Marlon Brando, first mumble, then later refuse?
Or Jim Carrey in disguise to amuse and confuse?
To accept but be political as several have done?
Or like Amy Winehouse, at first stand, just stunned.
Do a Kate Winslet 'gather'. Pause, Poise. Do acting?
Or be shocked, or let tears roll ... Halle Berry, Anna Paquin?
Or take risks and face perils of a joke going wrong
Like Will Ferrell, smashingly dropping his gong?
Will Ferrell drops Mark Twain comedy award: “As I stare at this magnificent bust of Mark Twain, I am reminded of how humbled I am to receive such an honour and how I vow very much to take very special care of it."
But really acceptance here is all about the song.
So where is that right, and where is it wrong?
Let's accept first, without going over analytic
It needs more than just a word quoted in the lyric.
Acceptance must be central to the song's inspiration,
In title, or narrative, in character, observation,
A dilemma, or decision in which it's immersed,
Repeated in chorus, described, detailed and versed.
What kind of things could be accepted here?
Gifts? Bribe? Job? Favour? Or just a beer?
A biscuit, a cigarette, or some expectation?
A formal invitation? Or - ooh! Some sexy solicitation?
There are many scenarios and stories to accept
Leading to happiness, sadness, or regret,
Including life in general, a fate or a lot, gone rotten,
Choices made long ago, remembered or forgotten.
It could be a handshake, a nod or letter sent,
Acceptance needs an act, a method of acknowledgement,
Or slower change of feelings, perhaps a healing process
A head that turns in time, to finally express.
Some accept things easily, others really struggle,
Some learn to love themselves, some can't fight their bubble.
Troubled John Lennon ironically put this plight:
"Whatever gets you through the night, it's all right ..."
Some accept trouble, some keep fighting pain,
The poet Longfellow: "When it rains, let it rain."
Andy Warhol stated, as uptight as he got,
"One of my favourite things to say is: so what.”
In Fight Club book and film, writes Chuck Palahniuk:
“You have to give up! You have to give up!"
"Realise you will die!" Why, Chuck, is it fruitless?
"Until you know that, you are fucking useless!”
“Yes, that's correct," says Wolfgang von Goethe,
Who when it comes to words, for sure fulfilled his quota.
"Error is acceptable as long as we are young," (quotes the page)
"But one must not drag it along into old age."
And here’s Franz Kafka, who could be tense and inflexible:
“Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.”
Which throws to this topic another problem area
One that brings perspective, and changes in each era.
Unacceptable hair? There are bigger things at stake …
This isn’t just fashion, like wearing some wrong colour
Or using the old slang, like 'dig’, ‘groovy’ or ‘brother’
Or stepping out of social class, from wigs or massive hair
Mullets, perms or rat-tails, comb-backs or flairs.
Bigger things accepted then, not accepted now,
Or sometimes vice versa, which brings a furrowed brow.
Tolerated back, say, in the seventies or eighties
Is frowned upon we hope, or are back in the ’hate-ies’?
So to flip this topic and make it even richer
And broaden the scope, and fill out the picture
Songs too on things before ignored or imperceptible,
Still around but now officially called ‘unacceptable’.
From casual pub racism, to routine police beatings,
Spouting off online, to attending right-wing meetings,
Random bum slapping, to boob and skirt groping,
Massive child poverty, and hardship food bank coping,
Celebrities and royalty involved in child abuse,
Pollution and dumping of tonnes of toxic refuse,
The giving out of public funds in millions to old mates
Of Eton boys in government who decide our fates …
But that’s enough for now, I’m sure you get the picture,
It’s time to turn you over, and to raise a toast and pitcher
To this week’s guest guru, another debut in the Song Bar plan
The terrific, and one and only tincanman!
Please place your nominations in the usual place below,
Justify your choices to help decisions flow,
Deadline on Monday – 23.00 UK time expected
May your song suggestions entertain and even be accepted!
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