| I have written about a dozen or more songs based on the poems of Emily Dickinson. Some of her poems are just long enough to lend themselves to a song of suitable length – especially if selected lines are used in the verses of the song, and then others repeat themselves in the chorus. With others of her poems, I combined two or more to create a single song. For example, I juxtaposed “Frequently the woods are pink” with “This slow day moved along” for a song called “Wonderful Rotation.” In one case, to lengthen a rather short poem, I added additional lyrics that I wrote – and that proved to be rather challenging, for I tried to write lines that sounded like Emily Dickinson wrote them instead of me! |  |
The poem was “If I can stop one Heart from breaking.”
I had a particular melody in mind, but I realized that using it with the 7-line poem would result in a very, very short song, so I decided to add extra lyrics.
When the song was ready, I sang it for a friend. When I reached a section of the song with my original lines, she grimaced and said something like, “Dickinson wrote that? That doesn’t sound like Dickinson.”
Ouch! My attempt was less than satisfactory – so it was back to the drawing board! I removed the offending lines and worked on new lines in an attempt to make the lyrics sound more Dickinson-esque. The result is below.
I only wish I had kept a copy of the original effort for comparison to the end result. I admit – it was embarrassing! I am much happier with the final version!
What do you think? Close? Or no bananas?
I had a particular melody in mind, but I realized that using it with the 7-line poem would result in a very, very short song, so I decided to add extra lyrics.
When the song was ready, I sang it for a friend. When I reached a section of the song with my original lines, she grimaced and said something like, “Dickinson wrote that? That doesn’t sound like Dickinson.”
Ouch! My attempt was less than satisfactory – so it was back to the drawing board! I removed the offending lines and worked on new lines in an attempt to make the lyrics sound more Dickinson-esque. The result is below.
I only wish I had kept a copy of the original effort for comparison to the end result. I admit – it was embarrassing! I am much happier with the final version!
What do you think? Close? Or no bananas?
| Here's the poem by Emily Dickinson: I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. | Here is the song with the added lyrics: If I can stop one Heart from breaking I know I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one Life the Aching Or cool one in Pain. If I can keep one Love from fading If I can guard one Hope from Fear If I can keep one Light from shading Past winter’s far frontier. If like the single persevering bloom, Standing nigh, in the field – Withstanding consequence of nature’s wounds I will not fade or yield. If I can help one fainting Robin Unto its simple nest again, If I can do this then I shall not live in vain. If I can turn one Heart to kindness Or guide one hand to Certainty – If I can calm each separate anguish And by that grace Release. If I can comfort one who’s dying If I can ease one misery If I can save one tear from crying – Keep one Heart’s company. Unlike the silent alabaster stone – Pompous yet ignorant – Which shapes a covenant of no escape Etched in permanence – If I can help one fainting Robin Unto its simple nest again, If I can do this then I shall not live in vain. |
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