Cummings' poem is below on the left, and my lyrics are then show on the right. I have to admit -- I did make a change to the fourth line of the poem so that it would fit with the rhythm of the song. I changed "she couldn't remember her troubles" to "she forgot about her troubles." Other than that, I think the lyrics are pretty true to the poem.
By E. E. Cummings: maggie and milly and molly and may went down to the beach (to play one day) and maggie discovered a shell that sang so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and milly befriended a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were; and molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and may came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone. For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea | Here are the lyrics: Maggie and Milly and Molly and May Went down to the beach (to play one day) Maggie discovered a shell that sang So sweetly she forgot about her troubles. For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) It's always ourselves we find in the sea Maggie and Milly and Molly and May Went down to the beach (to play one day) Milly befriended a stranded star Whose rays five languid fingers were. For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) It's always ourselves we find in the sea Molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles. [Music] Maggie and Milly and Molly and May Went down to the beach (to play one day) May came home with a smooth round stone As small as a world and as large as alone. For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) It's always ourselves we find in the sea For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) It's always ourselves we find in the sea |
The music is below. Click the images to enlarge.
Note: I didn't have space to write in the lyrics for the third time through ("May came home..."); however, the complete lyrics are shown above on the right.