SONGS I LOVE:
This particular one by The Stones is not listed in the book, 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery and Tony Visconti although As Tears Go By is. But it's supposed to be one of the biggest songs on the Rolling Stones' achievement plaque (i). And I love its subtlety.
Remembering the lyrics with its soft, sweet balladry I was surprised the lyrics were compared to Geoffrey Chaucer's English because when asked to comment on the song, Mick Jagger remarked that the names were historical, fitting together from the same period.
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| Jane Seymour (1508-1537) |
If I remember correctly, one of Chaucer's theme was of courtly love and his most famous, The Canterbury Tales were pretty much bawdy in nature. But this song was loosely based on Jane Seymour (not the actress la), King Henry the VIII's third wife. Unlike other wives she was spared execution but finally died from childbirth complication. And the lyrics' no Chaucer English. No matter what comments Lady Jane is a beautiful song.
Musically for accompaniment and to provide that Elizabethan feel, The Stones used an acoustic guitar, a harpsichord and a dulcimer, the last instrument was played by the late Brian Jones. And the lyrics, missive-styled and pledging his troth since "wedlock is nigh", was written by humble servant Jagger with Keith Richards composing the music.
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Light pop balladry or roaring gut-bucket rock i.e. shifting gears from one music extreme to another, that's what the Stones are able to do. And that's why they're still around.
My sweet Lady Jane/When I see you again/Your servant am I/And will humbly remain.../Your time has come my love/I've pledged my troth to Lady Jane/The sands have run out/For your lady and me/Wedlock is nigh my love.
To be honest, the song reminds me more of D.H. Lawrence's, Lady Chatterley's Lover rather than Mr Chaucer's Tales, especially when the name Lady Jane is used because readers can surely remember thrusty John Thomas. Humble servant indeed.
Was this song ever banned anywhere? Unlikely. What's your opinion?
(I and ii) The Rolling Stones: Stories Behind The Biggest Songs by Steve Appleford.
Images: Google.
ROLLING STONES LIVE TELECAST AT MARINA BAY SANDS SINGAPORE IN MARCH 2014. *****************************
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| Photo from: The New York Times. |
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman the Oscar-winning star, 46, was found dead at his Greenwich Village home on Sunday (2nd February, 2014).
Achievements:1 best actor Oscar for Capote, 2005
3 supporting actor Oscar nominations
51 feature *film releases, 1991-2014
29 dramas, 21 comedies, 1 animation
3 real life characters he played
Source: IMDB, The Numbers.
*Some of the movies that he appeared in include: Twister, Boogie Nights, The Talented Mr Ripley, Almost Famous, Capote, Mission Impossible III and The Hunger Games (series).
According to newspaper reports the lights along theatre marquees on New York's Broadway were to be dimmed on Wednesday in his honor.
