Lyrics To "I Am"...Help!

David Durrett · Post by **David Durrett** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:21 pm

I've always loved the idea of helping each other with lyrics we can't make out...of course, with Matt's diction there are very few, but there have been some that my American ear and (prior) youth kept me in the dark about for some time.

For example, I couldn't make out "Eden saw play" in "Morning Has Broken" because of the English "r" Matt puts at the end of "saw"...best I could do was "eatin' sorbet." I also thought "a gift of gold from Samarkand" was "a gift of gold from summer, canned" until I heard what a Samarkand was.

And for years (until I bought the sheet music) I was happy thinking Annie Harris paused in typing, "thought it dumb," glanced again at the last letter her boss gave her to transcribe for him, died a symbolic "death of the spirit" so the machinery of life could move forward, and carried on...contributing to the kind of boring world the other two girls were trying to change. In retrospect, I've wondered if "Don" was the best name to use, and if using both "typing" and "letter" set up a false connection, then I figured it was just my brain malfunctioning...

This one has driven me nuts over the years:

"I am the sun/ ........ /and I die each night/and I wake alone."

When I look up the lyrics to "I Am" or "I Am A Leaf," it always just says "and you" for that lyric, which makes no sense (which is true of many lyric sites). I think he's saying "called ... " like it's some nickname for the sun, and I hear "d'sol" which is "of the sun" in Spanish...that's as far as I get. Short of buying the sheet music for this one, can anyone help??

Rmoore · Post by **Rmoore** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:10 pm

I'm afraid I don't know the answer David but as far as misheard lyrics are concerned, 'eatin sorbet' is priceless.

Thank you for making me laugh!

Richard

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:03 am

Hi David, and a warm welcome to the Matt Monro forum, it sounds like it should be your forum!
Anyway it's really nice to have you on board, and see that you have been finding your way around. You'll find we are not as scary as some would have you believe!

Is this what you want ...there is a songbook accessible from the home page.

I am a leaf you are the wind
Softly you blow and I fall down
I am the sun cold noon dissolves
And I die each night and I wake alone

I am the sand you are the tide
You lay me down and you cast me wide
I am the bed round which you flow
And as I lay there you drift and go

I am now free although I am
My loveâ€™s too strong I canâ€™t break it down
I sing I fly
Within you smile
And I am again for just a while

Cook/Greenaway

Marian

David Durrett · Post by **David Durrett** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:48 am

Thanks Marian! And thank you for the welcome!

I remember seeing that lyric on the Songbook a while back, and honestly not being convinced that it was accurate. It just didn't make sense to me, though I agree it "sounds" like it could be what he's singing, but I just don't get it..."cold noon"? I guess a cold dusk dissolves the sun...do you think it's right?

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:52 am

We often get 'cold noons' in England David

Could it be moon?

Marian

David Durrett · Post by **David Durrett** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:22 am

I just listened again closely...it's definitely an "n" and not an "m," but you had me excited for a minute! Now, I know there was a time or two when Matt and producers let a missed pronunciation go by, probably because the rest of the take was so good (think "take her lap, fellas" and "Methusefah is my patron saint"), but I'm thinking "cold noon dissolves" fits better than anything I've heard, even though I don't hear a "v." I just don't understand it. I may need to find the sheet music on this one...

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:30 am

Hi David

Funny you mention this song as the lyrics have long fascinated me.

I must admit though, the "cold noon" line does make sense to me.

Anyway, welcome to the forum!