New song: Let Me Be

[Arthur T.]

Title: Let Me Be
ttto: Let It Be

When you think that you have all the answers,
You think you should govern me.
That is when I tell you,
"Let me be."

So when I want alone time
And I'm tired of all your repartee
Will you please go off and
Let me be?

(Chorus:)
I decree, "I am free." Do not dare disagree.
Listen to my warning,
Let me be

You don't seem to understand that
You are not the boss of me.
That's why I must tell you,
"Let me be."

You won't like me when I'm angry;
That's one thing I'll guarantee.
Don't make us unhappy,
Let me be.

(Chorus)

You're still getting in my business.
You've not got the wit to flee.
Heed my admonition:
Let me be.

Ask the people who annoyed me,
You will find they all agree.
They all wish that they had
Let me be.

(Chorus)


My lyrics copyright 2016 by Arthur Tansky. License granted for
non-commercial, non-political archiving and performance as long as:
1. copyright notice is maintained, and
2. no money changes hands.

[Kay Shapero]

Post by Arthur T.
Title: Let Me Be
ttto: Let It Be
When you think that you have all the answers,
You think you should govern me.
That is when I tell you,
"Let me be."

Snerk! Love it.

[Gary McGath]

Post by Arthur T.
Title: Let Me Be
ttto: Let It Be

I mostly like it very much. The only thing is that the line "Do not dare
disagree" is jarring. People can peacefully disagree with me, even about
freedom.

[Arthur T.]

Post by Gary McGath

Post by Arthur T.
Title: Let Me Be
ttto: Let It Be

I mostly like it very much. The only thing is that the line "Do not dare
disagree" is jarring. People can peacefully disagree with me, even about
freedom.

You raise a valid point, and I'll explain.

That was the last line I wrote. In this song I wasn't happy with
the repetition of the original. I was running low on rhymes for "be"
that also fit the scansion, and this was what I came up with that
most closely fit the meaning I was looking for.

I also meant it to be subtly different in context. The song is
about someone pushing back on others who are actively eroding
personal freedom. As such, I saw the "disagreement" as being acts
rather than statements. (Also, I expect some hyperbole from people in
that situation.)

The first two verses are milder than the following four. Would
that line have been less jarring if you first saw it after verses
four or six?

[Arthur T.]

Post by Gary McGath

Post by Arthur T.
Title: Let Me Be
ttto: Let It Be

I mostly like it very much. The only thing is that the line "Do not dare
disagree" is jarring. People can peacefully disagree with me, even about
freedom.

I just realized that I posted this during the brouhaha regarding
Worldcon. That was pure coincidence, and it might affect how the song
is perceived.

[Spear Carrier]

New to the group and completely in love with this piece. With what's going on in our country today it's kind of apt. Thank you for sharing. I can't wait to use it against - er I mean, I can't wait to let someone hear it sung with luv.

[Arthur T.]

In

Post by Spear Carrier
New to the group

Welcome to our little group. It was a bigger group a few years
ago, but that's true throughout Usenet.

How did you find us? Have you been active in filk? Have you
done anything I might have seen (or want to see)?

Post by Spear Carrier
and completely in love with this piece.

Thank you.

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Arthur T.
Welcome to our little group. It was a bigger group a few years
ago, but that's true throughout Usenet.

Thanks for the welcome! Yes, I noticed it was a little light on activity but that's actually a good thing for me. =^-^= And who knows. Maybe it'll grow again.

Post by Arthur T.
How did you find us? Have you been active in filk? Have you
done anything I might have seen (or want to see)?

Well, I've been flitting around filkdom a little bit all my life but haven't been active much. I'm more like that person who listened when she could find things (which was rare) and lately found a way to do more than that. Today we're going to go attend my third filk sing ever. Kind of nervous.

My husband found this group because he was hunting down Mara Brener and her husband - we'd dearly love to hear a recording of them performing and can't seem to find anything. I want to learn her songs (long story).

I'm not sure I've done anything you'd like to see. LOL. I have a few things in a notebook, but only just got a musical instrument I could hope to play a month and a half ago. (An autoharp.) For occasional hobby I like to find recordings by filkers and give them music videos.

After the filk sing I had planned to post the lyrics to something I've been working on. =^-^= I hope that will be a worthy contribution to this place. Some of the things I found here are pretty boss.

[Mark Mandel]

Hi and welcome, Spear Carrier! We aren't competitive around here, and we all were beginners once. I'm looking forward to your work.

Mark Mandel
"The Filker with No Nickname"

[Spear Carrier]

Why thank ya good sir! So far this place has definitely been a lucky find.

Post by Mark Mandel
Hi and welcome, Spear Carrier! We aren't competitive around here, and we all were beginners once. I'm looking forward to your work.
Mark Mandel
"The Filker with No Nickname"

[Arthur T.]

In

Post by Spear Carrier
I'm not sure I've done anything you'd like to see. LOL.

My early filks looked like they were someone's early filks. But
no one said, "Yuck," and all of the suggested improvements were
obviously intended as helpful criticism, rather than anything
derogatory.

Post by Spear Carrier
I have a few things in a notebook, but only just got a musical instrument I could hope to play a month and a half ago. (An autoharp.)

I can't carry a tune, and I've never been able to play an
instrument. But I've been welcomed here, at house filks, and in con
filk rooms. We don't bite.

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Arthur T.
My early filks looked like they were someone's early filks. But
no one said, "Yuck," and all of the suggested improvements were
obviously intended as helpful criticism, rather than anything
derogatory.

That's one of the first things I've noticed with the filk community is the sense of friendship. It's all for fun, right?

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Spear Carrier
I have a few things in a notebook, but only just got a musical instrument I could hope to play a month and a half ago. (An autoharp.)

I can't carry a tune, and I've never been able to play an
instrument. But I've been welcomed here, at house filks, and in con
filk rooms. We don't bite.

Well, I was doing thing without music for a long while. There's a famous filker who kept pushing me to learn the guitar, and she wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to me having musical accompaniment. When I told her, oh. I just learned there's this thing called an autoharp she gave me a thumbs up - not that I wasn't already keen on it in the first place. I'm obsessed with these things, and shall shaddup before I turn this group into an autoharp discussion group.

[Ron C]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Arthur T.
My early filks looked like they were someone's early filks. But
no one said, "Yuck," and all of the suggested improvements were
obviously intended as helpful criticism, rather than anything
derogatory.

That's one of the first things I've noticed with the filk community is the sense of friendship. It's all for fun, right?

Hmm, not sure. I was threatened with lawsuits for singing a posted filk
song. [YMMV]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Spear Carrier
I have a few things in a notebook, but only just got a musical instrument I could hope to play a month and a half ago. (An autoharp.)

I can't carry a tune, and I've never been able to play an
instrument. But I've been welcomed here, at house filks, and in con
filk rooms. We don't bite.

Well, I was doing thing without music for a long while. There's a famous filker who kept pushing me to learn the guitar, and she wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to me having musical accompaniment. When I told her, oh. I just learned there's this thing called an autoharp she gave me a thumbs up - not that I wasn't already keen on it in the first place. I'm obsessed with these things, and shall shaddup before I turn this group into an autoharp discussion group.

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Ron C
Hmm, not sure. I was threatened with lawsuits for singing a posted filk
song. [YMMV]

Seriously?! I mean, wow. WOW! Well, you have permission to sing mine.

[Ron C]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Ron C
Hmm, not sure. I was threatened with lawsuits for singing a posted filk
song. [YMMV]

Seriously?! I mean, wow. WOW! Well, you have permission to sing mine.

Um, yes it happened .. long long ago .. way more than enough said.
Thanks for the permission.
==
Later...
Ron C
--

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Ron C
Hmm, not sure. I was threatened with lawsuits for singing a posted filk
song. [YMMV]

Seriously?! I mean, wow. WOW! Well, you have permission to sing mine.

You have the right to sing my lyrics in circle.

--Lee

[Ron C]

Post by Lee Gold XP

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Ron C
Hmm, not sure. I was threatened with lawsuits for singing a posted filk
song. [YMMV]

Seriously?! I mean, wow. WOW! Well, you have permission to sing mine.

You have the right to sing my lyrics in circle.
--Lee

Thanks. Actually haven't been to a filk event
since that con in New Jersey many years
ago. Only spent a few hours there because
I had a live sound job I had to rush off to.
==
Later...
Ron C
--

[Mark Mandel]

Oh, and about instruments: Lots of us sing AcapulcoXXXXXX a cappella. I'm way out of practice with my guitar, and l've generally left it at home on recent years and just used my voice.

And there's no barrier at all to joining in, in a filk circle, except the rare times when whoever's turn it is asks the rest of us not to. Even brand-new songs are often to familiar tunes, and it's easy to pick up the chorus.

OTOH, sometimes some of us play without singing: instrumental pieces on guitar, Celtic harp, harmonica (hard to sing and play at the same time!), you name it.

See you at the filk!

Mark

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Mark Mandel
Oh, and about instruments: Lots of us sing AcapulcoXXXXXX a cappella.

This. This needs to be a song.

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Mark Mandel
Lots of us sing AcapulcoXXXXXX a cappella.

I'm way out of practice with my guitar,
and l've generally left it at home on recent years and just used my voice.

I may be wrong but...
I think people singing a capella in a filk circle should start
by standing up (top get audience attention) and singing the first few
lines / stanza,
and then sitting down aftr the audience has hushed up and is listening.

--Lee

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I may be wrong but...
I think people singing a capella in a filk circle should start
by standing up (top get audience attention) and singing the first few
lines / stanza,
and then sitting down aftr the audience has hushed up and is listening.

I certainly don't have the guts to do that.

The filk sing at Archon had it so you had poker chips you threw into the ring to claim your next spot.

[Arthur T.]

In

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
I may be wrong but...
I think people singing a capella in a filk circle should start
by standing up (top get audience attention) and singing the first few
lines / stanza,
and then sitting down aftr the audience has hushed up and is listening.

I certainly don't have the guts to do that.
The filk sing at Archon had it so you had poker chips you threw into the ring to claim your next spot.

Protocol differs, somewhat dependent on location. I expect Lee
was talking about Chaos Circles, rather than Bardic or, as in your
case, Poker Chip Bardic.

http://www.freemars.org/filk/circles.html

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Arthur T.
In

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
I may be wrong but...
I think people singing a capella in a filk circle should start
by standing up (top get audience attention) and singing the first few
lines / stanza,
and then sitting down aftr the audience has hushed up and is listening.

I certainly don't have the guts to do that.
The filk sing at Archon had it so you had poker chips you threw into

the ring to claim your next spot.

Post by Arthur T.
Protocol differs, somewhat dependent on location. I expect Lee
was talking about Chaos Circles, rather than Bardic or, as in your
case, Poker Chip Bardic.
http://www.freemars.org/filk/circles.html

Yes.

Getting a Chaos Circle to hush up is a challenge.

I once started reciting a poem -- and got interrupted by a conversation
-- and had to explain that I was actually performing something and that
was why the words I was speaking scanned and rhymed. After that, I
learned to stand up.

I am very fond of Poker Chip Bardic.
In fact, I invented it.

--Lee

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I am very fond of Poker Chip Bardic.
In fact, I invented it.

I'm honored! LOL!

The problem with poker chip bardic is you forget to return the chips when its over!

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
I am very fond of Poker Chip Bardic.
In fact, I invented it.

I'm honored! LOL!
The problem with poker chip bardic is you forget to return the chips when its over!

In my experience, the problem is picking poker chips up from the floor
at the end of the evening when you're tired and want to go home / to
your hotel room.
But then I've had my car rear-ended a dozen times over the
not-quite-sixty years I've been driving.

--Lee

[Spear Carrier]

I looked at these, and the chaos circle sounds a little scary. =^-^=

With the house filk I attended, we sat in pretty much a rough circle (figure 8) and went clockwise. You either played, chose a subject or song, or passed.

Post by Arthur T.
Protocol differs, somewhat dependent on location. I expect Lee
was talking about Chaos Circles, rather than Bardic or, as in your
case, Poker Chip Bardic.
http://www.freemars.org/filk/circles.html
--
Arthur T. - ar23hur "at" pobox "dot" co

[Gary McGath]

Post by Spear Carrier
I looked at these, and the chaos circle sounds a little scary. =^-^=
With the house filk I attended, we sat in pretty much a rough circle (figure 8) and went clockwise. You either played, chose a subject or song, or passed.

At MASSFILC meetings, we normally do chaos, but the number of people is
generally small enough that it's not hard for anyone to get a song in.
Sometimes it's hard to get people to shut up on conversational tangents
when you're trying to sing, though. :)

[Gary McGath]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
I may be wrong but...
I think people singing a capella in a filk circle should start
by standing up (top get audience attention) and singing the first few
lines / stanza,
and then sitting down aftr the audience has hushed up and is listening.

I certainly don't have the guts to do that.
The filk sing at Archon had it so you had poker chips you threw into the ring to claim your next spot.

People with instruments certainly have an advantage. If I want attention
for my song, I can just set the keyboard volume to maximum and hit a
chord. Gatherings vary in style, etiquette, and how aggressive you have
to be to get in a song.

You might get some amusement from the history of filk I put on the Web
last year.

http://www.mcgath.com/tst/

I talk about about the different regional styles. At least at one time
on the West Coast, singing could get very competitive. (Or so I was
told; I'm from the East myself.)

[Lee Gold XP]

At least at one time on the West Coast, singing could get very
competitive. (Or so I was told; I'm from the East myself.)

I ran into highly competitive competitive Chaos Circles when venturing
out of Southern Caliornia in the late 1980s -- to visit Silicon Valley,
farther north on the Pacific Coaast, the Midwest, and the East Coast..
A moment of silence -- and five or more singers would leap at it. I
dubbed it "Piranha Chaos." Things seem to be calmer now -- but then
Barry and I haven't gone traveling much lately as flying has gotten more
stressful.

My own filk history essay can be found at
http://www.conchord.org/xeno/filkhist.html

--Lee

[Spear Carrier]

It seems like most of the filk action happens on the West coast, although there seems to be some things on the East. In St. Louis, I've gathered that the filkers are more... underground? You don't see their activity on the internet, nor announcements for things. St. Louis is 3 hours from me, so it's a small drive to go a-filking, but a-filking we shall go a-filking we shall go, trum the drums and strum the chords a-filking we shall go.

I had read your article previously, and upon a quick re-read I once again noticed that you indicate that filking had faded in the 50's. But did it fade or did it simply go underground? Or transform? I wasn't even born yet so can only speculate with evil intent.

I was introduced to filking by a friend who'd bought a CD in the early 90', Freedom Flight & Fancy. She'd told me at the time that she'd thought she'd like the music, being an avid reader of oh... anything, but didn't like the style. I on the other hand fell directly in love, but it took me years to explore more into it because of the lack of being in contact with the outside world or what have you. The Elfquest CD was my second filk CD ever. I have the Elfquest CD, but alas Freedom Flight & Fancy was "borrowed" years ago which suggests someone out there also likes filking. LOL

I also thought the music was gone for the longest until circumstances firmly pushed me into dark corners of the universe. It's exciting to think I can (gasp) attend these things in person like I heard people do in the rare recording I managed to find over the years.

Post by Lee Gold XP

At least at one time on the West Coast, singing could get very
competitive. (Or so I was told; I'm from the East myself.)

I ran into highly competitive competitive Chaos Circles when venturing
out of Southern Caliornia in the late 1980s -- to visit Silicon Valley,
farther north on the Pacific Coaast, the Midwest, and the East Coast..
A moment of silence -- and five or more singers would leap at it. I
dubbed it "Piranha Chaos." Things seem to be calmer now -- but then
Barry and I haven't gone traveling much lately as flying has gotten more
stressful.
My own filk history essay can be found at
http://www.conchord.org/xeno/filkhist.html
--Lee

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Spear Carrier
It seems like most of the filk action happens on the West coast,

From a Los Angeles point of view, most of the filk action happens in
the Midwest and East Coast. We have
Consonance
Conflikt
The Midwest has
Filk Ontario
OVFF
The East Coast has
GAfilk
Conterpoint or Concertino or Contata

I fondly remember the filking at Arisia and Boskone.
Loscon and Westercon aren't nearly as good.
I don't know about fannish conventions filk tracks in the Midwest near you.

Post by Spear Carrier
although there seems to be some things on the East.
In St. Louis, I've gathered that the filkers are more... underground?

I remember a filksing in a restroom annex.

But perhaps filkers should show up at a concom meeting and beg for a room.

Post by Spear Carrier
You don't see their activity on the internet, nor announcements for things.
St. Louis is 3 hours from me, so it's a small drive to go a-filking,
but a-filking we shall go a-filking we shall go,

I know a filker in Manchester, MO. Is that farther or nearer to you
than St. Louis?

Post by Spear Carrier
I had read your article previously,
and upon a quick re-read I once again noticed that you indicate that
filking had faded in the 50's. But did it fade or did it simply go

underground?

Post by Spear Carrier
Or transform? I wasn't even born yet so can only speculate with evil

intent.

As far as I can tell, filking in the 1950s was split up in different
regions
and behaved differently in each one.

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
My own filk history essay can be found at
http://www.conchord.org/xeno/filkhist.html

You'll find stuff in there about filking in the 1950s.

--Lee

[Tim Merrigan]

Post by Lee Gold XP

Post by Spear Carrier
It seems like most of the filk action happens on the West coast,

From a Los Angeles point of view, most of the filk action happens in
the Midwest and East Coast. We have
Consonance
Conflikt
The Midwest has
Filk Ontario
OVFF
The East Coast has
GAfilk
Conterpoint or Concertino or Contata
I fondly remember the filking at Arisia and Boskone.
Loscon and Westercon aren't nearly as good.
I don't know about fannish conventions filk tracks in the Midwest near you.

This makes it sound as though the only "filk action" is at
conventions. What about regularly schedualed and ad hock filk
parties, newsletters, on-line activities, etc.

Post by Lee Gold XP

Post by Spear Carrier
although there seems to be some things on the East.
In St. Louis, I've gathered that the filkers are more... underground?

I remember a filksing in a restroom annex.
But perhaps filkers should show up at a concom meeting and beg for a room.

Post by Spear Carrier
You don't see their activity on the internet, nor announcements for things.
St. Louis is 3 hours from me, so it's a small drive to go a-filking,
but a-filking we shall go a-filking we shall go,

I know a filker in Manchester, MO. Is that farther or nearer to you
than St. Louis?

Post by Spear Carrier
I had read your article previously,
and upon a quick re-read I once again noticed that you indicate that
filking had faded in the 50's. But did it fade or did it simply go

underground?

Post by Spear Carrier
Or transform? I wasn't even born yet so can only speculate with evil

intent.
As far as I can tell, filking in the 1950s was split up in different
regions
and behaved differently in each one.

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
My own filk history essay can be found at
http://www.conchord.org/xeno/filkhist.html

You'll find stuff in there about filking in the 1950s.
--Lee

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Tim Merrigan
This makes it sound as though the only "filk action" is at
conventions. What about regularly schedualed and ad hoc filk
parties, newsletters, on-line activities, etc.

Los Angeles Filkers Anonymous has a monthly housefilk.
http://www.conchord.org/lafaad.html
March, 2017 will be in Garden Grove or Woodland Hills.

MASSFILC meets regularly in the Boston area.
http://www.massfilc.org/

There's also rec.music.filk and alt.music.filk
And on Facebook there's Filker.

And, of course, Xenofilkia comes out every other month.
http://www.conchord.org/xeno/ -- snailmailed or emailed

I don't know what happens in other areas.

--Lee

[Rich Brown]

On Tue, 22 Nov 2016 15:16:29 -0800, Lee Gold XP wrote:

---snip---

Post by Lee Gold XP
I don't know what happens in other areas.
--Lee

As another example we have a monthly housefilk in Minneapolis.

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Lee Gold XP
From a Los Angeles point of view, most of the filk action happens in
the Midwest and East Coast. We have
Consonance
Conflikt
The Midwest has
Filk Ontario
OVFF
The East Coast has
GAfilk
Conterpoint or Concertino or Contata

All of which are very far from me. Sigh. I'm located near the middle of the states here, in the south of Illinois. I'm about 3 to 4 hours south east from St. Louis as the traffic flows.

Archon has a lot of filk happening there; That's where I got to attend my first filk sing. Alexander James was in attendance and had a concert, so I finally got to attend something like that as well. =^-^= The St. Louis people who run the filk element at the con hold house filks every other month, but they don't publicly announce it or anything. So if you're not on their mailing list you don't know where it's gonna be to go. It's a start.

But that's it as far as I know. And if I hadn't managed to go to Archon I would never know about any of it. Last year was my first year. Fun con!

Keeping in mind we don't do a lot by way of conventions or things here in the first place. There used to be a growing convention an hour south of me years ago. It was sci-fi, anime and fantasy. It was literally run out of town, so now it happens about an hour in a different direction and it's getting very big. But no filking. I asked. :-p That generation doesn't even know what filking *is*.

Post by Lee Gold XP
But perhaps filkers should show up at a concom meeting and beg for a room.

I wonder if that would work. Or they could just get together and filk in the lobby. I know there's a small fan run convention in Nashville that's open to incorporating filk. (I asked.) But I don't think they have anyone who can run a filk sing. I know I can't. I know too little at this time, or I'd be all on it like white on rice. Off white. Something like that.

Post by Lee Gold XP
I know a filker in Manchester, MO. Is that farther or nearer to you
than St. Louis?

I think that may be farther. I'm closer to Paducah, KY.

[Gary McGath]

Post by Spear Carrier

Post by Lee Gold XP
I know a filker in Manchester, MO. Is that farther or nearer to you
than St. Louis?

I think that may be farther. I'm closer to Paducah, KY.

Chambanacon has a lot of filk, or did the last I heard. It's about 240
miles from Paducah. A long trip, but easily doable in a day.

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Gary McGath
Chambanacon has a lot of filk, or did the last I heard. It's about 240
miles from Paducah. A long trip, but easily doable in a day.

Oh shoot! I got all excited and saw it happens at the exact same weekend as Starbase Indy!

[Kay Shapero]

Post by Spear Carrier
I wonder if that would work. Or they could just get together and filk
in the lobby.

That's what we used to do in the early '70s when I started attending
conventions - mind you a lot depended on the tolerance of the hotel
management. Once held a sing that migrated all over the hotel and wound
up at the convention center across the street. Which had a piano, so we
didn't mind. :)

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Lee Gold XP
My own filk history essay can be found at
http://www.conchord.org/xeno/filkhist.html
--Lee

On a side note I hope to begin getting copies of Xenofilkia after this weekend. I thought about donating You Can't Make me to it. I am particularly looking for anything by Mara and Harry Brener to learn. It's a little important to me.

[Spear Carrier]

Post by Gary McGath
You might get some amusement from the history of filk I put on the Web
last year.
http://www.mcgath.com/tst/
I talk about about the different regional styles. At least at one time
on the West Coast, singing could get very competitive. (Or so I was
told; I'm from the East myself.)

Whoah. 129 pages. I've downloaded both versions - thank you! I look forward to putting it on the ereaders.

[Kay Shapero]

Post by Spear Carrier
New to the group and completely in love with this piece. With what's going on in our country today it's kind of apt. Thank you for sharing. I can't wait to use it against - er I mean, I can't wait to let someone hear it sung with luv.

Welcome to the group! There's a FAQ file at the addy given below,
should you find it of interest. (And if you're on Facebook, there's a
Filker group there too.) But stick around - we need more voices. :)