Meaningful songs #19 - DAVID BOWIE

This is the nineteenth in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Letter To Hermione", released in 1969, is by a singer called DAVID BOWIE.

The album containing the song

Bowie and Hermione

This song is a wistful lamentation for a past love; an acknowledgement that though their affair is over a frisson of love may remain. Written by David Bowie, he himself revealed it was a real letter (never posted) to a dancer, Hermione Farthingale, with whom he had a brief but passionate relationship whilst working with the mime artist Lindsay Kemp. She left him "broken-hearted" in 1969 when offered a role in the film Song Of Norway, breaking the relationship as she departed to film in Scandinavia; though there were contemporary rumours of repeated infidelity! There's nothing like being dumped to bring on nostalgic thoughts, as expressed here.

LETTER TO HERMIONE
    
The hand that wrote this letter

Sweeps the pillow clean

So rest your head

And read a treasured dream

I care for no one else but you

I tear my soul to cease the pain

I think maybe you feel the same

What can we do?

  

I'm not quite sure

What we're supposed to do

So I've been writing just for you

They say your life is going very well

They say you sparkle like a different girl

But something tells me that you hide

When all the world is warm and tired

You cry a little in the dark, well so do I

I'm not quite sure

What you're supposed to say

But I can see it's not okay

He makes you laugh, he brings you out in style

He greats you well and makes you up real fine

And when he's strong

He's strong for you

And when you kiss

It's something new

But did you ever call my name

Just by mistake?

I'm not quite sure 

What I'm to do

So, I'll just write some love to you

Do, do, do, do

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in this series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.