This week has been filled with sadness and
nostalgia…memories. I have been so depressed and laughingly said I
should commit suicide on "Suicide Prevention Day"….but.. perhaps
melancholy is probably the more correct term to use.
I have lost all of my family but a brother & family
who all live a distance away, my friend of 37 years Chris, all of my relatives
who were close…every friend I used to treasure here in old Eaton for the most
part, and it seems there is no way out of this downward spiral that
I am on.
Perhaps it was because of 911, thinking of those with
loved ones in the service with thoughts of Syria and more war, or just seeing
my cousin who lost his father - my Godfather, this past year …or because great
friends from Syracuse some who I miss and some who came up to visit after they
had lost their father & husband… but whatever it was.. I can’t seem to
shake it.
Winter in all of its cold is creeping in on me and once
again I am stuck in a place with few friends …but maybe it is just the times
and the two floods of this year…
Maybe it’s the fact that I spent all of my money and
energy to open a museum and put on a “Hometown Day” for Eaton that turned to
disaster because of the thoughtless savagery of Peterboro, who could not even
have their own parade but stole the once every three year parade that marked
Eaton’s Old Hometown Day.
Whatever it is.. I could not stop singing or humming a
very sad song…"Deep Purple"!
When the deep
purple falls..
Over
sleepy garden walls?…
And the stars
begin to twinkle in the night..
In the mist of a
memory ..
You wander on back
to me..
Breathing my name
with a sigh..
As of course, you would suspect …the song has an
unbelievable history. This piece of music was written originally as
a piano piece written by pianist Peter DeRose, who broadcast, 1923 to
1939, with May Singhi as "The Sweethearts of the Air" on
the NBC radio network.
"Deep Purple" was published in 1933 as a piano
composition. The following year, Paul Whiteman had it scored for his
suave "big band" orchestra that was "making a lady out of
jazz" in Whiteman's phrase. "Deep Purple" became so popular
in sheet music sales that Mitchell Parish added lyrics in
1938 or 1939.
It was recorded so many times by different bands and sung
by different singers that it is amazing. On the hit charts it was
a number 1 song in 1939 with Larry Witman, it was also number 2 for
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, a number 9 for Guy Lombardo and His Royal
Canadians, number14 on the charts for Bing Crosby, number 17 for Artie Shaw and
His Orchestra….. all in 1939.
By January 1949 Paul Weston and His Orchestra recorded it
as well as Billy Ward and His Dominoes in September. For us 60 year
olds it became number 1 again for Nino Tempo and April Stevens in September
1963 and also a hit for Donny and Marie Osmond in December 1975.
It just seems to remind you of every love, every person
you ever knew.. and how loneliness feels at night.
In the still of
the night
Once again I hold
you tight..
Though you're
gone,
Your love lives on
when moonlight beams
And as long as
my heart will beat,
Sweet loved ones
we'll always meet..
Here in my deep
purple dreams…
To those who miss someone, friends who are
departed, or those who lost dear ones on 911, or to war, or lovers
left alone….hum along and sing to Jackie Gleason and his Orchestra…..
Memories are all we have but they are worth more than
money and are the only consolation for us who are lonely.
