Friday, April 18, 2025

250 Years Ago Tonight...

 “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

Listen, my children, and you shall hear 
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, 
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; 
Hardly a man is now alive 
Who remembers that famous day and year. 

He said to his friend, “If the British march 
By land or sea from the town to-night, 
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch 
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,— 
One, if by land, and two, if by sea; 
And I on the opposite shore will be, 
Ready to ride and spread the alarm 
Through every Middlesex village and farm, 
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.” 

Then he said, “Good night!” and with muffled oar 
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore, 
Just as the moon rose over the bay, 
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay 
The Somerset, British man-of-war; 
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar 
Across the moon like a prison bar, 
And a huge black hulk, that was magnified 
By its own reflection in the tide. 





Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Merry Christmas to all!


As an alumnus of Eastern Michigan University back when they were the Hurons, I was intrigued when the local classical station played an instrumental version of this tune. 

Merry Christmas to all, and looking forward to a happy -- much happier! -- New Year. 

Monday, September 30, 2024

Well, Crap

 RIP Kris Kristofferson.


There was a time when I was spending too much of my paycheck on Kris Krsitofferson albums. Never the greatest vocalist, but a helluva a songwriter, and frankly, his voice worked for his songs. 



This has always been one of my favorites:


And at the time I viewed this one with suspicion; country artists are, or were, expected to record a religious track from time to time, but that never seemed like Kris's style. 


And then there I was Saturday, with an earworm of "Why Me Lord?" Coincidence, I'm sure.

Friday, April 19, 2024

WWSWD?

 On this Patriot's Day, 2024, let us raise a glass in memory of Samuel Whittemore.

On April 19, 1775, British forces were returning to Boston from the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the opening engagements of the war. On their march they were continually shot at by American militiamen.

Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy, sent to assist the retreat. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British grenadiers of the 47th Regiment of Foot from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols, killed a second grenadier and mortally wounded a third. By the time Whittemore had fired his third shot, a British detachment had reached his position; Whittemore drew his sword and attacked.[7] He was subsequently shot in the face, bayoneted numerous times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found by colonial forces, trying to load his musket to resume the fight. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore recovered and lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 96.

 

Photo © 1983 and 2024, Drang and The Cluemeter
So when the Forces of Tyrany approach, just ask yourself, What Would Samuel Whittemore Do?

Monday, December 25, 2023

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas from all at Schloss Drang to you and yours!



And as always, please remember those deployed away from home.


Saturday, November 11, 2023

11/11/2023

 

So far as I know it has never been established for certain that "My Buddy" was about a fellow Dougboy who didn't make it home -- so far as I can tell neither Gus Kahn (lyricist) nor Walter Donaldson (music) served overseas, if at all, but that is the general assumption.




Lyricist Yip Harburg and composer Jay Gorney did serve in WW the First. Harburg was a commie, but what are ya gonna do?





Saturday, September 2, 2023

Dammnit

 RIP, Jimmy Buffet.

I m sure he's enjoying a cheeseburger in Paradise. Washed down, no doubt, with a margarita.