Quantcast
A Way with Words, public radio's lively language call-in show, hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett.
Listen | Newsletter | Ask a Question | Donate Now | Sponsorship |Discussion Forums
Discussion Forums | Start a New Discussion
 
You must be logged in to post Login Register
Search Forums:


 






Minimum search word length is 4 characters – Maximum search word length is 84 characters
Wildcard Usage:
*  matches any number of characters    %  matches exactly one character

 

A Way with Words is supported in part by:

 

The University of San Diego   National University: Change your future today.

English Definition of Love – Musical Version

UserPost

8:56AM
Jul-06-08


contrawise

Member

posts 18

Listening to today's repeat program, the discussion about meanings of love – comparing English and Spanish – points out once again a rather sad inadequacy in English: the word "love" is compelled to stretch too far, tries to cover too much. I was reminded of an obscure-yet-favorite piece of music – one that might even be useful in the context of the show.

Back in the 70's, when Pop Art was still Pop Art, one of my musical heroes decided to create some musical Pop Art. Bob Dorough used the text from various everyday items – a parking ticket, a laundry receipt, a dunning letter from a collection agency – and created songs from them. The best of the lot was the dictionary definition of Love, taken right from Webster's.

Bob Dorough is one of those obscure song writers who has used his craft to do more for the English language than, perhaps, anyone else in the musical realm. Not only is he a wonderful wordsmith, he's a great teacher. He is the creator of the *School House Rock* songs that helped a generation or two have fun learning math and English.

It seems to me that these songs – or bits of them, at least, might sometimes make for some interesting punctuation between segments. I can point the way to recordings, if there is any interest.