LyricTale: I Get a Kick out of You

‘I Get a Kick out of You’ is a song by Cole Porter which was first sung in a musical way back in 1934. Cole did loads of cool stuff and wrote many excellent songs and is worth a quick read.

Lots of people have covered "I Get a Kick out of You", but for me Frank Sinatra does the best version. His version was on his album ‘Songs for Young LoversI’ released in 1954.

I like to make sure the kids listen to an eccentric eclectic mix of music at home. So they will grow up knowing the classics and modern stuff as well, not just the toss on Radio1.

This morning I we had Taylor Swift, then Buddy Holly, bit of Green Day, when ol' blue eyes swaggered on.

Obviously the lyrics of this song, in my head, have always be associated with Mrs. Amazing. She is way better than fizzy vinegar white wine. 

However listening to the song today it made me think of Miss4. 
She's pretty kicky at the moment.

So with more than a little concern that I am doing the equivalent of playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (Sinatra, Sonata... Oh forget it) on a free app on my phone. 

‘I get no kick from champagne,’

Miss4 put your shoes on we're late for school

'NO!'

<Tries to put on Miss4's shoes for her>

Ow Ow OWWW!

Stop kicking me, I am trying to help you!

<More kicking>

Fine put your own shoes on

<Limps away>

‘Mere alcohol,

Doesn't thrill me at all,’

Is it too early to start drinking?

Mrs. Amazing: 'It's 8:30 in the morning!'

Time is relative, I am going for need and pain relief here

<Shakes head>

I suppose it does seem a little early... shame...

Hang on… What are you drinking?

‘Apple juice’

<Does shifty eyes>

‘So tell me, why should it be true,

That I get a kick out of you.’

OK Miss4 the shoes have to go on

I am just trying to help you put your shoes on

No kicking <Firm voice>

Help me help you, help me help you

<Gets kicked>

OWWWW!

What did I just say?

‘Some get a kick from cocaine chocolate,’

Put your shoes on and you can have these three chocolate buttons

'Deal'

<Holds out hand>

'Buttons first'

Shoes first

OW! <Gets kicked>

OK. One button as down payment, two more on shoe wearing

<Hands over one button>

<Takes one button and runs>

‘I'm sure that if,

I took even one sniff,’

Hey? What's this nappy doing here?

<Picks up rogue nappy>

Oh my life, this stinks!!!

<Realises why nappy was abandoned>

‘It would bore me terrifically,too,

Yet I get a kick out of you.’

Miss4 I am bored on this game

Put your shoes on <Firm-ist voice>

'NO!'

Everyday! Do we have to go through this everyday???

'NO!'

<Tries to put shoes on Miss4>

OWW! Stop that! OW! OW! Stop!

<Ignores pain and forces shoes on>

‘I get a kick every time I see you,’

I'm home who's missed me?

<Miss4 rushes in for a leaping hug>

Mind my bits... Owwwwwwwww

<Sinks to the floor in pain>

‘Standing there before me,’

'Why are you crying Daddy?'

Boys have one very sensitive area...

And as you leap-hugged me, you kicked mine...

<Looks on interested>

Owwwwwwww...

‘I get a kick though it's clear to see,

You obviously don't adore me.’

Night Miss4

<Goes in for a hug>

'NO!'

Come on, hug your father...

<Squirms and fights>

HUG ME!!!

<Gets kicked>

OW!

What was that for? We've had a nice bedtime, I read all you favourite stories, we laughed

Why turn on me now?

'Mummy'

<Leaves room feeling rejected>

‘Some get a kick in a plane, Flying too high,

With some gal in the sky,’

Want to go on my shoulders?

'YEAH!'

<Puts Miss4 on shoulders>

'I don't like it'

<Starts squirming and kicking>

Ow ow! Wait! Wait!

<Drops to knees>

Ow ow!! Just wait... OW!

<Falls over but saves Miss4 from any injury>

Can someone call me an ambulance?

Boy8: <Runs in, ready, his moment to shine> YOU'RE AN AMBULANCE!

<Plots revenge>

‘Is my idea of nothing to do,’

What did you do at school?

'Nuthin'

Did you play any fun games

'Nuthin'

What did you have for lunch

'Nuthin pie'

I like pie

‘But I get a kick out of you.’

Come on back to the table

'NO!'

<Tries to pick up Miss4 >

<Gets kicked>

‘I get a kick...out of you.’

Come on it's bath time

'NO!'

Come on

<Picks up Miss4, legs pointing away>

Ah ha! Can't kick me now!

Hey! NO SCRATCHING! 

OWWWW!

<Gets scratched>

LyricTale: Ain't No Sunshine (When She's Gone)

In 1971 Bill Withers released his first single called 'Ain't No Sunshine' (When She's Gone). Not a bad first single. Read about it here.

It's a beautiful song, sung with Bill's delicious voice, simple guitar work and lovely string arrangements. But for me, it's the lyrics that elevate 'Ain't No Sunshine' to steak pie level brilliance.

I find the lyrics perfectly sum up the sense of loss and incompleteness I feel whenever me and Mrs. Amazing are apart. Even when she's being an utter bug.

Team Parent (yay!) have been together since the 1304, maybe 1403, I forget now, it was definitely before the renaissance. So for many, many, lovely years this song has only had one meaning to me. Missing Mrs. Amazing.

But the other day it played on the radio (Radio Hella'Tunes) and totally different thoughts and meanings flooded into my head...

Damn kids, work their way into everything, like spilt milk.

So with considerable concern that I am doing the equivalent of sticking a gold star on a Van Gogh.

And in the words of Zoot (from the Muppets) 'Forgive me, Charlie Parker, wherever you are'.

Me new thoughts...

‘Ain't no sunshine when she's gone’

'Daddy wake up!'

Urgghhhghghghhh

No

‘Where's Mummy?’

Escaped Away... what time is it?

<Checks time>

THE SUN'S NOT EVEN UP!

Go back to bed

‘It's not warm when she's away’

<Wakes up frozen>

<Boy8 and Miss4 have stolen all the duvet and are watching cartoons, all snuggly>

Oiii!

‘Ain't no sunshine when she's gone’

Why are the curtains still shut?

Who normally opens them?

Is there a button that does them?

<Jabs remote in hope>

‘And she's always gone too long’

‘How long has Mummy been gone now?’

Three sucky minutes

‘Really? Is that all!!!’

We've still got 8 hours to go

<All hug together for safety>

‘Anytime she goes away

Wonder this time where she's gone’

Where did Mummy go?

‘No idea’

Does anyone know?

<All shake head>

For shame...

What kind of children don't even know where my wife has gone

<Tuts>

‘Wonder if she's gone to stay’

<Checks wife tracking device>

<Sees Mrs. Amazing enter the specialist shoe, fabric, shawl and cushion shopping centre>

Nooooooo!!!!!

‘Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

And this house just ain't no home

Anytime she goes away’

Who wants to play eat over the sink so Daddy doesn't have to tidy up after you

‘ME!!!‘

That'a girl

‘And I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know,’

YES I KNOW MUMMY does your breakfast different!

I'm sorry I poured your milk at the wrong angle

Which is your favourite cup then?

I have to guess?

No you can't sit next to Mummy, she isn't here!

You could sit next to me... <Hopes>

Fine then, sit on the floor

‘Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone’

Where's the other one?

‘Who?’

The shouty one

<Shrugs shoulders>

Oh you know, can't talk, poos a lot, always saying Dadada

BabyBoy1?

Yes him, isn't he normally about at this time of day

And who is that screaming?

‘But ain't no sunshine when she's gone’

So who's gonna give me my morning sunshine hug?

<All shake head>

Fine I'll hug the cat

<Gets scratched>

‘Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

Only darkness every day’

<Opens curtains finally>

‘HEY! We can't see the tele’

<Closes curtains>

‘Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

And this house just ain't no home’

Damn right

<Wonders which small army normally does all these jobs>

‘Anytime she goes away’

I've no idea where your school shoes are

Why ask me?

‘Anytime she goes away’

Are you sure it's wear a onesie to school day... Mummy didn't say...

<Both nod>

‘We swear’

Swear on R2 or it doesn't count

‘Anytime she goes away’

For lunch you both have peanut butter on a player card

Queen of hearts for Miss4

Aces of spades for Boy8

<Does rock hand>

‘We can't take peanut butter to school’

Really? Crap

Fine, take this

<Each get 200g of Mild Cheddar>

‘Anytime she goes away’

<Pushes children out of house>

<Looks back at kitchen, hall, bedroom mess, with regret>

<Still leaves>