Leni Stern
leni stern, “bury me standing”
from: finally the rain has come, 2002
New York City-based Leni Stern — singer/songwriter/guitarist (both she and her husband Mike Stern studied the instrument at Berklee) — collaborated with Larry John McNally (you’ll know his “The Motown Song”, a big hit for Rod Stewart) on this song of resignation and defiance. It’s based on the Roma (Gypsy) proverb of Manush Romanov: “Bury me standing. I’ve been on my knees all my life.”
Very nice Hammond B-3 work by George Whitty!
-Charlie Blaum-
“The Wind blows the door open
The curtains dance in the evening breeze
Reflections from a car pass by
Sliding across the wall
Tonight I feel your presence
Here with me
The voice of god is silence
Silence is a powerful thing
Your last words run through my mind
Echoing
Bury me standing
Face me east that I might see
The first rays of the morning light
Bury me standing
Face me west that I might see
The day turn into night
Bury me standing
I?ve been on my knees all my life
Black limousine outside my house
With the engine running
Tinted windshield, I can?t see who?s inside
All night long he?s waiting there
I won?t be getting any sleep tonight
I?ve been lucky all my life
How much luck does one man get
It all comes down to this
No regrets
Bury me standing...
I feel like hell tonight
Maybe I look it too
I?ve had my ups and downs
Somehow I made it through
Some people like me
Some people don?t
You can hate my looks
Burn by books
But try and stop me
And you won?t
Bury me standing...
”