For me, Christmas came early this year.
My Dad was a big Bobby Darin fan. He would play Bobby’s records over and over, while I listened from my bedroom. Listening to Dad playing Bobby’s records, I too learned to love Bobby’s jazzy voice and mellow lyrics.
This weekend I “received” a wonderful gift. While helping Mom clean her attic, I saw a box tucked away in a corner. The box was partially covered by bolts of fabrics. I was curious about the fabrics, and the box, so I took a closer look. When I opened the box, I saw that packed inside was part of my Dad’s record collection, including his collection of Bobby Darin’s 45 rpm records.
It has been years since I’ve owned a record player. My Dad’s fine, belt-drive record player and vacuum-tube amplifier, have both been long gone. If I wanted to listen to Bobby Darin’s songs, I had to find a way to play the 45 rpm records. I went to a local antique shop and there I found a record player in working condition – so I bought it right on the spot.
Fortunately, the needle was OK and the motor worked. Now all I had to do was to find a way to hook the record player to my own music system. It was not an easy task - the two systems were not really compatible. But after some Internet search, and a little fiddling around, I was able to get it to work right.
Ever since Sunday, I have been playing my Dad’s records. It’s such a wonderful gift to be able to listen to my Dad’s records and enjoy the music that he loved so much.
As I listen to these records, I feel as if my Dad is smiling down from Heaven, watching his little girl once again enjoying the music that he and I both listened to so many summers ago.
Thank you Dad!
For your listening pleasure, here are some of my (and my Dad’s) favorite Bobby Darin’s tunes:
BOBBY DARIN – If I were a Carpenter
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
And have my baby?
If a tinker were my trade
Would you still find me
Carryin’ the pots I made
Followin’ behind me?
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love through sorrows
I've given you my onliness
Give me your tomorrows.
If I worked my hands in wood
Would you still love me?
Answer me, babe, “Yes, I would.
I would put you above me.”
If I were a miller … yeah …
At a mill wheel grindin’
Would you miss your colored blouse
Little girl, your soft shoe shinin’?
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
And you have my baby?
Would you marry me anyway
And have my baby?
BOBBY DARIN – Beyond the Sea
Somewhere beyond the sea
somewhere waiting for me
my lover stands on golden sands
and watches the ships that go sailin
Somewhere beyond the sea
she's there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
then straight to her arms
I'd go sailing
It's far beyond the stars
it's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet beyond the shore
we'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailing
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet (I know we'll meet) beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailing
BOBBY DARIN – Dream Lover
Every night I hope and pray
A dream lover will come my way
A girl to hold in my arms
And know the magic of her charms
'cause I want (yeah-yeah yeah)
a girl (yeah-yeah yeah)
to call (yeah-yeah yeah)
my own (yeah-yeah)
I want a dream lover so I don't have to dream alone
Dream lover, where are you
With a love, oh, so true?
And a hand that I can hold,
To feel you near as I grow old?
'cause I want (yeah-yeah yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah)
I want a dream lover so I don't have to dream alone
Someday, I don't know how,
I hope she'll hear my plea
Some way, I don't know how,
She'll bring her love to me
Dream lover, until then,
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do,
Till all my lover's dreams come true
'Cause I want (yeah-yeah yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah)
I want a dream lover so I don't have to dream alone
Dream lover, until then,
I'll go to sleep and dream again
That's the only thing to do,
Till all my lover's dreams come true
'cause I want (yeah-yeah yeah)
A girl (yeah-yeah yeah)
To call (yeah-yeah yeah)
My own (yeah-yeah)
I want a dream lover so I don't have to dream alone
Please don't make me dream alone
I beg you don't make me dream alone
No, I don't wanna dream alone
BOBBY DARIN - Softly As I Leave You
Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break
If you should wake
And see me go
So I leave you softly...
Long before you miss me
Long before your arms
Can beg me stay
For one more hour
Or one more day...
After all the years
I can't bear the tears to fall
So softly as I leave you there
As I leave you there
As I leave you there...
Softly... after all the years
I can't bear the tears to fall
So softly as I leave you there...
As I leave you there...
As I leave you there...
As I leave you there...
As I leave you there.
A Special Note: In the U.S., tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. It is a day when we stop to reflect upon, and give thanks for, the blessings in our lives.
I wish to give thanks for all you here at Between Homes who have made my life so special during the past 12 months. You have been my friends, my confidants and my supporters; you have held my hand when I needed to be comforted, you have made me laugh when I needed to laugh. You have shared in my joys and you have shared in my sadness.
You have made it possible for me to continue my personal growth and you have made it possible for Between Homes to grow from a tiny 512 sq. m parcel, to a sprawling, beautiful project.
You have truly been the wind beneath my wings.
I love you and I give thanks for the blessings that you have bestowed upon me.
Debbie Bulloch
