On and On -- By Stephen Bishop

It's on my Itunes, right after the recording of my session with Margie Lantos, the psychic.

I loved that song back in the '70s when it was on top 40 radio. It is a melancholy song with a slightly uptempo calypso or some kind of island feel. I could relate at the time, I thought, having had many cases of unrequited puppy love in my pre-teens.

This time around, I remember it because I had it stuck in my head a couple years ago, so Sharon downloaded it for me. I think she kinda liked it, too, despite not being a fan of '70s era music.  After listening to my session with the psychic, I thought I'd  try learning it on the guitar. I went to E-chords, got the lyrics and chords and challenged myself to learn to play the whole thing. Sharon always got mad at me for not learning a whole song, ever.

Although it has some difficult chord changes, I feel I have the gist of it now, on day two. Of course, after going on Youtube, I saw 4 or 5 different versions, played differently, all more polished--but, whatever.

I hope you can hear me now, Boopie. I did  it for you. The part about smiling when you feel like crying always makes me think of you.

On and On

Down in Jamaica, they got lots of pretty women
Steal your money then they break your heart
Lonesome Sue, she's in love with old Sam
Take him from the fire into the frying pan

On and on
She just keeps on trying
And she smiles
When she feels like crying
On and on, on and on, on and on

Poor ol' Jimmy sits alone in the moonlight
He saw his woman kiss another man
So he takes a ladder, steals the stars from the sky
Puts on Sinatra and starts to cry

On and on
He just keeps on trying
And he smiles
When he feels like crying
On and on, on and on, on and on

When the first time is the last time
It can make you feel so bad
But if you know it, show it
Hold on tight, don't let her say, "Goodnight"

I got the sun on my shoulders and my toes in the sand
My woman's left me for some other man
But I don't care, I'll just dream and stay tan
Toss up my heart to see where it lands

 

On and on

I'll just keep on trying

And I smile when I feel like dying

On and on, on and on, on and on...