I'm so tired of people getting the subjunctive mood wrong (triggered elsewhere).
Say what you will about the "Woodstock Generation" -- at least Robert Hunter knew his subjunctive mood. I count at least four instances of correct usage in his lyrics for "Ripple."
Lyrics after the break
If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice come through the music?
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,
Perhaps they're better left unsung.
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air.
Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.
Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
If your cup is full may it be again,
Let it be known there is a fountain,
That was not made by the hands of men.
There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.
Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.
You, who choose to lead, must follow
But if you fall you fall alone.
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.
La dee da da da,
La da da da da,
Da da da, da da, da da da da da
La da da da,
La da da, da da,
La da da da,
La da, da da.
4 comments:
I followed a Richard Sandoval recipe tonight for brisket nachos with chipotle cheese sauce. Actually. it's not coming together until tomorrow. But some things must be made in advance.
That sounds fantastic right off. I always wondered why ground beef is the go-to beef for that sort of thing. Seems un-Mexican.
But I'm wondering, what misuse of subjunctive case pisses you off? That sounds interesting. Have some juicy examples? If you were playing a harp unstrung that would be sería demasiado ridiculoso too ridiculous. ¿Tiene alguen ejemplos? Have any examples? Subjunctive in college Spanish is intermediate, 201, the third semester, and everybody's all, wut? wut? wut? But what would piss off a person?
What pisses me off is that I can only make out about half the lyric. Actually, it's not about my inability to decipher, it's about the singer singing indecipherably! An entire generation that doesn't make the effort to enunciate. Tsk Tsk.
Thanks, chick, for reminding me why I'm not a Dead fan.
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