Try to remember

Try to remember the kind of September
when life was slow and oh, so, mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
when grass was green and grain so yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
when you were a young and callow fellow.
Try to remember and if you remember,
then follow, follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
that no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
that dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
that love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember and if you remember,
then follow, follow.

Deep in December it's nice to remember
although you know the snow will follow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
without a hurt the heart is hollow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
the fire of September that made you mellow
Deep in December our hearts should remember
and follow, follow. Follow.

writer : Tom Jones
music : Harvey Schmidt (about 1965)
singer : Harry Belafonte has recoded this song many times

Oh island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters, your shining sand

As morning breaks, the Heaven on high
I lift my heavy load to the sky
Sun comes down with a burning glow
Mingles my sweat with the earth below

Oh island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters, your shining sand

I see woman on bended knee
Cutting cane for her family
I see man at the water-side
Casting nets at the surging tide

Oh island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters, your shining sand

I hope the day will never come
When I can't awake to the sound of drum
Never let me miss carnival
With calypso songs philosophical

Oh island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters, your shining sand


Harry Belafonte, Irving Burgie, 1957