Poetry Monday - 70 - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

It's Thanksgiving here in the Great White North (referring to snow, of course, which actually fell in southern Saskatchewan this weekend. A lot of it! Yikes. We've got a gentle rain falling today here in the Maritimes. The grey sky only makes the fall colours more intense for me. They're absolutely heart-achingly beautiful. I took the picture above in my woodland garden yesterday.


Here's one taken in the side yard.




This one's looking into the woodland garden from my apartment entrance at the back of the house.




Which brings us to my Thanksgiving Poetry Monday. This is Sly and The Family Stone in all their autumn funk finery. They're a groovy fave of mine, and I particularly love this song and its sentiments. This band featured black and white musicians in the late 60's, which was almost like a racially mixed marriage. Not only that, but their drummer was white - proving white men do have rhythm, baby - and their trumpet player was a woman. Definitely not the norm. And their choice of apparel - what could be better than leopard print widelegs and matching vest? Or as you'll see in the clip, shiny fringed pants to make the bass player's gettin' down even groovier?

In my world, I cherish acceptance and tolerance above most other things. This song and this group says this with exuberant joy and gratitude.

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)


Looking at the devil
Grinning at his gun
Fingers start shaking
I begin to run
Bullets start chasing
I begin to stop
We begin to wrestle
I was on the top

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again
I want to thank you for letting me be myself again

Step off'n the collar
Slugged me in the face
Chit chat chatter trying
Shoved me in the place
Thank you for the party
But I could never stay
Many things are on my mind
The way

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again
I want to thank you for letting me be myself again

Dance to the music
All night long
Everyday people
Sing their simple song
Mama's so happy
Mama starts to cry
Papa's still singing
You can make it if you try

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again
I want to thank you for letting me be myself again

- Sly Stone, 1969

And here it is, in all its trippy, funky glory. Get down. And have a glorious Thanksgiving.