Bill Haley sang Rock Around The Clock
In gay abandon back and forth kids did rock
Some lost their composure
Showed too much exposure
Gendarmes made them put on their socks
Can you name the Old Time Rock 'n Roll wizards
Elvis, Jerry Lee, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard
And so many more
The Platters & Coasters
Bill Haley, The Big Bopper, Fats, they all glittered
Scott Joplin, Paul Simon and the Beatles pop,
The Stones, Dire Straits and, Yes & ZZ Top.
Bob Dylan plays his heart out, Northern Soul,
Rod Stewart, The Traveling Wilburys do their stuff,
And as if that isn't enough, there's Jeff Wayne,
With his War of the Worlds in a musical vein.
Cajun, Bluegrass and Dueling Banjos to boot.
I got Spike Jones & his city slickers, what a hoot.
Bill Haley, Leo Sayer, and some Monkeys abound,
Each one giving out their awesome own sound.
Now Meatloaf is a band I love to hear.
Coming close behind is the great Chris Rea.
Eric Clapton always stops me in my tracks,
Charlie Parker and Stan Getz on their Sax,
Some great big band sounds at their backs.
All this and more on my headphones tonight,
Just listening to music has been my delight.
I have cleared all the shelves, nothing is left,
All on my spare hard drive, I'll not be bereft.
I hope the charity shop this stuff can sell,
So more folk can enjoy this music as well.
© Dave Timperley 25/10/2018
Bill Haley sang Rock Around The Clock
In gay abandon back and forth kids did rock
Some lost their composure
Showed too much exposure
Gendarmes made them put on their socks
© Jack Ellison 2013
Bill Haley gave us 'Rock Around The Clock'
showed us music in a different way,
Chuck Berry sang 'Johnny B. Goode'
and Buddy Holly said 'That'll Be The Day'.
Elvis went to 'Heartbreak Hotel'
and came back as the king of pop,
Jerry Lee sent us 'Great Balls Of Fire'
while Danny and his group were 'At The Hop'.
The Everly's were saying 'Bye Bye Love'
Bobby Darin was out 'Beyond The Sea',
Little Richard was with 'Long Tall Sally'
and Lloyd Price thought he was 'Stagger Lee'.
Paul Anka introduced us to 'Diana'
Del Shannon told us of his 'Runaway',
Big Bopper talked about 'Chantilly lace'
and the Rolling Stones said love 'Not Fade Away'.
Eddie Cochran took 'Three Steps To Heaven'
Don McLain made 'American Pies',
Roy Orbison was still lost 'In Dreams'
as the Platters sang 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'.
When the music began to change
jazz, blues and rock and roll,
got more electronic and louder
became rock, heavy metal and soul.
There are a lot more I could name
but I guess I'll just call them the rest,
It's a long time ago but I'll never forget
Rock and Roll for me was the best.
Saturdays as a youth,
were so special to me,
it was the one day
of the week, that was all mine.
Would go see a matinee,
double feature would
fill my afternoon, thought
this moment would last forever.
Sometimes on Saturday afternoon,
would spend it at Marshall's
music room located between
two movie palaces on Grand Ave.
Would sit up stairs in the music booth,
play all the hits of the day,
Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Little Richard
and of course some Elvis to.
Sometimes would buy an LP,
other times would just listen,
thought this moment,
would last forever.
Oh, the TV shows that came
my way, I Love Lucy, December
Bride, Leave It To Beaver, Red Skeleton,
thought this moment would last forever.
Schol days, spelling test,
English Lit, school friends,
fine teachers, Gym class, lunch
room, thought this moment
would last forever.
Early days of marriage,
children coming my way,
plans of the future and of now,
thought this moment would
last forever.
Now children all grown,
having children of their own,
knowing this moment won't
last forever, but for now will
enjoy and take it in,
to my mind and heart.
wrote 2-7-07
His comet still crosses the sky
Visible to the naked eye,
And his music rocks around the clock-
Such events made their name
Leaving each with lasting fame
Tribute to Edmond Halley & Bill Haley
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.