I’ll keep on tryin’ to sing but please, just don’t ask me how

 

This is not exactly a feel-good song. Sometimes there are dark times that you can’t snap out of. This is an “it’s tough right now but you’re not alone” kind of song. And if it’s Ol’ Blue Eyes saying it, I’ll believe it.

Such is Sinatra’s power that I find myself thinking his songs somehow just come into being as Sinatra songs, that they’re not written by anyone else. But to give credit where it’s due, “Cycles” was written by songwriter Gayle Caldwell and included in Sinatra’s album of the same name (where he also sang a brilliant version of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now”).

I have no words good enough to describe his performance here, so I’ll let the video speak for itself:

 

 

Cycles

So I’m down and so I’m out
But so are many others
So I feel like tryin’ to hide
My head ‘neath these covers
Life is like the seasons
After winter comes the spring
So I’ll keep this smile awhile
And see what tomorrow brings

I’ve been told and I believe
That life is meant for livin’
And even when my chips are low
There’s still some left for givin’
I’ve been many places
Maybe not as far as you
So I think I’ll stay awhile
And see if some dreams come true

There isn’t much that I have learned
Through all my foolish years
Except that life keeps runnin’ in cycles
First there’s laughter, then those tears

But I’ll keep my head up high
Although I’m kinda tired
My gal just up and left last week
Friday I got fired
You know it’s almost funny
But things can’t get worse than now
So I’ll keep on tryin’ to sing
But please, just don’t ask me how