Whatever Happened To Melody - Michael Feinstein

Whatever happened to melody

Sweet, old-fashioned melody?

Roses and ribbons and romance and rhyme

Songs about two hearts in three-quarter time

Once, there were movies with stars who were stars

Where, oh where can they be?

And why aren’t there heroes

Like yesterday’s heroes?

And whatever happened to melody?

Gene Tunney, Joe Louis

Ah, those were fighters!

Not like the pipsqueaks they palm off today

Hemingway, Steinbeck

Now, those were writers

With style

And with substance

And something to say!

Garbo and Gable

And Franklin D. Roosevelt

I could go on and on!

Babe Ruth and Bogey

And Gershwin

And Hoagy

Ah, what’s the use?

They’re gone, all gone!

And whatever happened to melody?

Who stole all the poetry?

Posies and picnics and walks in the wood

Hammocks and hayrides, have they gone for good?

Whatever happened to just holding hands

'neath the old apple tree?

Gone is the magic

And speaking of magic

Whatever happened to melody?