Skip to main content

Song: The Mad Again


Mp4 "video"



The Mad Again
              (apologies to Lewis Carol) Lyrics by Harley Halpern, Music by Doug Smith

 ‘Twas Grunin and the P.A.A.
Did grumble on the stage;
All gloomy was the stage crew, 
And the Mad Again outraged.  

Beware the Wilson Mark my son,
The steely stare the haughty frown,
And beware the Young Milk Shell
And don’t eat lunch when they’re around. 


You shouldn’t fool with the master crew
And make them feel upstaged
It’s bound to cost you once you’ve got
the Mad Again outraged
The Mad Again, The Mad Again, The Mad Again outraged
The Mad Again, The Mad Again, The Mad Again outraged


He took his crescent wrench in hand,
And focused lights, and mopped the floor,
He set up chairs and music stands,
Then opened the stage door. 


And there behind the door he saw
The Wilson Mark as dark as night
Battling the Young Milk Shell
He nearly fainted from stage fright.  

(chorus)

One, two, three, four and through the door
The stage technician fled,
But Mark and Shell each grabbed an arm,
 “You now belong to me,” they said. 

Then from the grid, the Mad Again
Let loose the 10-pound weights,
And the Wilson Mark and Young Milk Shell
Both met their gruesome fates. 

(chorus)

‘Twas Grunin and the P.A.A.
Did gossip on the stage
All gloomy was the stage crew
And the Mad Again outraged.

And hast thou slain the Mark and Shell,
For breaking theatre's laws?
The stage crew gathered round her

And broke into applause. 

Comments

More...

Going Up?

  Going Up? collage, mixed media by douglas brent smith, from Journal #33, Life In Progress, 1998

Still Going Up?

  Still Going Up? -- mixed media, collage by douglas brent smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress. NOTES: Usually, I crop the spiral binding out of the picture. This time I decided to leave it in and show the whole page. It provides some idea of what each of the journals from this period are like. Big pages and many of them. The clip art that makes guest appearances is primitive, sure, but maybe a little charming, too?

thanks, pal

if you want to hear the truth    ask a child    before an institution     pinches their constitution     blurring all intuition     leaving the squared off     from the perfectly rounded whole     if you want to stay honest     raise a child     listen like a student     trust as a friend     follow with enthusiasm     the perfectly rounded sound     of truth     if you want to grow     learn from a child      -- doug smith 4/21/1988.  

Drive Dougie Drive

  Drive Dougie Drive - mixed media, collage by douglas brent smith, 1998

Horse Named Hannah

  the horse got free in a galloping hurry needed something to read and a tall cup of milk I did post this earlier under the title "Who Let the Horse In." Here it is again.  Horse Named Hannah -- sketch by douglas brent smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress

Platform Flyer

 One of a series of mostly black and white mixed media/collage pieces with a photo-copy base.  Here's the poem that is on the facing page in the journal: we're not perfect but we are trying trying to get along to talk to touch to see each other's                           point of view we're not perfect but we have a history that is wrapped in strands of perfect moments                         perfect steps                                             perfect strings of perfect love. 23 April 1998 Platform Flyer - mixed media sketch by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress.

Contrary Facts

  it was a fortune in facts tested against emotions processes swirling we sat by the fire mumbling vague traces of truisms we did not believe there was a time when a fact was a fact where is that now? Contrary Facts - collage, mixed media sketch by Douglas Brent Smith, from Journal #33, Life In Progress, 1998

A Day At The Beach

  A Day At The Beach - Digital collage by douglas brent smith, 22 January 2024

Lift and Separate

  An unusual feature of this collage is that it is assembled in landscape mode instead of portrait. It feels more informal than usual for me, also.  Lift and Separate - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress

Terra Cotta

  Whatever floats your boat matters. Send yourself on a journey unique to your character, special for your strengths, resilient to your challenges.  My dad once made a canoe. He carved it out of a single piece of wood. He told me that it floated, the way a canoe should, but it leaned to one side. I never got in that canoe but I did see it. It's a gift to be able to make things out of wood, even if the first time you try it comes out a little wabi sabi. Terra Cotta - collage by Douglas Brent Smith, 1998, from Journal #33, Life In Progress