It Ain’t Over
1999, 04:00
Voice, Flute, Clarinet in Bb (also Bass), Shô, Harp, Piano and Saxophone Quartet
Written for Aurelia Saxophone Quartet
Programme notes
‘It Ain’t Over’ was part of a song cycle called The Hammerhead Arias that toured in 1999 with Anne La Berge and Aurelia Saxophone Quartet. My favorite live versions came out later in an arrangement for Aurelia and special guests including harpist Lavinia Meijer and clarinetist David Kweksilber.
Lyrics
It ain’t over
‘til they disconnect the phone
It ain’t over
‘til we’re standing all alone
You can’t hear me and I can’t hardly speak
I think I heard ‘last call’ sometime last week
The shouting turned to a whisper and it whispers to me
If it ain’t over ‘til it’s over
then what wasn’t, still might be
It ain’t over
‘til they kill the lights
It ain’t over
‘til they send us out into the night
You can’t feel me when I slumber next to you
dreaming of better days when our rage flew
The shouting has become a whisper and it whispers to me
If it ain’t over ‘til it’s over
then what wasn’t, still might be
Mama was a beauty, Pa was a swan
sister Helen out back turnin’ them Trojans on
We all feel lucky when girl meets boy
but you gotta know the moment when its time to leave Troy
It ain‘t over
‘til home’s around the bend
It ain’t over
‘til the roof gives way my friend
I guess my mind’s still willing but the body’s just too weak
They ran our beloved diva offstage like she was just another freak
Her voice turns to a whisper and it whispers to me
If it ain’t over ‘til it’s over
then what wasn’t, still might be