Wednesday, November 19, 2008

"Can't You See What You Mean to Me?"

I sent this song to The Boy in Florida months ago because I love it so much. Well, I love Nell Carter's take on the song.

This is from My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies. If you think that Nell Carter is just Gimme a Break, then watch this. Listen to her sing "Mean to Me." And make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.



This song just came on my iPod and I immediately thought of The Boy in Florida. Then, a song he sent me - - a song written and performed by someone in his family - - came on immediately after "Mean to Me" and that's not coincidence - - that's God telling me that mourning the death of whatever the Hell kind of relationship I had with this boy is the right thing to do.

I sent "You're Mean to Me" to The Boy in Florida months ago, not as some kind of hidden message to him, but because I loved the song so much. Now, the song makes me think of him because some of the lyrics seem to fit so perfectly...

"I stay home each night when you say you'll phone.
You don't, and I'm left alone singing the blues and sighing."

I know that he lives miles away and I know that he's in a relationship with someone else, but I stupidly fell in love. I fell in love with someone so obviously unavailable to me. I know. Not so smart. 

Well, at least this time my heart is broken because of someone being unavailable and not someone intentionally trying to destroy my soul.

That's progress I guess, right?

P.S. When Nell Carter speaks and just barely whispers the lyrics, "You shouldn't," it takes my breath away. Every single time I hear the song. Brilliant phrasing. Outstanding interpretation.

6 comments:

Lance Noe said...

I have hearted this for years! she was actually talented. shame not many people saw beyond the fat to recognize that.

May she rest in peace.

Project Christopher said...

She was SO talented. and if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have had Joey Lawrence.... bitch, i'll get her for that...

Stephen... let go of Florida! He's a hanging chad! cut it off, move forward. You are FAR too special to be wasting away, pining under someone who's not going to go anywhere.

love ya, but there it is....

Ruth Bonnet said...

Well, of COURSE you fell in love with someone unavailable! Good LORD, man, haven't you learnt ANYTHING from Strange Bedfellows???

Terri White from the late, belated Rose's Turn (and the Duplex before that) did a KILLER impression of Nell's version of this song. As she understudied her in Ain't Misbehavin', it was so accurate (and kinda cruel) that you just wanted to DIEEEE

jer said...

her performance of this song is like going to an acting class...i effin' love it.

cb said...

Long distance relationships suck... no matter how you slice 'em. Especially if they are new ones. The distance thing is just too great to overcome usually.

Sorry. And chin up, young one!

Mark in DE said...

This reminds me of a line I heard in a song while watching the DVD "Shelter" last night: "At least I loved enough to hurt."

Hope you find someone new and available to love.

Mark :-)