No comment… #9 by Anakreon Kanavakis.
Lovely Missile’s Garden
Inspired by No Comment… #9 by Anakreon Kanavakis above. Lyrics by Timothy Price. Music by The Beatles.
The above sketch by Anakreon Kanavakis brought back memories of growing up during the Cold War when Mr. Kanavakis drew this sketch. The doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) was all the rage for waging a Cold War. MAD is the theory of deterrence based on the idea that if enemies have equal abilities to annihilate each other, the equilibrium will deter said enemies from launching nuclear strikes against one or the other. The proliferation of bombs and missiles was a constant source of fear and concern during the Cold War which Mr. Kanavakis illustrates so well in his sketch.
Keep in mind that Athens, Greece, where Mr. Kanavakis worked for newspapers, is much closer to Russia than the United State. I will dare to guess that the fear of annihilation from the Soviet Union was more poignant in Greece than in the USA at that time, yet doomsday seemed to be always at hand everywhere.
When I saw Marina’s post with No Comment… #9 on her anmar blog, first thing this morning, I commented with the first few lines that came to mind. Soon after that I wrote the rest of the lyrics and turned the initial inspiration into a complete parody called Lovely Missile’s Garden (lyrics at the end of the post) to the music of Octopuses Garden by The Beatles. When inspiration strikes, I take action before the inspiration slips away. After writing the lyrics, I found an instrumental version of Octopuses Garden. Between various chores, I recorded the parody and sent it off to Marina for her approval and permission to use No Comment… #9.
I took this photo yesterday. It seems fitting for today’s theme.
On April 9, 1999, after President Clinton dropped bombs on the Serbs without informing Russia, Russian President Bois Yeltsin threatened to nuke Europe. We lived in Madrid, Spain at that time and saw Yeltsin on the news making his threats. It made me think of Nikita Khrushchev’s “We will bury you!” statement in 1956 (I was not born yet). We were worried about the whole affair, but all our Spanish friends were “Meh!” Some of our friends had done their military duty with Russian troops and said that most everything the Russians had was broken down and didn’t work. They didn’t think the Russian’s bombs were capable of exploding.
Lovely Missile’s Garden
Inspiration: Anakreon Kanavakis
Parody Lyrics: Timothy Price
Music: The Beatles
I like to be, watering bombs you see
In a lovely missile’s garden in the shade
I know I’d win, because I’ve been
Watering missile’s garden in the shade
I have no friends who want to be
Watering my missile’s garden with me
I like to be, watering bombs you see
In a lovely missile’s garden in the shade
It would be warm (Oh so warm), from the storm (From the storm)
A little blast-a-way and big shock wave (Boom! Boom!)
No resting our heads (Our heads), we’d all be dead (Oh no!)
A missile garden will make our grave (So sad!)
We would not sing or dance around
Annihilation would be profound
I like to be, watering bombs you see
In a lovely missile’s garden in the shade
Without a doubt (No doubt!) we’d be blown about (All about!)
Echoes fall beneath the blasting waves (So many waves!)
There’s no more Joy (Killed Joy), no girls or boys (No girls or boys?)
Knowing there’s nothing left but empty space (So much space).
No happiness for you and me
No one left to tell us what to do
I like to be, watering bombs you see
In a lovely missile’s garden in the shade
I like to be, watering bombs you see
In a lovely missile’s garden in the shade
Off Center & Not Even 
Isn’t it amazing how something inspires another?
🙂
It is. I actually get quite a bit of inspiration from Marina, Resa and Holly. I have several unpublished parodies inspired by the three of them. Thanks, Dale.
Fun stuff for sure!
Good parody, Tim!
Thanks, Lavinia.
Brilliant parody, Tim. I did not know you lived in Spain – what a marvelous experience.
Thanks, Rebecca. I hadn’t mentioned Spain? My bad.
It is always fun to find out more stories about bloggers. It is like reading a wonderful book that is hard to put down.
Russia is very close to the Netherlands here Ilive and often they send airplanes into our national airspace just to tease us and provoke
Thanks, Harry.
Reblogged this on Marina Kanavaki and commented:
Tim sings “Lovely Missile’s Garden” inspired by a sketch my father drew many years ago. I am very proud to reblog it here with a note from my father who loved it [too!] and was also happy that Tim remembers. Memories are our teachers. We both love everything about this post. Lyrics, song, the history, the very relevant and brilliant photo, the kindness but most of all, Tim! Please visit Tim to read and listen.
Thank you, Tim!
Thanks, Marina. We need to spread the art, history and music.
Well said! 😉🙏
I loved the very clever sketch by A. Kanavaki depicting the bombs race and the fabulous parody Tim. Big smiles!
Thanks, Holly.
Welcome.
[…] sings “Lovely Missile’s Garden” inspired by a sketch my father drew many years […]
Ah.. another cold war kid. So many memories here . What a post.
Thanks, Shey. I don’t miss it either.
Thanks for another great cover of one of the greatest bands ever. It made me think about all the scary dreams and nightmares I had when I was a child. I always dreamed about nuclear explosions in our garden and crashing bombers in the sky.
Thanks, Herman. It was a nightmare, as you just explained.
My dear Tim, I don’t know which of your talents / traits I admire the most. Musical, writing, playing, great memory, incredible speed [unbelievable how in such short time you created the lyrics and then recorded the song!], to your acute perception and always to the point interpretations, brilliant photography… list goes on and on! As I mention in my reblog, we both love the song and lyrics, and photo.
I remember the 1999 bombing of Serbia and how concerned we were with the whole situation, yet we never really thought Yeltsin would actually nuke us. Maybe we were just lucky. It’s really chilling to think how wrong things can go under the wrong hands.
A huge thank you from both! 🙏
Thanks, Marina. If it was not for all your many talents in art, music, photography, and your father’s brilliant artwork and his way of putting so many stories and histories into a single sketch, I would not have had the inspiration.
I’m blushing here from all your accolades. I don’t see myself as super talented because i have to really work and struggle, especially with music. The outcome most often defies the process. I’ve learned to turn things around quickly, but it’s still not easy for me.
I’m really happy that you and your dad liked the song and the post. I feel so fortunate to have met you, your father, and Oannes. We are half a world apart, yet so close together in the so many things we have in common.
Now, I am blushing!
I really admire all that you do, my friend, easy or not, you do it with your heart and I would like to re-instate Super next to talented because you are!
As for feeling fortunate… a huge huge LIKEWISE, my dearest friend. 🙏
Yes – a clever parody and a bouncy musical feel. On the other hand, thinking of Serbia and the close presence of Russian missiles doesn’t give me a good feeling. (and I know that isn’t your intent). Well done, Tim!
Hi Frank. There is a bit of intent about missiles all over the world. The Cold War may be over, but the threats are ever present. The Israelis know it all too well.
This song is not just a parody, it is a satire and 100% a protest song.
The world could use more protest songs.
You’ve never sounded better, Tim.
The key and range are right up your alley.
Your feel is as fab as always!!!
Thanks, Resa. I’m happy you like our impromptu collaboration. The parody, like the sketch that inspired it, is satire and protest. I agree. We need more protest songs. Laurie’s dad asked why there aren’t more protest songs last year. He was thinking about all the protest songs from the 60s.
Why?
Protest songs don’t make$$?
Fear?
Not easy to dance to?
People don’ care?
It’s a good question with no real apparent answer.
It’s probably a combo of not making money, fear (it’s pretty easy to get on the wrong side of the political fences these days a be attacked by the cancel culture) and apathy.
SIGH!!!!
Double sigh.
I triple that emotion!
Great Lyrics you created Tim… and loved reading how those words came into being… You are very talented Tim… 🙂
You have so many talents ! It is amazing
Thanks, Flo.
Very well done, Tim! Yes, more protest songs are needed!😉
Thanks, Tiffany.
Timothy, your music and the lyrics are beyond. You are so talented. WOW!
Thanks, Gabriela. Happy you liked it. Give my love to the lovely Maya and handsome Mr. Churchill, and you, also, of course.
My pleasure Timothy. They are so happy. They are purring. They send everyone hugs and kisses.