A beggarly account of E.B. sounds just the same as the startingline of the lyrics of the song below. Being a Dutchman I don’t understand the trick of ‘a beggarly of empty bowes’ vs ‘a beggar me, a count of empty boxes’.
Can you explain this to me?
- – - – -
Empty Boxes
(Ron Elliott)
A beggar me, a count of empty boxes
That is all I own in this world
Oh Diana, sweet Diana
To flirt & fling a young girl dressed in ribbons
Taking fancies to those like you
Oh Diana, sweet Diana
Yet you wait with mourning in your hair
& now I need good reason, but I’ve none to spare
You are just a leaf that I have turned
& I am like a match that slowly burns
Comment by Adje van Daalen — June 11, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
A beggarly account of E.B. sounds just the same as the startingline of the lyrics of the song below. Being a Dutchman I don’t understand the trick of ‘a beggarly of empty bowes’ vs ‘a beggar me, a count of empty boxes’.
Can you explain this to me?
- – - – -
Empty Boxes
(Ron Elliott)
A beggar me, a count of empty boxes
That is all I own in this world
Oh Diana, sweet Diana
To flirt & fling a young girl dressed in ribbons
Taking fancies to those like you
Oh Diana, sweet Diana
Yet you wait with mourning in your hair
& now I need good reason, but I’ve none to spare
You are just a leaf that I have turned
& I am like a match that slowly burns
Comment by Adje van Daalen — June 11, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
“A beggarly account of empty boxes” is a line from Shakespeare. I would interpret it as a minimal, unworthy report of nothing.
From your song, the author is saying that he is a beggar (a poor person), a ruler of nothing.
Comment by Liz — June 12, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Thanks Liz, but does the songline somehow refer to Shakespeare’s line, do you grin when you hear it?
Comment by Adje van Daalen — June 16, 2007 @ 8:41 am
No, the song line does not refer specifically to Shakespeare (although the author may have been alluding to Shakespeare when he wrote the line).
I don’t grin when I read the line. I think the line is sad. The author is saying he has nothing, or, what he does have is meaningless.
Comment by Liz — June 20, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Thnx!
Comment by Adje van Daalen — June 22, 2007 @ 9:31 am
I’m not sure what the first line of the song means. But then, what do the last two stanzas mean?
This song was recorded by the Everly Brothers many years ago in a beautiful, haunting rendition. Whatever it means.
Comment by jamie sullivan — October 8, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Late to the show.
I like your snow pictures. I’m hoping for a snowatorm here if fir no other reason than to get some good pics.
Comment by Paul Hammond — February 13, 2008 @ 12:10 am