HELP: Four Weddings and a Funeral

[Dorrie]

Someone asked for the text of the poem read at the funeral. It's song
nine from Auden's twelve songs;

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my north, my South my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

W.H. Auden

Dorrie

[Pia Marianna Saari]

Hello all,

I recently saw Four Weddings and a Funeral (again) and
as I was writing down the words to the poem that Matthew
was reading during the funeral, I got lost. I can't figure
out some of the words.
I know that one can buy the screenplay at bookstores, as I
have seen it, but Ican't get to town, so I was wondering
if someone would be willing to help. Here are the words
that I've guessed at.

Stop all the clocks
Cut off the telephone

Prevent the dog from barking

With a juicy bone
Silence the pianos
And with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin
Let the mourners come

Let the airplanes circle
(something?) overhead
Scribbling on the sky
The message - "He is dead."
Put great bows around the white necks
Of the (something somethings)
Let traffic policemen
Wear black cotton gloves

He was my north, my south
My east and west
My working week
And my Sunday rest
My noon, my midnight
My talk, my song

I thought that love would last forever
I was wrong

The stars are not wanted now
Put out every one
Pack up the moon
And dismantle the sun
Pour away the ocean
And sweep up the wood
For nothing now
Can ever come to any good

W. A. Jordan

Thank you to anyone who responds!

--
Pia Marianna Saari
uz...@freenet.victoria.bc.ca ~`~ eis...@venus.cambrianc.on.ca
x-phile ~`~ YXWAMASETUAGSWTSO ~`~ knightie ~`~ ranmaniac
We like sheep.

[Neel Harish Mehta]

On Mon, 6 Mar 1995, Pia Marianna Saari wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I recently saw Four Weddings and a Funeral (again) and
> as I was writing down the words to the poem that Matthew
> was reading during the funeral, I got lost. I can't figure
> out some of the words.
> I know that one can buy the screenplay at bookstores, as I
> have seen it, but Ican't get to town, so I was wondering
> if someone would be willing to help. Here are the words
> that I've guessed at.
>
> Stop all the clocks
> Cut off the telephone
> Prevent the dog from barking
> With a juicy bone

(With that juicy bone?)

Actually, it's W.H. Auden. The poem is called "Funeral Blues." I
have a friend with the screenplay, and will try make corrections later.

Neel Mehta
n...@acpub.duke.edu

[Joshua Wheelock]

Sorry, the editor on this *@$#& server doesn't use quotes, so I
hope you can remember your message...
I'm afraid I don't know the poem by heart so I can't help
with the words, but I do know that it is called "Funeral Blues",
ant the poet's name is W. H. Auden. Hope that helps.
josh
--

[John Oh]

In article <1995Mar8.1...@freenet.victoria.bc.ca>,
wa...@freenet.Victoria.BC.CA (Joshua Wheelock) wrote:

I haven't seen the original message but I am guessing that someone asked
for the poem that was recited in "Four Weddings and a Funeral".

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of public doves,

Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West.

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;

For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Yes, the poet's name is W. H. Auden (1907-1973) but, although it was
called "Funeral Blues" in the movie, I believe it is actually named
"Twelve Songs - no.9"

--
John
jo...@geko.com.au

[Richard Elias]

: Put crepe bows round the white necks of public doves,

: Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

: He was my North, my South, my East and West.
: My working week and my Sunday rest,
: My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
: I thought that love would last forever; I was wrong.

: The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
: Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
: Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
: For nothing now can ever come to any good.

: Yes, the poet's name is W. H. Auden (1907-1973) but, although it was
: called "Funeral Blues" in the movie, I believe it is actually named
: "Twelve Songs - no.9"

: --
: John
: jo...@geko.com.au

Auden reprinted the poem under various titles, as was his habit. In
"Collected Shorter Poems" it appears as one of the 12 songs. But
he also pub'd it as "Funeral Blues." I am also pretty sure the poem
first appeared in the verse play "The Ascent of F-6" which Auden wrote
with Christopher Isherwood.

Incidentally, the Ethan Hawke character in "Before Sunrise" also quotes
an Auden poem.
--
-- Rich Elias rie...@freenet.columbus.oh.us
76170...@compuserve.com