Yes, yes … another redux. On reading the first paragraph of this post from August 2019, my mood seems to be almost exactly the same now as it was then, so I guess that’s why this one popped into my head this evening. But hey … you get three great versions for the price of one, so don’t complain!
Ever feel like you just want to get away from the world and the people in it? Like you just need solitude, quiet, fresh air? I feel that way a lot these days. My bedroom is my refuge, though I rarely see it, for I am usually writing until the wee hours, and by the time I get to my bedroom, my eyes are already half shut. But still, it is the only place in the house where there are no voices, no kitties. I cannot go “up on the roof”, for I’m not well balanced, and our roof is fairly steep-pitched. Anyway … I am rambling. On to the song …
This song, released in 1962 first by Little Eva, and later by The Drifters, was written by then husband-and-wife team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Gerry Goffin would cite Up on the Roof as his all-time favorite of the lyrics he’d written. After Carole King suggested that he write lyrics for the tune which had occurred to her while she was out driving, with King suggesting “My Secret Place” as the title, Goffin kept King’s suggested focus of a haven, modifying it with his enthusiasm for the movie musical West Side Story which contained several striking scenes set on the rooftops of Upper West Side highrises.
The song went to #5 in the U.S., but in the UK they must not have been crazy about The Drifters at that time. However, another artist, Kenny Lynch, did one that made it to #10 in the UK, so I will present that as well, for my Brit friends. And, because I just love James Taylor, I’m playing his version too!!! Now, don’t say I never give you choices!
Up On The Roof
The Drifters
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be
And there the world below can’t bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin’ tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof)
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let’s go up on the roof (up on the roof)
(brief instrumental-chiefly strings)
At night the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-tellin’ you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I’ve found a paradise that’s trouble proof (up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There’s room enough for two
Up on the roof (up on the roof)
Up on the roo-oo-oof (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, baby (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, honey (up on the roof)
Everything is all right (up on the roof)
Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin
Up On The Roof lyrics © Emi Music Publishing France
Filosofa's Word 
One of the best!!!
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😊
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Love it!!!!
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I’m so glad!
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Jill, you live with five cats. How can you sleep without cats? Some nights all 5 of ours are on the bed happily purring us to dreamland. Gail and I miss them terribly when we are away from home.
My fave is the Drifters. The Lynch version is amazingly similar just without back-up. James Taylor I will not listen to. Sorry, David.
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Because I don’t sleep well, and because of my asthma, cats are not allowed in my bedroom. Tonight is the rare exception, for Pandi and Tiger have been fighting bigtime tonight, resulting in injuries and nearly the destruction of the house! So, Pandi is in my room until further notice. I may just sleep downstairs for the 3 hours I’ll get tonight! I think The Drifters wins favourite hands down, but I like all three.
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Hope your couch is comfortable.
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My chair is more comfortable!
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A rocking chair? Watch for cat tails.
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Nope, just a lounge chair.
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No need to apologise to me friend. It would b a boring world if we all shared the same taste.My wife was a big ZZ Top fan but I didn’t throw her out……….. too often. But I nearly divorced her for buying Chris de Burgh records just because he did our wedding dance song.
Hugs
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Back at you. Has anyone else noticed our friend in Florida has not been commenting on Jill’s blog lately. (Ach, another sign of onset dementia, I cannot remember his name right now. Some friends am!) Is he okay? Scotty, yes, that’s it. Scotty’s Toy Box. I better skip over, see if he is still alive…
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I just searched Scotty”s Toy Box on Word Press, and got no results. Has he been kicked off? Did he remove himself. Going now to try Google.
And WP is saying I have to sign in to publish this comment. I have never been sign out of Jill”s blog! Others, yes, but Filosofa? What”s going on?
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https://scottiestoybox.com/2021/01/20/lets-talk-about-trumps-accomplishments/
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Thanks, David.
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Scottie has been a bit under the weather lately, but he is still doing his blog … just fewer posts per day. Here’s a link to one from yesterday: https://scottiestoybox.com/2021/01/19/daily-morning-cartoon-meme-roundup-trump-did-a-lot-of-harm-and-we-dont-know-all-of-it-yet/
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Yeah, I found it through Google. I loved the cartoons. But WP shows no record of Scotty’s Toy Box. I wonder what happened? I know it used to be there.
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Try Scottie’s Toy Box … “ie”, not ‘y’
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Yeah, found that out too–the hard way.
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I like all three, Jill. Thanks for presenting all of them.
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My pleasure, John! You should check out the one Clive mentioned … it’s not awful, but definitely not The Drifters, though it was good for a few chuckles.
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This was a #1 here for Robson and Jerome in the 90s. Having failed to pick up on the Drifters, coupled with the Kenny Lynch version, I would like to apologise on behalf of Britain for our appalling taste!
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Never having heard of Robson and Jerome, of course I had to check it out. Yes … er … um … well … the video made me laugh, at least! Apology accepted! 😉
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They are actors, who became friends and found they could sing a bit. Not exactly a serious act, but good enough to persuade mums to part with their cash for a couple of big hits here!
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The video was entertaining, to say the least! I didn’t think as much of their singing as their acting, though.
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They got lucky, on the back of a storyline in a show called Soldier Soldier, in which they were co-stars. They had three singles and two albums, all of which were #1 and sold by the truck load. Not the greatest moment in UK chart history!
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Jill, this is one of Goffin/ King’s best. It is a great theme, especially for urban dwellers. The music is marvelous. If you get a chance post-COVID-19, the musical play “Beautiful” about King and Goffin is marvelous. They also show fun competition between them and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who wrote many hits. Keith
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The play sounds wonderful, though this is the first I’ve heard of it! I wish it were a movie on Netflix, though, as I never go to plays, since I cannot hear well enough to understand what is said.
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Though Kenny Lynch did a good job with this it’s always the Drifters version that comes to mind. For once I’m going to have to kick myself and say Sweet Baby James’s version doesn’t sit right with me. though I can live with that voice anywhere, anytime usually. On another note, watching something on TV at lunchtime and in the background I could hear It Takes Two, Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston and I was transported to my Motown World.
Cwtch
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Oh THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I was going to forego a song tonight, given the aforementioned cat fight, many ‘breaking news’ updates, etc., but when you mentioned “It Takes Two”, I knew I hadn’t yet played that one and now I have my song!
I’m glad you liked “Up on the Roof” … I’m with you, much as I love James Taylor, nobody did this one like The Drifters.
Cwtch
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