Tony
by Brooks Wachtel
For I'll meet him later on at the place where he has gone
He'll be there with Korngold, Rosza and the rest,
He'll be smiling wide as wide, as he stands there close beside,
listening to the music he loved best.
On a screen of gossamer gold, they'll watch a film unfold,
scored by the music from above.
And Tony's hands keep time, to the rhythm and the rhyme,
of a score that fits the picture like a glove.
But Tony stays aware, there's another spirit there;
let's call the fellow "Avarice" for now.
And with a mighty roar, Avarice yells, "no more";
then shoves Rosza aside and takes a bow.
"You boys have got it wrong!" starts his all too familiar song.
"This old stuff is never gonna sell.
I've got graphs and charts as proof, that the rock songs of my youth,
can push this movie very, very well."
There's a hush there in the sky—as they hear the music die;
They don't know what to do or how to fight.
Writing counterpoint and song, are skills that are so wrong,
They're not the way to set this wrong to right.
Against someone so dense, they need wit and common sense.
Ah—but someone must be smiling from above,
For the very man they need, has heard and taken heed,
He's there to save the music that he loves.
There's a quiet you can hear when Tony comes quite near,
And with each approaching step he shreds the dread,
The music men suppress a smile, knowing all the while;
That Tony will hand Avarice his head.
But a gentleman born, avoids ridicule and scorn;
They're not the tools he'd ever stoop to use,
He takes Avarice along, like a wayward son gone wrong,
And merely says it's time to pay his dues.
Tony gently persuades—the man to shift his gaze;
past the charts, the graphs, the hallowed bottom line,
And to think about his part, in creating works of art,
that will stand above and meet the test of time.
Tony starts to teach, a score has a special reach,
It touches directly to the heart,
It can set the action's pace, add pathos to a face,
You have to cast composers like a part.
Would Scarlet stand so strong, without "Tara's Theme" along,
would Rick break our hearts without "Time Goes By?"
Where would Star Wars soar, without John Williams score?
To strip it all away it is really wrong.
And Avarice walks away, he has nothing more to say;
For he's thinking thoughts he's never thought before.
And a fanfare shakes the clouds and composers cheer out loud,
For Tony Thomas has rescued the score.
And for us here down below; where the winds of commerce blow;
It's up to us to raise our fist and fight.
From that balcony above, he'll be watching those he loved,
Let's honor him and not give up the fight.
Brooks Wachtel
West Hollywood, California
July 10, 1997
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