Bangles and Spangles

William Overington

I have thought of how this song might be the first of a genre of spangleware (using a word I have coined for the purpose) where a work is copyright yet can be performed publicly free of royalty, yet a royalty is payable if the song is recorded. Maybe some performer starting out and looking for material might gather a repertoire of spangleware and sing at open mic' events and perform in restaurants and so on (maybe being paid or singing for supper) and if he or she gets a recording contract will perhaps record the spangleware songs and ensure that the songwriter receives a royalty. How about a CD entitled "Singing Spangleware" or perhaps a solo CD entitled "<name of performer> sings Spangleware". This song, Bangles and Spangles, actually discusses intellectual property rights in the words of the song - and why not?

Imagine a singer in a small venue somewhere where there is a dimly lit restaurant with lots of decorative copper and brass items on thick dark oak shelves and candlelight is dancing on the curves of the copper and brass and producing spangles of light which vary as we, as members of the audience, sit listening to the singer. She is sat on a chair in an open area. She is wearing a long dress, dark red with a small floral pattern in it. The word spangles bounces into creative nooks and she is wearing a copper bangle on her right wrist. It is wide and patterned with a scroll work design. Yet it cannot be seen from our viewpoint as we view her from her left and her right hand is hidden from our view by the guitar that she plays as she sings. She sings slowly and softly.

Bangles and spangles dance in the night
Candles light angles, as well they might
Bangles and spangles remind me of you
Bangles and spangles, sparkling and true
Bangles and spangles, spar....kling and true
This song that I sing
Is not written by me
By the terms of its license
I sing it for free
If I record it
There'll be royalty....
Bangles and spangles
I sing.... it for free
Bangles and spangles dance in the night
Candles light angles, as well they might
Bangles and spangles remind me of you
Bangles and spangles, sparkling and true
Bangles and spangles, spar....kling and true
On dark oaken shelves
Which blend into the night
From copper and brass
Gleam spangles of light
I move my head slightly
The spangles move too
Bangles and spangles
Remind me of you
Bangles and spangles dance in the night
Candles light angles, as well they might
Bangles and spangles remind me of you
Bangles and spangles, sparkling and true
Bangles and spangles, spar....kling and true
These lyrics I sing
First existed as text
Some fine notes of music
Were sparkled in next
On the island created
My voice now alights
Lyrics and music
And their copyrights
Bangles and spangles dance in the night
Candles light angles, as well they might
Bangles and spangles remind me of you
Bangles and spangles, sparkling and true
Bangles and spangles, spar....kling and true
In singing this song
I take every care
To aim at perfection
In gilding the air
For singing these lyrics
I need pay no fees
If I record them
There'll be royalties
Bangles and spangles dance in the night
Candles light angles, as well they might
Bangles and spangles remind me of you
Bangles and spangles, sparkling and true
Yes bangles and spangles, .... sparkling.... and true