“This is All I Ask”

This song is so touching because it asks that time slow down a little…that some of life’s former pleasures be restored: “Wandering rainbows, leave a little color for my heart to own…” And yet again we see the metaphor of song as passion and maybe that’s why music is so powerful in The Third Act!

Following the lyrics is a link to another Tony Bennett duet, this time with John Groban. The fact that Tony keeps singing as he approaches his 90th birthday is in itself a joy and inspiration to me, for the song lifts my spirit beyond admiration for the artists to a soaring hope for growth and re-blooming in my Third Act.

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This Is All I Ask
Music: Duke Ellington; Lyrics: John Latouche, Gordon Jenkins

As I approach the prime of my life, I find I have the time of my life
Learning to enjoy at my leisure all the simple pleasures
And so I happily concede
That this is all I ask, this is all I need
Beautiful girls, walk a little slower when you walk by me
Lingering sunsets, stay a little longer with the lonely sea
Children everywhere, when you shoot at bad men, shoot at me
Take me to that strange, enchanted land grown-ups seldom understand
Wandering rainbows, leave a bit of color for my heart to own
Stars in the sky, make my wish come true before the night has flown
And let the music play as long as there’s a song to sing
Then I will stay younger than spring.