AS YOU LIKE IT

Have you ever felt buoyant thinking about a song which has a kooky and kinky sound? This recently happened to me while I was reflecting on songs of yesteryears that I loved, because one tune suddenly jumped out and played round and round in my head and I couldn’t concentrate on anything else until I got to know who the singer with the funny voice was who made me drop everything else just to find out about him and his song.

Actually, the bit from the song which went round and round in my head was

“As you like it,
As you like it,
As you like it”

which came right at the end. Another part was “If you’re looking for a saint dear, that, I warn you that you won’t get far.” So, what did I do to dig out this song? I relied on Old Google who knows everything. I went into Google’s search box and confidently typed “As You Like It” and, of course, as should have been expected, Shakespeare came up unerringly. A fool that I was, I even scanned through the Wikipedia containing Shakespeare’s As You Like It in case this song was incorporated into some play or short movie of it. Needless to say, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and my “As you Like It” are not even distantly related.

I then did the next best thing. I typed the words “If you’re looking for a saint dear, that, I warn you, that you won’t get far” into Google’s box and hit the jackpot as the whole verse and chorus jumped out at me.

But before we enjoy ourselves with this “kinky” song, let’s discover who Adam Faith is and why this song of his couldn’t wait its turn but pushed its way to the top of my want-to-hear “yestersong” list.

Terence "Terry" Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith, was a British teen idol, singer, actor, and financial journalist. He was born on June 23, 1940, in London, United Kingdom and died at the age of 62. Much of his early success was through partnership with songwriter Les Vandyke.

So, now we are ready to hear this heady song

AS YOU LIKE IT
Composed by Les Vandyke
Sung by Adam Faith



If you don’t like the kooky way I comb my hair for you
And you don’t like the look of the crazy pants
I wear for you
OK my darling, I’ll change each pitch
I only wanna love you
As you like it

If you don’t like the gang that I go around with
On the town
And you don’t like the records I play
Because they bring you down
OK my darling, I’ll have to quit
I only wanna love you
As you like it

If you’re looking for a saint, dear
Better warn you that you won’t get far
I’m a man that’s only human
I’m gonna change my ways for you
And love you as you are

‘Cause you don’t realize
That I’m gonna make a fight for you
Just a look from your eyes
And I’d set the world alight for you
OK my darling, and now the fuse is lit
You know I’m gonna love you
As you like it

If you’re looking for a saint, dear
Better warn you that you won’t get far
I’m a man that’s only human
I’m gonna change my ways for you
And love you as you are

But you don’t realize that I’m gonna make a fight for you
Just a look from your eyes
And I’d set the world alight for you
OK my darling, when the fuse is lit
You know I’m gonna love you

As you like it
As you like it
As you like it

Now, while I was looking up the lyrics of As You Like It, I came across the name of another song by Adam Faith which I liked very much. Unfortunately, although I searched and searched, I couldn’t find the lyrics, and, again I did the next best thing and just listened to the song and deciphered the lyrics by myself so there may be some mistakes. Of course, I would be very happy if you could decipher it better and let me know which words I got wrong. Anyway, I invite you now to listen to the song and see if you’ll agree with me that the funny music and words do grow on you after a while.

FACE TO FACE
Composed by Les Vandyke
Sung by Adam Faith



All night I’ve waited by the telephone
I keep a’ringing and the plumber says you’re not at home
I’ll bet you’re sitting by that old TV
This idiot lad has got his place
But just you wait till you’re face to face with me

Um, face to face
I’m going to ask you some awkward questions
Face to face
You’re going to act on my directions
You’ll wait up to get off the hook
But baby you’re gonna get took
When you come face to face with me
Yeah

All day I work away and think of you
I keep a’ wondering if there is something else to do
Your life is governed by that old TV
The problem in the bug has got its place
But just you wait till you face to face with me

Um, face to face
I’m going to ask you some awkward questions
Face to face
You’re going to act on my directions
You’ll wait up to get off the hook
But baby you’re gonna get took
When you come face to face with me

One more time.
Well, face to face
I’m going to ask you some awkward questions
Face to face
You’re going to act on my directions
You’ll wait up to get off the hook
But baby you’re gonna get took
When you come face to face with me
Um, face to face
I say, face to face