SAN DIEGO—What do these songs have in common? Hal dedicated all of them to his daughter Harriet, whose birthday falls this Friday. To hear any of the songs below,, please click on the titles above the lyrics. To hear songs that have previously been published on San Diego Jewish World, please visit Hal's archive page by clicking here.

#62 -- Reciprocity
#188 -- Closure
#213--Good Song

#62, Reciprocity

You’ll never miss
A single kiss
That you will give to me;
For what I’ll do
Is give you two
In reciprocity

Oh, reciprocity, reciprocity!
That’s what I’ll do.
I’ll give to you,
And you’ll give back to me.

Then if you still
Feel some goodwill,
You’ll quickly give me three;
And I’ll give four,
Perhaps still more
In reciprocity.

Oh, reciprocity, reciprocity!
That’s what I’ll do.
I’ll give to you,
And you’ll give back to me.

You’ll never miss
A single kiss
That you will give to me;
For what I’ll do
Is give you two
In reciprocity

Oh, reciprocity, reciprocity!
That’s what I’ll do.
I’ll give to you,
And you’ll give back to me.

(c) Estate of Hal Wingard; To Harriet on her 14th birthday
August 14, 1979

Dichotomy Suite

#188, Closure

I'm seated in a diner
Where I can see the door,
And I suppose
The door will close,
'Cause that's what doors are for.

Then in the name of science--
To learn what man's about--

Go to the top of right column

I watch the door
And keep a score
As folks go in and out.

I quickly then discover
The nature of the troops,
And I insist
That folks exist
In two quite diff'rent groups.

The one group--I'm among them--
They always close the door.
The other won't
(At least they don't),
And, damn, that makes me sore!

If you're among the closers,
Then let us all unite!
Let's make a fuss,
The group of us
Who keep their closures tight!

Whenever folks who enter
Leave a door ajar,
Despite the crowd
Let's shout out loud:
"Hey, where d'you think you are!"
"Hey, where d'you think you are!"

(c) 2009 Estate of Hal Wingard; To Harriet July 5, 1986. Concept emerged as Harriet and I broke fast at Big Sur Inn, August 26, 1985. Words and melody written July 5, 1986, while I babysat 10323 Almayo as part of selling Louise's condo.

#213, Good Song

I'd like to sing a good song,
To sing it good and loud,
And bring a rousing good time
To rouse a goodly crowd.

I've got the goods in a good-hearted song.
I've got the goods for a good sing-along.

I'd like to sing a good while,
Make good on your goodwill.
I wish with good intentions
A wish good luck can fill.

I've got the goods in a good-hearted song.
I've got the goods for a good sing-along.

I'd like to sing a good song,
Oh, goodness knows I would;
But folks all say "Good riddance,
Good-bye, good-bye for good!"

I've got the goods in a good-hearted song.
I've got the goods for a good sing-along.

I'd like to sing a good song,
But good isn't going so good.

(c) 2009 Estate of Hal Wingard; To Harriet, who always listens to my good (and bad) songsm December 25 1991
Words written at La Pinta Hotel near Bahia de San Quintin in Baja, California, December 24, 1991, and set to melody the next day at La Pinta and the Ensenada Travelodge.

**

Hal Wingard died May 25, 2009 at age 83 in San Diego. He was an educator who specialized in methodologies for foreign language teaching and had served on the California State Curriculum Commission. His wife, Eileen, a retired symphony violinist and occasional contributor to San Diego Jewish World, survives him, along with three daughters and a son.