A Conversation with Linda Kaplan Thaler

Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 103, in which I interview Linda Kaplan Thaler.  Linda and I wrote a bunch of songs in the late 1960s, including "Not Yet Ready to Say Goodbye," which appears on my 1972 Twice Upon a Rhyme album, mentioned from time to time on this podcast. Linda went on to write the world-famous, iconic "Toys R Us" jingle in 1983 ("I Don't Wanna Grow Up, I'm a Toys R US Kid"), mastermind the Aflac Duck campaign nearly two decades later, and work on the political campaigns of both Bill and Hillary Clinton.  She has also co-written four books, including The Power of Nice, and the recently published Grit to Great.  We discuss all of this and more on the podcast. You can get Grit to Great here.    Other helpful links - Linda Kaplan Thaler on Wikipedia Linda sings Skyscraper Tony DeSanto sings "Not Yet Ready to Say Goodbye" video of my 15 August 2015 concert with Peter Rosenthal in Ronkonkoma, NY my 2006 interview by Patrick Rands on WZBC Radio, in which I talk about Linda Kaplan and my discography, which Patrick plays my Transfer of Power science fiction story, about what really happened when JFK shook Bill Clinton's hand Lyrics to songs in the podcast -   SKYSCRAPER words by Paul Levinson music by Linda Kaplan 1968   Skyscraper nestled in the quiet vapor of the clouds above the crowds that teem and dream below you   Skyscraper set against the pastel paper of the sky I wish that I could see those colors glow too   (bridge) Wonder what you see Looking down at me Wonder who I am Wonder what I'll be?   Skyscraper dressed up in the sparkling drapery of night, it's always bright outside for you always new   (bridge)   NOT YET READY TO SAY GOODBYE Words by Paul Levinson Music by Linda Kaplan 1968   Things been getting' worse, lately Been lovin' in reverse, lately Almost time to say we've had our fill Seems from here the road is all downhill Don't you believe it girl, we've something still   (chorus) Hey, we're not yet ready to say goodbye "Sure gonna miss you" just won't get by Goodbye don't make it We can't forsake it We're not yet ready to say goodbye   Life's been down on us, lately Been causin' quite a fuss, lately Breakin' up would be the simple cure But the treatment would be mighty poor Long empty evenings never feelin' quite sure   (chorus)   (bridge) Can't say so long – it's been so long Can't say that's all – 'cause that's all wrong   (chorus)   A PIECE OF THE RAINBOW Words by Paul Levinson Music by Linda Kaplan 1968   A piece of the rainbow fell to the ground and burst into colors   And I picked up a piece of the rainbow A pretty little star I put you in a jar so I could watch you grow   And I brought home the piece of the rainbow Enchanted little elf I put you on my shelf And hoped that you would glow   And I watched you every day And you slowly turned to gray   And I picked up my piece of the rainbow And tossed you back to the sky And waved a last goodbye I had to let you go      CLOUDY SUNDAY Words by Paul Levinson Music by Peter Rosenthal 1968   Cloudy Sunday I wake to find you gone Cloudy Sunday The bed I sleep upon is strangely smooth and white Touched only by me and the empty night   Cloudy Sunday A fog upon my brain Cloudy Sunday condenses into rain and tears begin to swell but you couldn't tell that I loved you well   So we loved each other in passing But I'll keep searching for something more lasting Like the poet looking for the once in a lifetime rhyme   Cloudy Sunday I glimpse a distant form Cloudy Sunday I sense that she is warm but question what I feel – reflection of me or something more real?   Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Cloudy Sunday