This is Veronica, inspired by the Elvis Costello song of the same name. It was written in honor of his grandmother, who suffered from dementia.
Veronica, 12×36,mixedmedia,©vickiemartin2019
This is part of my MUSIC STILL REMAINS, Each piece in this series is based on a specific song and inspired by dementia. Did you know it has been scientifically proven that you never lose your musical memory. (I teach at adult day care and I have seen unresponsive people suddenly sit up and joyfully sing). The texture that appears on the painting is symbolic of the plaques and tangles that are found on the brain. Veronica appears to be hiding, she is really not “front and center”, because dementia often make a person feel invisible, or as the lyrics suggest, has she gone to hide?
Below are two more paintings that were also inspired by the song. The titles are based on lyrics within the song,
She Spoke His Name Out Loud, 11×14 mixed media ©vickiemartin2019
The Empress of India, 10×20 mixed media ©vickiemartin2010
This was the first collaboration between Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney
When you read the entire lyrics knowing where the inspiration came from, they suddenly make sense.
Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
What goes on in that place in the dark?
Well I used to know a girl and I could have sworn
That her name was Veronica
Well she used to have a carefree mind of her own
And a delicate look in her eye
These days I’m afraid she’s not even sure
If her name is Veronica
Do you suppose, that waiting hands on eyes,
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those who shout
Her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Did the days drag by? Did the favors wane?
Did he roam down the town all the while?
Will you wake from your dream, with a wolf at the door,
Reaching out for Veronica
Well it was all of sixty-five years ago
When the world was the street where she lived
And a young man sailed on a ship in the sea
With a picture of Veronica
On the “Empress of India”
And as she closed her eyes upon the world
And picked upon the bones of last week’s news
She spoke his name out loud again
Do you suppose, that waiting hands on eyes,
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those who shout
Her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Veronica sits in her favorite chair
And she sits very quiet and still
And they call her a name that they never get right
And if they don’t then nobody else will
But she used to have a carefree mind of her own
With devilish look in her eye
Saying “You can call me anything you like,
But my name is Veronica”
Do you suppose, that waiting hands on eyes,
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those who shout
Her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Oh Veronica
Vicki,
‘And all the time she laughs at those who shout her name and steal her clothes’, I used to find my patients wearing one another’s clothes. It was a sight . Big clothes on little people. Big people trying to fit in little clothes. However one thing was consistent. They got the gender right which tells me identity is still in there somewhere..
My mother tried to make skirts out of sweaters somehow. I’ve listened to that song for years and never really paid attention to the words until someone pointed me to it. There is an interview with Elvis Costello where he talks about it – but I couldn’t find it when I needed it – of course. Thanks for your support!