05.04.08 -- Trees & Songs

Vincent van Gogh. (Dutch, 1853-1890). The Olive Trees. Saint Rémy, June-July 1889.

-----------------

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Click here for abridged post in LARGE PRINT.

POPLAR MUSIC, Puzzle by Richard Silvestri, edited by Will Shortz

HEREYOUGUMAGAIN (24. 1977 Dolly Parton song for tree fanciers?); FIRYOURLOVE (33A. 1965 Yardbirds song for tree fanciers?); GREATBALSAFIRE (50A. 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis song for tree fanciers?); CEDARFUNNYLITTLECLOWN (61A. 1964 Bobby Goldsboro song for tree fanciers?); OLIVEROCK NROLL (79A. 1982 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts song for tree fanciers?); ELMOSTGROWN (90A. 1959 Chuck Berry song for tree fanciers?); PAWPAWPITIFULME (107A. 1978 Linda Ronstadt song for tree fanciers?) are this Sunday’s inter-related entries, puns on the originals: Here You Come Again, For Your Love, Great Balls of Fire, See the Funny Little Clown, I Love Rock N Roll, Almost Grown, and Poor, Poor Pitiful Me.

Across: 1. Craving, slangily; 6. Crèche figures; 10. Impromptu Halloween costume; 15. Spray withdrawn in 1989; 19. Try to steal the scene, maybe; 20. “Darn it!”; 21. Mountain chain; 23. Nick name?; 26. Bridal collection; 28. Not INSO many words; 29. Nominal promotion of a military officers; 30. Sugar substitute?; 31. Modern pentathlon even; 32. Inner circles; 39. SAL volatile; 40. Bellowing; 41. Nirvana seeker; 42. World capital, founded in 1538, formerly known as Chuquisaca; 44. Suffix with myth; 48. Went like a shot; 53. Out limits; 54. Stand; 56. Rush hour sounds; 57. Port of Iraq; 58. One trillionth: Prefix; 59. Rossini subject; 60. Air Force athlete; 68. Its spotted in the wild; 69. Like a lot of Australia; 70. Lay on the line; 71. Brain parts; 72. Tippy transport; 74. Bank deposit?; 75. Old-time oath; 82. Jazzy Nina; 84. Altar procedure; 85. “Sesame Street” regular; 86. Beaufort scale category; 88. Neighbor of Chad; 89. Flight formation; 92. Source of some coffee; 96. Italian bread; 98. Source of creosote; 99. Sugar or flour; 100. Doozy; 101. Do police work; 110. Palate part; 111. Sing “Bye Bye Birdie,” e.g.; 112. Hurt badly; 113. 16th-century English dramatist George; 114. Badlands sight; 115. Exorcist’s enemy; 116. Red army?; 117. Sp. Misses.

Boys Climbing a Tree, 1790-92, Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes

Down: 1. Witty remark; 2. “A Jug of Wine…” poet; 3. Off-limits item; 4. Words of reproach; 5. Strand; 6. Key fort?; 7. Stretch; 8. Ashram leader; 9. Chemical suffix; 10. Teatime treat; 11. Theater audience; 12. For this reason; 13. Dot follower, often; 14. Tito Puente played them; 15. “Sink or Swim” author; 18. Permission; 17. Sign of spring; 18. Go into hysterics; 22. LARD Lad, doughnut shop on “The Simpsons”; 25. Cry of dismay; 27. Insignificant amount; 31. “A Letter for EVIE” (Hume Cronyn film); 32. CARLS Jr., West Coast hamburger chain; 33. Discombobulate; 34. Mill material; 35. Cross; 36. Thanksgiving serving; 37. Enters cyberspace; 38. Dungeons & Dragons character; 39. Sing like Fitzgerald; 42. Impassive; 43. Nut holder; 44. “IFALL else fails…”; 45. CISCO Systems, networking giant; 46. Helpful pointer; 47. Musical Rimes; 49. Underlying meaning; 51. Place for an easel; 52. One way to be taken; 55. R.N.’s station; 58. Purple stuff, perhaps; 59. Power of film; 60. Happy gatherings; 61. Play-by-play partner; 62. Theodor Escherich’s discovery; 63. Ledger entry; 64. Anacin alternative; 65. NANKI-Poo of “The Mikado”; 66. 1970s-’80s baseball All-Star Manny; 67. Rap star LIL Jon; 72. Chick on the piano; 73. Rough condition to face?; 74. Criticize; 75. Eastern ruler; 76. Energetic; 77. From the top; 78. Laura of “Blue Velvet” ; 80. Ran through again; 81. Give the once-over; 83. Cliques; 87. Prizes; 90. Sufficient, informally; 91. Dance specialty; 92. Dickens title starter; 93. Soul singer Lou; 94. Via APPIA (Roman Road); 95. Be noisy; 96. Words before bed or rest; 97. Not at all familiar; 99. E-mail annoyance; 100. “The Informer” author O’Flaherty; 101. Kind of meeting in “O Brother Where Art Thou?”; 102. Give off; 103. Camper driver; 104. Something one can never do; 105. Salmon tail?; 106. Actress Charlotte and explorer John; 108. Grand PRE, Nova Scotia; 109. John’s “Pulp Fiction” co-star.

-----------------

For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.