New York City unplanned

My old friend Corey just reminded me of this as we were IMing. "Hey, do you remember when...."

We were hanging around in Brant rock (??summer 1979??) - Me, Corey, and a few kids playing basketball - Lee, Beth watching and getting bored. Beth decided we should go to Providence to a club she knew to hear a band she liked. So with exactly that much planning, we went - me, Corey, Lee, and Beth. Any ways, instead of recalling the story from my faulty memory, I present you with the poem that Beth wrote afterwards - and the song that I wrote afterwards. If you then need more details, just ask.

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from Beth McDonald (seasonal waitress at Charlies Restaraunt in Brant Rock)

It was so quiet when we walked in,
that even the customers at the counter knew it was all our fault
you see, I wanted to tell them,
don’t plan anything
because
people will always expect you to always be
what they want you to do
we found out
that living could be scheduled
to their expectations, only,
when we left out the fun
but
I couldn’t see them well enough to explain
My contacts were in two
Coffee cups (no ice please…)
That a Greek waiter gave me
Too early in the morning
In Fairfield Connecticut
In a diner that was too new
for unwinding
and mysterious about appearing out of the dark
in a thunder of lights
this occurred well after Lee ate dinner
and we went bowling and found gas
in Abington at a station
open ‘till 11
across from Corey’s two rooms
that resembled ‘Holy Hell’
It was much after
A discussion on hot peppers vs. hot stuff
Equaled
A free sub,
And a very black dog
Ran through my legs
At the Met café
On Friendship Street
Donny thought the yellow van thru the window
was his
and all night he watched it
All night he watched a yellow van
Thru the window
That he thought was his
He was doing someone else a favor
Because his van wasn’t thru the window
But
Around the corner
And up a street

We are so very nice
Even Harry
Who has been a regular
For 14 years
Bought us a round of ‘Lite’ for coming “all that way”
To hear Nee Ningy
Before they left for Maine

We are so very nice
That we went to New York
To visit Lee’s old boyfriend
What’s 500 miles
When there is someone at the end of the line
From a pay phone on Tremont Street
Who is REALLY THERE!!

Even the cops in Queens
Where happy to give directions
Repeated three times
Repeated three times
Repeated three times

The man we almost hit
Near 89 35 90th
Didn’t mind talking so early
Or,
That he was almost late for work
Permanently
* * *
Finish dinner. I wanted to say,
And do something that you can shake your head
Over and over
Do something
Side-of-the-road
Go home (to the old guy by himself)
And make root beer
Build a barn
Or don’t go home at all

Take the kids (to the family at the end)
And walk the jetty in the middle tide,
Get soaked
And cold
Fall a few times
Light candles in the kitchen
Eat cookies
Bake another batch
And eat cookies again

Tell your boyfriend (to the girl with long hair)
You are leaving for Maine to visit
No one in particular
And travel no where special
And sleep
In a tent
Or,
Just say you will return in time for
The end of the week

Bring a sandwich (to the man at her side)
Of sprouts and Gouda, tuna and wheat germ
Watch the guys at work
Eat
Roast beef and mustard, cheeseburgers and ketchup
The same as yesterday
Bring Cranberry juice in a thermos to share with them
** *** **

It was so quiet when we walked in,
That I heard them thinking
Jealousy
So I gathered another dance in my hand
And palmed a spirit that whispered
“there are fairies in the fog…”

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New York City (words & music by Don Blauss)

We were expressway travelling which might or might not be suited for us
We were expressing ways of traveling that might or might not be suited for us
We didn’t care
So long as it got us there
Tell New York City we are on our way

We were freeway wheeling it’s not like we were stealing away
It was free fun dealing couldn’t see so we was feeling our way
We didn’t plan
We just climbed into the van
Tell New York City we’ll be there today

And nothing could be finer than to find an all night diner in the morning
And it just seemed so minor to miss work at nine or ten without a warning
We had a scheme
Let’s look up a friend in Queens
Tell New York City to bad we can’t stay

Now we rolled in from Boston we felt like we was lost and we couldn’t be found
So we called up the boss asked him not to be cross but we wouldn’t be ‘round
We never dreamed
It would create such a scene
Tell New York City we’ve got to go away

Now we’re back in Massachusetts it’s no use it’s just some people seem to think it’s a crime
That for no apparent reason it could seem to be so pleasin’ just to have a good time
And now it’s done
But we sure did have our fun
Tell New York City Her memory will stay

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the end.