Tired of singin' Kumbuya Part Deux

[Delmonico]

Did every one die in this thread, guess i'll just have ta liven it up with a good ol' Country and Western song 'bout a truck driver.

The late Harry Chapin did on such song, saddly he was run over by a truck in his VW Rabbit in 1981.

His concerts (I saw 2) were wonderful.

It was just after dark when the truck started down
the hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds (hit it Big John) of bananas.
He was a young driver,
just out on his second job.
And he was carrying the next day's pasty fruits
for everyone in that coal-scarred city
where children play without despair
in backyard slag-piles and folks manage to eat each day
about thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, just about thirty thousand pounds (scream it again, John) .
He passed a sign that he should have seen,
saying shift to low gear, a fifty dollar fine my friend.
He was thinking perhaps about the warm-breathed woman
who was waiting at the journey's end.
He started down the two mile drop,
the curving road that wound from the top of the hill.
He was pushing on through the shortening miles that ran down to the depot.
Just a few more miles to go,
then he'd go home and have her ease his long, cramped day away.
and the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights below him.
But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the nights
delights went through him.
His foot nudged the brakes to slow him down.
But the pedal floored easy without a sound.
He said Christ!
It was funny how he had named the only man who could save him now.
He was trapped inside a dead-end hellslide,
riding on his fear-hunched back
was every one of those yellow green
I'm telling you thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
He barely made the sweeping curve that led into the steepest grade.
And he missed the thankful passing bus at ninety miles an hour.
And he said God, make it a dream!
as he rode his last ride down.
And he said God, make it a dream!
as he rode his last ride down.
And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars,
clipped off thirteen telephone poles,
hit two houses, bruised eight trees,
and Blue-Crossed seven people.
it was then he lost his head,
not to mention an arm or two before he stopped.
And he slid for four hundred yards
along the hill that leads into Scranton, Pennsylvania.
All those thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
You know the man who told me about it on the bus,
as it went up the hill out of Scranton, Pennsylvania,
he shrugged his shoulders, he shook his head,
and he said (and this is exactly what he said)
Boy that sure must've been something.
Just imagine thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas.
Of bananas. Just bananas. Thirty thousand pounds.
of Bananas. not no driver now. Just bananas!

From Greatest Stories Live: Ending #1
Yes, we have no bananas,
We have no bananas today
(Spoken: And if that wasn't enough)
Yes, we have no bananas,
Bananas in Scranton, P A

From Greatest Stories Live: Ending #2:
A woman walks into her room where her child lies sleeping,
and when she sees his eyes are closed,
she sits there, silently weeping,
and though she lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania
She never ever eats ... Bananas
Not one of thirty thousand pounds .... of bananas

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

The song is based on a true story.  Two years after writing it, Chapin performed in Scranton, but did not perform the song, on request of the family.



AnnieLee

[Forty Rod]

I missed 'em.

I rRecorded a special about the Mamas and Papas last week, watched it tonight.

I left for Okinawa in April 1966 and didnt return state-side, except for a week of schooling and to bring my family back home, until August 1969.

They came and went while I was gone.  I hardly even heard of them until I got back.

Damn.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Going overseas is like being placed in a time warp. When I got back from Germany in '90, I had no idea what path music had taken. Even more obvious were the cars. I didn't recognise half of the ones on the roads.


AnnieLee

[Forty Rod]

I kept up on the cars because I was really into them, especially sports roadsters and sports racers, and the mail room kept me up to date.  Same with guns.   I subscribed to about fourteen magazines a month... still do.

Fashions were another thing.  Went from fairly modest knee length skirts to everything under the sun.  Guys' hair went from long (Beatles length) to long down the back.  Beards came and went.  Psychodelic really took over big time.  Hair dos went from beehives to long and straight.  Blonde was in. 

Black Power made it's entrance.

Color TV became very common.






I missed a lot.





Or maybe I didn't, either.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

A science fiction writer once told the tale of a man out of place in time. I don't think he ever explained how the man lost 20 years, I think he was in a prison. When I think of all the technological advances that have been made since my grandmother was born, or even since Mom was born in 1927, it is mind boggling. Heck, when were ball point pens invented, or felt tips? I remember my dad opening Scientific American and seeing an article on something called the Bic Banana. Technology is moving so fast, I am surprised anyone can keep up. Perhaps that's why there are so many disconnects with kids, all they know is this pace.

In thought,

AnnieLee

[Forty Rod]

HEY!!!

[Forty Rod]

I GOT MY NEW BOOTS!!!

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

I'm on the  phone with Del.

DO THEY FIT?

[Forty Rod]

Pretty good.  Loose in the heel, but it beats the hell out of being too tight everywhere else.

I have a 'knob' on the top of my right instep that rubs, but they'll break in there.  Comes from a Belgian stud stepping on my foot when I was a kid. 

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

So the stud has a stud, eh? It figures!

I'm happy for you, Forty, I hope they break in well.



AnnieLee

[Forty Rod]

They'll be fine.

The stud wasn't mine.  He was one of a matched pair that belonged to a man who my Dad worked for in the late twenties and early thirties up in Fruitland, ID.  I spent a summer working for him when I was about sixten.

Jim was an old Pennsy Dutchman and didn't have much power machinery on his farm.  He did have those two Belgians (Jake and Janie) and four gigantic red mules (Mattthew, Mark, Luke, and John.) ...they were his babies.

I was taking the harness off one evening and Big Jake stepped on my foot.  He didn't mean to, but when a 19 1/2 hand tall, 2,100 pound horse comes down on a foot wearing a cheap pair of work boots, it SMARTS...a LOT!!!

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Ouch is right!

But I was referring to the knob on your foot as a stud. Dang, you must be excited about those boots when you miss a play on words, Forty!

"He's singing in the rain, he's dancing in the rain,
What a glorious feeling, he's smiling again..."



AnnieLee

[Delmonico]

I'm glad we did good pard.  A little slippage in the heel is proper when new.  This should go away when the sole and inseam breaks in.  I've been wonderin' and glad you posted.  I may not be aroound for a couple of days, won't know till morinin' and I would wonder if you got them and how they felt.

When I'm helpin' someone with boots that has problems it it ussually caused by Motorcycle, horse or bull in that order.  Had one gut that it was a hang glider, worked fine as long as the truck was moving, when the truck stoppen he fell down out of the sky.  He said lookin' back on it, it was not the best idea he had ever had.

[Forty Rod]

Dell, I really appreciate the help.  You don't know how glad my tired old doggies are.

I hope the tops sag a bit.  Dang things come almost high enough to be over my knee cap...dang short little Italian grape-stompin' legs o' mine.

[Delmonico]

They should a little, always glad to help a friend out, thats why I love my job.

[Old Top]

Annie Lee,

Possibly the sf writer you are thinking of is Spider Robinson, and the time travler was one of the Calahan bar series.  I can look it up if you wish.

[Curley Cole]

Del
Talkin about the trouble with boots, Mine was horse, stepped on my left foot when I was 7 years old. When you look at an xray of it even today, looks like some one took a black marker and drew a line from the toes up to the ankle. May have to talk with ya about boots.

night to the fire
ps, didya get the sunset/flowers Miz Lee?

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Yup, I was thinking of Spider and Callahan's, Curley! Thank you for the sunset and the flowers, they ease a worn soul.

Ohbladeee ohblada, life goes on, bra! La la la how life goes on.



AnnieLee

[Old Top]

Annie Lee,

Life does go on but some days they repeal the laws of gravity and we are only here by suction


Old Top