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Gorsh, Raggedy. I'm not familiar with Levy, but although Whitier was considered to be one of the lesser poets, I adored his poem "In School Days". Hope our listeners are familiar with it, because the last line is a testament to the true nature of love.

Well, Christmas is not far away, WA2K radio fans. Be sure and write or call and let us know how you spent your holiday. It is predicted that 50,000,000 folks will be traveling this year.

I was going to post a Whittier poem, but thought it might be too long. But, for those not familiar with Eugene Levy:

He was part of the group Northern Lights who sang the song "Tears Are Not Enough" which was on the We Are The World album.

Part of the original, groundbreaking cast of "Second City TV" (1976) - otherwise known as SCTV. The Canadian TV Series was an comedic smash hit in the early eighties and started the careers of: Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, and the late John Candy just to name a few. He played many roles but was probably best known as "Earl Camembert", a dimwitted news broadcaster in the fictional town of Melonville.

(He was in the movies Splash and Waiting for Guffman (loved that one)

I hate to admit this but when this song comes on the radio, and I've heard it some hundreds of times, I start to cry every time the sax begins that little auld lang syne riff at the time. enjoy.....

Same Old Lang Syne
Dan Folgerberg


Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how

She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another 'auld lang syne'

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain

Ah, Joe. Dan Folgerberg. Is he still alive and singing? That was a wistful song, my friend. Bobby Burns is alive and well and living in the heart of music.

Our manager, Eva, is off on holiday this weekend. I hope she has a wonderful get-together.

Sad news, listeners:

Singer Dan Fogelberg has been diagnosed with advance stages of prostate cancer and has cancelled all of his upcoming shows.

A posting at his website states "Dan has been recently diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and has entered treatment. He apologizes for any inconvenience the cancellation of the concerts may cause his fans. Dan is confident he will be able to fight this illness. Your prayers, good wishes and positive thoughts will be very much appreciated".

The song Joe Nation posted and Fogelberg's "Run for the Roses" were real gems.

Just checking in...I don't leave until Sunday morning, but then won't be back until Christmas Day.

Oh Joe.

Did I ever tell you that the winter that song came out on the radio (1980) was when I reconnected with my first love after 7 years (and one marriage)? We didn't last long the second time around either, but he was one of the best people I've ever known. The song reminds me of that time we reconnected every year when I hear it. And it brings tears to my eyes, too. I associate it with New Year's Eve, when we met again.

I'm extremely sad to hear about Dan Fogelberg. I used to love his music.

Wow, Eva.

Just found out that our muti faceted janitor is originally from the Tide water area of Virginia.

How do you like that, John of Virginia.

Here's a song for Seed:

"Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
Music: George Botsford / Lyrics: Jean C. Havez
Copyright 1913 Jerome H. REmick & Co.

VERSE 1:
'Round the bend I see the steam-er com-in', dear, head-in' here, to this pier
If you hur-ry we will make it nev-er fear, on the Old Do-min-ion Line
Ain't she sail-ing pret-ty as she hugs the shore, steam-in' for Bal-ti-more
Hear the pad-dles turn-in', hear the wat-er churn-in'
She's the Queen of Ches-a-peake Bay!

CHORUS:
Come on, Nan-cy put your best dress on
Come on, Nan-cy 'fore the steam-er's gone
Ev-'ry-thing is love-ly on the Ches-a-peake Bay
All a-board for Bal-ti-more and if we're late they'll all be sore
Now look here, Cap-tain, let us catch that boat
We can't swim and lis-ten, we can't float
folks are hum-min' a good old tune, up on deck is the place to spoon
Cud-dle up close be-neath the sil-v'ry moon,
Sailing down the Ches-a-peake Bay

VERSE 2:
Hur-ry dear the steam-er ain't a mile a-way, down the Bay, on her way
See the smoke a-pour-in' from her fun-nels gay, Hon-ey, ain't that pic-ture grand!
Put your bib and tuck-er on and come with me, sights we'll see, you'll a-gree
Hear the folks all hum-min' while the steam-er's com-in'
She's the Belle of Ches-a-peake Bay!

CHORUS:
Come on, Nan-cy put your best dress on
Come on, Nan-cy 'fore the steam-er's gone
Ev-'ry-thing is love-ly on the Ches-a-peake Bay
All a-board for Bal-ti-more and if we're late they'll all be sore
Now look here, Cap-tain, let us catch that boat
We can't swim and lis-ten, we can't float
Folks are a hum-min' a good old tune, up on deck is the place to spoon
Cud-dle up close be-neath the sil-v'ry moon,
Sailing down the Ches-a-peake Bay


hey, my mom played that on piano and she was good enough to rival Scott Joplin.

-as he walked through the station's bathrooms making sure there was ample tissue he heard the song and hummed long... it was a song he had learned in elementry school... he knew it well. -

<smile>Listeners, here on WA2K radio. Fun for young and old...and as I once told Setanta, if you are somewhere in between, you don't get to have no fun.

As a closing theme for all who remember:


SMILE AGAIN LYRICS

I'll never smile again
Until I smile at you
I'll never laugh again
What good would it do
For tears would fill my eyes
My heart would realize
That our romance is through
I'll never love again
I'm so in love with you
I'll never thrill again
To somebody new
Within my heart
I know I will never start
To smile again
Until I smile at you
Within my heart
I know I will never start
To smile again
Until I smile at you

It may well be an urban legend, but the woman who supposedly wrote this tune, wrote it as a suicide note. Then the song made a real hit with audiences everywhere, and she changed her mind.

and an added footnote:

Right now, on ABC, they're are replaying USO radio.

They stole it from us.

OK, so I had to come back one more time.

Eugene Levy is wonderful. But let's bring him up when feelings aren't so down a page or two later. He is really a spark.

Since the "Leader of the Band" is tired and his eyes are growing old, if you're taking requests, I'd love to hear that song.

Got any leadbelly?

Huddie Ledbetter is moulderin' in the grave. The Blind Lemon is keeping it clean.

I got a mournful tale. The lone Houston station playing Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Clyde McPhatter, Patsy Cline, Harry Belafonte, Sachmo and the like converted to a sports station today. DJ Paul Berlin was thrown out of work for the first time in 54 years.

That's a mighty sad tale, Edgar.

For Tico:

popular parent dance at weddings


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

An only child alone and wild
A cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift
I know I never can repay

A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love thru' discipline
A thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand

The leader of the band
Is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru' my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band

My brother's lives were different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago and the other to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose
And come to know so well

I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And papa I don't think I said
"I love you" near enough

The leader of the band
Is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs thru' my instrument
And his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band

Odd that you should mention that, Tico. My son did a complete video of that song for his dad, including a fantastic collage incorporating all the various gigs that he and I had played.

Wow, all you listeners and staff. Tis the season to be jolly...( I guess)

All right, wild child full of grace
Savior of the human race, Your cool face
Natural child, terrible child
Not your mother's or your father's child
Your our child, screamin' wild
An ancient rulage of grains, And the trees of the night
Ha, ha, ha, ha
With hunger at her heels, Freedom in her eyes
She dances on her knees, Pirate prince at her side
Stirrin' into a hollow idols eyes
Wild child full of grace, Savior of the human race
Your cool face, Your cool face, Your cool face
Do you remember when we were in Africa?

Edgar, oh no! What a crime to take a wonderful station full of good music and turn it into one of 50 godzillion sports stations. Tragic.

Letty, I love that song and what a thoughtful and meaningful thing for your son to do as a tribute to his father and to you. Do you still have the video? Would you be willing to play it for us when we come out there in January? Please???