Bye, Bye, Bye

I’ll be visiting my old college, SUNY Purchase, this weekend, so I won’t be posting on Saturday and Sunday.

But before I go, a story: On the subway this morning, a man with a homemade trolley made of rubber wheels, cardboard and what looked like the noodles you use in the pool (here’s a pic) was announcing that if anyone on the subway was hungry, they could grab some food from him. I see these Givers, for lack of a better term, occasionally on the train, and normally they bring with them sandwiches, something to drink and a kind word about God. While glancing through what the man was hawking, I noticed about 30 cassettes on his trolley. Upon a closer look, I saw that they were mostly religious tapes with occasionally something more “urban” like one called “Alley Oops,” but amidst the musical rubble, I noticed tapes for the Grateful Dead and Yes. Actually, the label said “Greatful Dead,” which is on more Facebook accounts than I count—I’ll bet they’re the true fans.

I guess the thing that’s going to make the homeless and hungry feel better about themselves are the Dead and Yes. Why didn’t I think of that?!?

Five Best..."Uncle" Songs

#5. "Froggie Went A-Courtin'" by Bob Dylan (among others)

Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides,.
To think his niece would be a bride, Uh-huh.

#4. "Uncle Fucka" by Terrance and Philip (South Park)

Shut YOUR fucking face, Uncle Fucka
You're the one that fucked your uncle, Uncle Fucka
You don't eat or sleep or mow the lawn
Just fuck your uncle all day long

#3. "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard

Well Long, Tall Sally
She's built for speed,
She got everything that Uncle John needs

#2. "Little Criminals" by Randy Newman"

Got a gun from Uncle Freddy
Got a station all picked out
Got a plan and now we're ready
Gonna take that station out

#1. "Uncle John's Band" by The Grateful Dead

God Damn I declare have you seen like
Their walls are built like cannon balls
Their motto is 'Don't Tread On Me'
Come hear Uncle John's band playing-to the tide
Come along or go alone
He's come to take his children home

Five Best...Songs about Levee's

#5. "American Pie" by Don McLean

I started singin'
Bye-bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

#4. "Friend of the Devil" by The Grateful Dead

I ran down to the levee
But the Devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill
And he vanished in the air

#3. "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin

Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.

#2. "The Levee's Gonna Break" by Bob Dylan

If it keep on rainin', the levee gonna break
If it keep on rainin', the levee gonna break
Some of these people don't know which road to take

#1. "When the Levee Breaks" by Memphis Minnie

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay