TREE FROGS
by Michael R. Clem
From Cedar Rapids on to Cedar Falls
One thing I’ve learned – you can’t please ’em all
so play what you know, play from your heart
& take my advice, and here’s how you start
Just play a song that the tree frogs can sing to
Hum a sweet tune that the bumble bees sting to
easy as pie let the pizza man fling to
and never leave one person out
pull some heart strings that a hunchback can ring to
give Stella tips that she can chu-ching to
Cuz in my years – I’ve learned one thing to
connect is what life’s all about
In Fort Lee New Jersey I saw Abe Vigoda
Played a Shakespeare festival way up in Winona
off the Ole Miss in South Minnesota
My stories suck, but they have heart
I turned 30 in Columbus GA
Stared down the cold Chattahoochee that day
I had a conundrum about what to play
and here’s where I learned how to start
Just play a song that the tree frogs can sing to
Hum a sweet tune that the bumble bees sting to
easy as pie let the pizza man fling to
and never leave one person out
pull some heart strings that a hunchback can ring to
give Stella tips that she can chu-ching to
Cuz in my years – I’ve learned one thing to
connect is what life’s all about
Performed with Eddie outside Toledo
Early’s on time, became our band’s credo
We gave wine to Princeton, the club rep said neato
We sure could waste all kinds of gas
You’d be hard pressed to catch us acting lewd
’til gymnast Bob ran through Santa Cruz nude
a laughing cop hollered “Where the hell is that dude?”
Responding to calls of bare ass
(true story… so’s this one)
That September morning, so far from pretty
within just 10 days we played right in the city
We offered some hymns, we shared in their pity
then drove to a St. Louis stage
Down the interstate, off of each shoulder
The flags flew higher, the colors were bolder
The nation was one, & that’s how I’d behold her
a rare time, on the same page
Whenever I’ve watered down
some of my message
to try to keep everyone pleased
what turns out is some piss-poor drivel
with appeal like Velveeta cheese
Just play a song that the tree frogs can sing to
Hum a sweet tune that the bumble bees sting to
easy as pie let the pizza man fling to
and never leave one person out
pull some heart strings that a hunchback can ring to
give Stella tips that she can chu-ching to
Cuz in my years – I’ve learned one thing
to connect is what life’s all about
to connect is what life’s all about
to connect is what life’s all about
all about
doncha pout
bathroom grout
sing it out!
copyright 2024 J Fish Music