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A Silver Siren's Finale of Song, Part II
I remember the first night I sang here, way back before it was a "real club",
it was the new "hot spot" where "foke" came to party; mo' like a juke joint.
House band played on weekends; they danced til fo five clock in the mornin';
wasn't called The Lake then, either; remember? Back then, it was “The Point”.
Don't know why I'm asking anyway; you probably remember better than I do;
didn't 10 years fly by quick as lightening? And, wasn't all a those 10 years fun?
I was dressed to the nines that first night, you sat right there at the VIP table,
sharp as a skeeta's tweeta; Nita say "ooh, he fine!" Couldn't tell you nuthin, son!
I was so shy and timid tha . . . I was, too, timid then! Had that big ol' leather bag
it was so big and heavy, it was carryin me. It’s what I USTA put my instruments in.
Every club, bar and juke joint where I tried to get work singing, had turned me down;
I almost passed by this place, looked too much like some hole in the wall back then!
I was so hungry, nervous and tired cuz I had walked all day long; and, I was so scared
I stood outside a long while figurin' out what I was gon' do if they wouldn't let me stay.
But, you know they say “there's a reason for everything?” The club-owner had a plan
and my timing was perfect! Wanted it to be a jazz bar; looking at singers that very day.
''l want my club to be classy and grand", he told me; I saw he was dead serious bout it, too;
I knew I was in like Flynn, this gig was gonna be mine; that day both our dreams came true.
It was wonderful for the guests and me; to them, I was Miss Jazzi -- the Lady With The Band.
It's special how we all cared for one another right off, and we stayed together tight as glue.
Hand me a tissue, please. I feel like I'm leaving family; better stop all this reminiscing, huh?
I promised myself I was gonna be a big girl all night, and not breakdown in a flood of tears.
Look over there, Billy; band and management surprised me with that big poster of me singing.
They signed it "Farewell to Snazzi Miss Jazzi. We'll miss you, the voice we loved for years!"
The band's warming up; I can hear them crankin' it. Okay, I'll let you buy me one last drink,
but I don't want to have it until after my last song is over, it's better for me when I wait a while
cuz I never could drink AND sing; my tongue gets heavy and slurs wh . . . Oops, gotta go up now!
Got a surprise for you; last song gon be your favorite. Yep, "God Bless the Child That Got His Own"!
Denise Marshall Showcase,
Bright Light Café, 2003[/font]
[/font]
it was the new "hot spot" where "foke" came to party; mo' like a juke joint.
House band played on weekends; they danced til fo five clock in the mornin';
wasn't called The Lake then, either; remember? Back then, it was “The Point”.
Don't know why I'm asking anyway; you probably remember better than I do;
didn't 10 years fly by quick as lightening? And, wasn't all a those 10 years fun?
I was dressed to the nines that first night, you sat right there at the VIP table,
sharp as a skeeta's tweeta; Nita say "ooh, he fine!" Couldn't tell you nuthin, son!
I was so shy and timid tha . . . I was, too, timid then! Had that big ol' leather bag
it was so big and heavy, it was carryin me. It’s what I USTA put my instruments in.
Every club, bar and juke joint where I tried to get work singing, had turned me down;
I almost passed by this place, looked too much like some hole in the wall back then!
I was so hungry, nervous and tired cuz I had walked all day long; and, I was so scared
I stood outside a long while figurin' out what I was gon' do if they wouldn't let me stay.
But, you know they say “there's a reason for everything?” The club-owner had a plan
and my timing was perfect! Wanted it to be a jazz bar; looking at singers that very day.
''l want my club to be classy and grand", he told me; I saw he was dead serious bout it, too;
I knew I was in like Flynn, this gig was gonna be mine; that day both our dreams came true.
It was wonderful for the guests and me; to them, I was Miss Jazzi -- the Lady With The Band.
It's special how we all cared for one another right off, and we stayed together tight as glue.
Hand me a tissue, please. I feel like I'm leaving family; better stop all this reminiscing, huh?
I promised myself I was gonna be a big girl all night, and not breakdown in a flood of tears.
Look over there, Billy; band and management surprised me with that big poster of me singing.
They signed it "Farewell to Snazzi Miss Jazzi. We'll miss you, the voice we loved for years!"
The band's warming up; I can hear them crankin' it. Okay, I'll let you buy me one last drink,
but I don't want to have it until after my last song is over, it's better for me when I wait a while
cuz I never could drink AND sing; my tongue gets heavy and slurs wh . . . Oops, gotta go up now!
Got a surprise for you; last song gon be your favorite. Yep, "God Bless the Child That Got His Own"!
Denise Marshall Showcase,
Bright Light Café, 2003[/font]
[/font]
Published 13th Jun 2015
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13th Jun 2015 3:37am
I love this. It takes me back to a time that most will never know or understand. Well done.
13th Jun 2015 5:10am
ya know, right? don't you wish you could catch a flight back to old places and times, for a vacation refresher?
G
G
