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Ferlinghetti Goodbye

by V. Vale

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about

In memory of my old boss, Lawrence. Ferlinghetti who gave me $100 to start publishing Search & Destroy. I worked at his City Lights Bookstore 1968-1984. L.F. died Feb 22, 2021 (day I got my new cat, Louie)

lyrics

Ferlinghetti … was a poet …. and a painter
Lived reclusive … in old North Beach … San Francisco
I thought he’d always…. be around …. Like, forever
But then he died …. Age 101…. Still feels unreal

Ferlinghetti … was a poet …. and a radical
Round the world He read poetry …. so dramatical
He had children… named Julie… and Lorenzo
He invented … and promoted … Autogeddon

Ferlinghetti … had a wife …. whose name was Kirby
She would visit… the bookstore …. and talk to me
This time Lawrence …. had failed … to show up
She waited …. hung around …. left in a huff

CHORUS:
But all along …. he must have known … How To Say No
Behind his words …. behind his smile … he avoided drudgery
He wasn’t a mark …. He wasn’t a shark … Just Be: Philosophy
Just only do …. And only write … What you want to

Ferlinghetti … had a partner …. who’s forgotten
Shig Murao …. ran the bookstore. …. like a martyr
From the Fifties…. to the Seventies … Shig worked day & night
Then he had a stroke …. Moved down South … Died out-of-sight

Ferlinghetti … was a dreamer … who used slogans
They were major … political, filled with emotion
He hung banners … on the bookstore… to inspire
Spoke at protests… out of outrage … and desire

Ferlinghetti … was a painter … who could draw
Not abstract … Not hard-edged … but raw
He drew Nude Models …. on messy canvas ….lots of motion
muddy colors … painted boats ….upon the ocean

CHORUS:
But all along …. he must have known … How To Say No
Behind his words …. behind his smile … he avoided drudgery
He wasn’t a mark …. He wasn’t a shark … Just Be: Philosophy
Just only do …. And only write … What you want to

credits

released March 15, 2021
Song by V. Vale
Piano and vocals V. Vale

license

all rights reserved

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about

V. Vale San Francisco, California

An original member of Blue Cheer (when it was a 6-man band) V. Vale put down his instruments to publish Search & Destroy in 1977. He now plays for friends and for fun, channelling music for our listening pleasure.

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