Finding Love in Harvard Square
I don't know why I play music on the street. It's not like I don't have a day job. Actually, I do know why. It's why I've done a lot of things in my life -- to impress women. But I have to say, women don't seem all that impressed when they find out I'm a street performer. I think it's just a spin problem myself...
So you’re feeling befuddled and puzzled of late
Regarding your lack of a suitable mate
Although you’ve been neither delinquent nor slacking
Your choices in suitors have been rather lacking
You’re tired of playing today’s dating game
Each spin of the wheel seems to turn out the same
You’ve tried bar-flying boozers and lawyer-type losers
Tan surfer-slackers and pale cyber-hackers
Upper-crust posers and corporate brown-nosers
Cowboy buffoons and muscle-bound goons
You’re thinking if things don’t improve on the spot
You might just give Ellen Degeneres a shot
On a whim you will wince at your limited luck
Though you pine for a prince, all you find is a duke
Then one day you’re out walking and whom do you spy
But that pleasant though pitiful street music guy
I’m strumming and singing a sweet melody
You find me endearing, though slightly off key
You catch yourself smiling and humming along
Then you finally tune in to the words of my song…
Why don’t you fall in love with a folk musician?
You just never know what you’ve been missing
A dashing Don Juan in a denim disguise
A life-time lover right before your eyes
I might just be the next famous performer
Dylan got discovered on this very corner
The stars and the moon and the street signs agree
You should fall in love with me
You listen as I sing my songs for spare change
Going out might be fun, but more likely just strange
Though a pained look of doubt is engraved on your face
As you pass to head out your card drops in my case
My joyful acceptance presents without warning
I give you a call at two that very morning
It turns out I’ve had a great take for the night
If you’re going to be up, I could spring for a bite
In your comatose state my proposal’s accepted
Besides, you just don’t have the heart to reject it
My address directs you to that intersection
Where earlier that day we made our love connection
As you load up my amp and guitar in the backseat
You feel less like a date and more like a taxi
We settle on Denny’s because of the view
Of two drunks, a cockroach, a hooker, and you
And though you’ve been courted by wealthier gents
We dine on six dollars and thirty-two cents
I spend my last quarter to buy you a gumball
My lack of pretension leaves you feeling humble
I give you a peck and say it’s been fun talking
I missed the last bus, so I need to start walking
As I pack up my gear, you reach for my hand
And suggest that I spend the night on your divan
After you have tucked me all in for the night
You walk toward your bedroom and reach for the light
Then as if in a trance or just touched in the head
You turn out the light and invite me to bed
We share in the tenderest love ever made
Then I tune up and sing you this sweet serenade…
I guess you fell in love with a folk musician
I bet you didn’t know what you’d been missing
A dashing Don Juan in a denim disguise
A life-time lover right before your eyes
I might just become your own personal performer
I’m so glad that we discovered love on the corner
The stars in your eyes and your smile agree
You just fell in love with me
You awake from your daydream and snap back to now
You’re flush in the face and there’s sweat on your brow
You’re back on the corner – it’s still not too late
Your card’s in your hand – you’ve not yet sealed your fate
Your decision might haunt you the rest of your life
Could you stand to be known as a folk singer’s wife?
As I wrap up my song and prepare for my break
You think maybe it might not be such a mistake
Perhaps you’ll fall in love with a folk musician
You never can tell what you’ve been missing
A dashing Don Juan in a denim disguise
A life-time lover right before your eyes
I might just be the next famous performer
Dylan got discovered on this very corner
The stars and the moon and the street signs agree
You should fall in love with me
You should fall in love with me
And if I can’t have your love, I’ll take a dollar instead
© 1999 Ross D. Martin, MD