Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Words by joni mitchell
Music by charles mingus
When charlie speaks of lester
You know someone great has gone
The sweetest swinging music man
Had a porkie pig hat on
A bright star
In a dark age
When the bandstands had a thousand ways
Of refusing a black man admission
Black musician
In those days they put him in an
Underdog position
Cellars and chittlins
When lester took him a wife
Arm and arm went black and white
And some saw red
And drove them from their hotel bed
Love is never easy
Its short of the hope we have for happiness
Bright and sweet
Love is never easy street!
Now we are black and white
Embracing out in the lunatic new york night
Its very unlikely well be driven out of town
Or be hung in a tree
Thats unlikely!
Tonight these crowds
Are happy and loud
Children are up dancing in the streets
In the sticky middle of the night
Summer serenade
Of taxi horns and fun arcades
Where right or wrong
Under neon
Every feeling goes on!
For you and me
The sidewalk is a history book
And a circus
Dangerous clowns
Balancing dreadful and wonderful perceptions
They have been handed
Day by day
Generations on down
We came up from the subway
On the music midnight makes
To charlies bass and lesters saxophone
In taxi horns and brakes
Now charlies down in mexico
With the healers
So the sidewalk leads us with music
To two little dancers
Dancing outside a black bar
Theres a sign up on the awning
It says pork pie hat bar
And theres black babies dancing...
Tonight!

song performed by by Joni MitchellReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Related quotes

Goodby Pork Pie Hat

When Charlie speaks of Lester
You know someone great has gone
The sweetest swinging music man
Had a Porkie Pig hat on
A bright star
In a dark age
When the bandstands had a thousand ways
Of refusing a black man admission
Black musician
In those days they put him in an
Underdog position
Cellars and chittlins'
When Lester took him a wife
Arm and arm went black and white
And some saw red
And drove them from their hotel bed
Love is never easy
It's short of the hope we have for happiness
Bright and sweet
Love is never easy street!
Now we are black and white
Embracing out in the lunatic New York night
It's very unlikely we'll be driven out of town
Or be hung in a tree
That's unlikely!
Tonight these crowds
Are happy and loud
Children are up dancing in the streets
In the sticky middle of the night
Summer serenade
Of taxi horns and fun arcades
Where right or wrong
Under neon
Every feeling goes on!
For you and me
The sidewalk is a history book
And a circus
Dangerous clowns
Balancing dreadful and wonderful perceptions
They have been handed
Day by day
Generations on down
We came up from the subway
On the music midnight makes
To Charlie's bass and Lester's saxophone
In taxi horns and brakes
Now Charlie's down in Mexico
With the healers
So the sidewalk leads us with music
To two little dancers
Dancing outside a black bar
There's a sign up on the awning
It says "Pork Pie Hat Bar"
And there's black babies dancing...
Tonight!

song performed by by Joni MitchellReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dancin' In The Streets (live)

Hey, comin' out around the world be ready for a brand new beat
Oh, summer's here and the time is right, oh, for dancing in the street
Dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music (sweet, sweet music)
They'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
They'll be laughing, singing, music swinging and dancing in the street
It doesn't matter what you wear just as long as you are there
They're dancing (dancing in the street) oh oh
This is an invitation across the nation the chance for folks to meet
There'll be swinging, swaying, music playing and dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA now (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. (dancing in the street)
Can't forget them other cities (dancing in the street

song performed by by Grateful DeadReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dancing In The Streets

Hey, comin out around the world be ready for a brand new beat
Oh, summers here and the time is right, oh, for dancing in the street
Dancing in chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in new orleans (dancing in the street)
In new york city (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music (sweet, sweet music)
Theyll be music everywhere (everywhere)
Theyll be laughing, singing, music swinging and dancing in the street
It doesnt matter what you wear just as long as you are there
Theyre dancing (dancing in the street) oh oh
This is an invitation across the nation the chance for folks to meet
Therell be swinging, swaying, music playing and dancing in the street
Philadelphia, pa now (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and d.c. (dancing in the street)
Cant forget them other cities (dancing in the street)

song performed by by Grateful DeadReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

John, I'm Only Dancing

(dancing) i'm having so much love
(dancing) too bad my back had gone
(dancing) boogie down with daddy now
I'd give my house in the country
If you'd slept it's so funky
(music) i'm dancing in the street
(ooh music) i've torn the shoes from my feet
(romancing) it's got me dirty and sweet
It's got you reeling and rocking
Won't you let the slender thing in
(rolling) i think it's all i can do
(rolling) just got me feeling you too
(rolling) get a little take a little
Get a little back
Jumping john the great goose is gone
Got a lion in my hand
Got a charlie on my back
(john) i'm only dancing
(she turns me on) i'm only dancing
(she turns me on) oh get you with me
(don't get me wrong) ah ha ha ha ha
(i'm only dancing, oh ho hooo)
(i'm only dancing, oh ho hooo)
(dancing) have you heard the news
(dancing) president has got the blues
(dancing) i tell you comfortably
If he gives it to you
He'd better take it from me
(said sir) i pick up the bones
(said sir) leave the numbers alone
(said sir) get off your telephone
Look the people in the eye
Tell them my oh my
Let your backbone slide
Buddy whistle and cry
(john)
(she turns me on) la la la la
(don't get me wrong) hmm hm hm
(i'm only dancing, oh hooo)
(john) i'm only dancing
(she turns me on) ah ha ha i'm only dancing
(she turns me on) i lost my feel
(don't get me wrong) i'm off on my way
(i'm only dancing, oh hooo) please dance with me
(i'm only dancing) please dance with me
(i'm only dancing, oh hooo)
(dancing, dancing, dancing, woh woh woh)
(dancing, dancing, dancing, woh woh woh)
(dancing, dancing, dancing, woh woh woh)
(dancing) i'm only (dancing) i'm only (dancing) i'm only (woh woh woh)
(dancing) i'm only (dancing) i'm only (dancing) i'm only (woh woh woh)
Can see no care
Lost my fear
Traped charlie dance on
(woh woh woh)
(woh woh woh)
He, he, he, he, he, he, he, cos
(woh woh woh)
Got white light
Got black light
Got white light
Lay you dance on
(woh woh woh)
I'm only, i'm only, i'm only
(woh woh woh)
I got, i got
(woh woh woh)
(woh woh woh)
(dancing) he
(dancing) he
(dancing) he
(woh woh woh) lay you dance on
(dancing) lay you dance on
(dancing) lay you dance on, hey
(woh woh woh)
(dancing)
(dancing)
(dancing)
(woh woh woh) gotta give me know
(dancing) gotta give me know
(dancing) gotta give me know
(dancing)
(woh woh woh)
(dancing) he he
(dancing) he he
(dancing)
(woh woh woh)
Lockit fine
Makin' it mine
Lockit fine
Makin' it mine
Lockit fine
Making it
(i'm only dancing mm mm)
(i'm only dancing, dancing, i'm only dancing, mm mm)
(i'm only dancing, dancing, i'm only dancing, mm mm)
(i'm only dancing, dancing, i'm only dancing, mm mm)
(i'm only dancing hey ya, dancing, hey, i'm dancing, mm mm)
Yes i am
(i'm only dancing, hey i'm dancing, hey dancing, mm mm)
(oh, i'm only dancing, oh, i'm only dancing, i'm only dancing mm mm)
Oh my baby

song performed by by David BowieReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Battleground

Black nigger white nigger standing in the dark
Listen to the rhythm of the bass boom
Black nigger takes a hit sending up a spark
In the dark heat
Swaying a little to the bass beat
White nigger takes a hit takes money out
Says this is what its all about
Rots your brain - who cares
Black nigger stares
White nigger sighs
I like your music
I like your style
I crack a joke so why dont you smile
White nigger dancing out on the floor tonight
The bands not good but the beat seems right
The bands all black and the floors all white
Clenching fists unite and fight
Rock agianst racism rules tonight
But in the real world
No-one rules
But fists are clenched all right
Down in the underground
Out in the playground
The common ground
Is a battleground
Now you dont have to be black to be a nigger no more
The writings on the wall
Say - black is power
White is flower
Diveded we fall
And behind the wall
Behind the door,
In the dark heat
In the rhythm of the bass beat
Something is wrong
And no-one is taking the blame

song performed by by Joe JacksonReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Incantation

A white well
In a black cave;
A bright shell
In a dark wave.

A white rose
Black brambles hood;
Smooth bright snows
In a dark wood.

A flung white glove
In a dark fight;
A white dove
On a wild black night.

A white door
In a dark lane;
A bright core
To bitter black pain.

A white hand
Waved from dark walls;
In a burnt black land
Bright waterfalls.

A bright spark
Where black ashes are;
In the smothering dark
One white star.

poem by Elinor Morton WylieReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dancing In The Street

(are you ready to let it happen to you tonight?
Oh, yes ... do it, man ... here we go)
Calling out, round the world
Ready for a brand of beat
Were all here, time is right
Dancing in the street
There out in chicago
New york city
All we need is music, sweet music
Therell be music everywhere
Therell be ? ? ? swing
Records playing
Dancing in the street
Doesnt matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
Come on, come on, now
Every guy grab a girl
Oh, everywhere around the world
Let it, dancing in the street, dancing
Dancing in the street, dancing
Invitation, across the nation
Chance, folks want to meet
Therell be laughing, singing
Music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philedelphia, pa
Baltimore and dc, now
All we need is music, sweet music
Therell be music everywhere
Therell be ? ? ? swing
Records playing
Dancing in the street
(all right girls, do it to me, here we go)

song performed by by Neil DiamondReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dancing In The Streets

Wow!
Ah yeah!
Calling out around the world,are you ready for a brand new beat.
Summers here and the time is right,for dancing in the streets,
Theyre dancing in chicago ( theyll be dancing )
Down in new oreleans ( dancing in the streets )
Up in new york city ( dancing in the streets )
All we need is music ( sweet sweet ) sweet music (sweet sweet music )
Therell be music everywhere.
Therell be swinging,swaying,records playing,dancing in the streets,oh!
It doesnt matter what hat you wear,just as long as you are there,
So come on
Grab a guy,grab a girl,everywhere around the world.
Therell be dancing,dancing in the streets.
( oh )its just an invitation,across the nation,a chance for folks to meet.
Therell be laughing and singing,music swinging,dancing in the streets
All we need is music ( sweet sweet ) sweet music (sweet sweet music )
Therell be music everywhere.
Therell be swinging,swaying,records playing,dancing in the streets,oh!
It doesnt matter what hat you wear,just as long as you are there,
So come on
Grab a guy,grab a girl,everywhere around the world.
Dancing,dancing in the streets,
Way down in la,everyday,dancing in the streets ( dancing in the streets )
San francisco way, ( dancing in the streets ), they do it everyday now,
( dancing in the streets )

song performed by by Van HalenReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dancing In The Street

Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging swaying records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl
Ev'rywhere around the world
They'll be dancing
They're dancing in the street
It's just an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing, music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore and D.C. now
Can't forget the Motor City
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl
Ev'rywhere around the world
Dancing
They're dancing in the street
Way down in L.A.
Every day
Dancing in the street

song performed by by Van HalenReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Music Paints the World

In every town and city small and large there is a music vibe with its inhabitants
Some music is inspiring, some music is depressing while other music is exciting
Angry music is red as red as blood dripping down your skin
Depressing music is navy blue like rain falling from the sky
Metal music is black as black as the sky
Rap music is a mixture of red, black and yellow. It is sometimes angry, sometimes dark and sometimes happy.
Relaxing music is blue just like the ocean
Happy music is yellow as yellow as the sun
The sound of music vibrantly paints the world
It has done so since the beginning of music and will continue to do so as long as people ordinary and famous keep on listening to music and performing music.

poem by Emily KraussReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Dancing In The Street

Ok, talk to you
South america, australia, france, germany, uk, africa
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summers here and the time is right
For dancing in the streets
Theyre dancing in chicago
Down in new orleans
In new york city
All we need is music, sweet music
Therell be music everywhere
Theyll be swinging, swaying, records playing,
Dancing in the street, oh
It doesnt matter what you wear, just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl, everywhere, around the world
Theyll be dancing, dancing in the street
Its an invitation across the nation, a chance for folks to meet
Theyll be laughing and singing, music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, pa
Baltimore in dc now
Dont forget the motor city
On the streets of brazil
Back in the ussr
No matter where you are
All we need is music, sweet music
Therell be music everywhere
Theyll be swinging, swaying, records playing
Dancing in the street, oh
It doesnt matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on every guy, grab a girl, everywhere, around the world
Theyll be dancing, dancing in the streets
Way down in l.a., everyday
Dancing in the streets
Cross in china too
Me and you
Dancing in the street
Dont you know
Theyll be dancing
Dancing in the street (repeat)

song performed by by David BowieReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Shades of Grey

Black is the color of the night
Grey is the shadow of you I sight
White is the shirt you wear
Black is your suit I declare

White is the wall you lean against
Grey is our path I sensed
Black is the memory I lost
Black is the road we never crossed

Grey is the prospect of the day
Grey is the taxi driving away
Black is the truth to never find you
Black is everything I can't undo

Black is my room without light
White is my color of hope in spite
Grey is the circle around my heart
Black is the truth like a work of art

© 2011

poem by Kristina Louisa CarrReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Neighbours you would like to miss

I

The type of whites that camp out
on the sidewalk
frying their barbeque just there
with chops and sausage grilling,

enough for a huge feast,
talking loudly in order to inform
the whole neighbourhood
what they are saying

and with heavy beat music playing, partying
and dancing to early morning light
while their kindergarten kids
are pushing carts up and down
in the street, getting every
dog to bark all night long.

II

A bull of a black man
almost gigantic in size
who uses his pickup
to unload a huge black ox

in his back yard
and then slaughtering the thing
just there with it bellowing
to invite his ancestor ghosts to visit

the neighbourhood and his garden
while a witchdoctor is dancing
around the beast, singing and beating a drum
and then he tries to spit roast it
on a huge fire burning all the meat and inviting a squadron
of minibus taxi drivers to a feast of uneatable charcoal.

poem by Gert StrydomReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Black Crow

Theres a crow flying
Black and ragged
Tree to tree
Hes black as the highway thats leading me
Now hes diving down
To pick up on something shiny
I feel like that black crow
Flying
In a blue sky
I took a ferry to the highway
Then I drove to a pontoon plane
I took a plane to a taxi
And a taxi to a train
Ive been traveling so long
Howm I ever going to know my home
When I see it again
Im like a black crow flying
In a blue, blue sky
In search of love and music
My whole life has been
Illumination
Corruption
And diving, diving, diving, diving.
Diving down to pick up on every shiny thing
Just like that black crow flying
In a blue sky
I looked at the morning
After being up all night
I looked at my haggard face in the bathroom light
I looked out the window
And I saw that ragged soul take flight
I saw a back crow flying
In a blue sky
Oh Im like a black crow flying
In a blue sky

song performed by by Joni MitchellReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Black and White (Stream XV)

I have black thoughts,
It is a black day,
A day when the black dog
Coal black, hovers at my shoulder.
I shoulder the burden.
Deep in the black hole.
Black as a black hearted night.
Negative.
Stark.
Black and white.
I do not call my good days white days.
Why?
Or have white thoughts
On a white day,
When the white dog
Pure white sits upon my shoulder.
Which is unburdened.
Out of the pit,
Luxuriating in the bright white light;
White as the purest snow.
Positive.
For we live in a too white world
Maybe we should have grey days,
And light days.
Why should Black be negative and White poitive?


For me then, today is a grey day.
Maybe tomorrow will be a light day.


Copyright P H Brookes 2012

poem by Paul BrookesReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

John, I'm Only Dancing Again (1974 Single)

Dancing
I'm having so much love
Dancing
Too bad my back had gone
Dancing
Boogie down with daddy now
I'd give my house in the country
If you'd slept it's so funky
Music
I'm dancing in the street
Ooh music
I've torn the shoes from my feet
Romancing
It's got me dirty and sweet
It's got me reeling and rocking
Won't you let the slender thing in
Rolling
I think it's all I can do
Rolling
Just got me feeling you too
Rolling
Get a little take a little
Get a little back
Jumping John the great goose is gone
Got a lion in my hand
Got a Charlie on my back
John
I'm only dancing
She turns me on
I'm only dancing
She turns me on
Don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
I'm only dancing
Dancing
Have you heard the news
Dancing
President has got the blues
Dancing
I tell you comfortably
If he gives it to you
He'd better take it from me
Said Sir
I pick up the bones
Said Sir
Leave the numbers alone
Said Sire
Get off your telephone
Look the people in the eye
Tell them my oh my
Let your backbone slide
Buddy whistle and cry
John
I'm only dancing
She turns me on
I'm only dancing
She turns me on
I'm only dancing
I've lost my feet
Don't get me wrong
I'm off on my way
I'm only dancing
Please dance with me
I'm only dancing
Please dance with me
I'm only dancing
Dancing
I'm only
Dancing
I'm only
Dancing
I'm only

song performed by by David BowieReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

The Blues In Black And White

the writing is on the wall, baby
We're different as day and night
But I guess that I refused to face it
The blues in black and white
When I got home I knew, baby
Something was wrong tonight
When I found the note you wrote ,it gave
The blues in black and white
CHORUS
Color my world without you in it
And the future dont look too bright
Darlin' its not a pretty picture
The blues in black and white
Since you've been gone I'm going crazy
I've got to get on with my life
Maybe I'll write a book and call it
The blues in black and white
repeat chorus

song performed by by Randy TravisReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Waiting for the bus.....(for Karen)

The market place was closin'
my feet were nearly frozen
I tried to see the bus come through the snow.
But even though I strained
no bus ever came
and I wished I were in bed, that night,
back home

Then behold, we saw a Taxi
Mother said 'oh should we,
baby's cold, ain't that what money's for? '
So she held up a free hand
and hailed that taxi man.
I'd never been in a taxi cab before.

It was big and bright and black,
and we sat up at the back,
the man who drove it was so very nice.
I snuggled up to mum
She said ‘you warmer hon? '
And I fell fast asleep upon her lap.

It was the best ride I'd ever had
in that black taxi cab.
I thought my mum
the best that there could be!
When I was three
and she hailed a cab for me.

poem by Ruth WaltersReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

I Dance..Without Music

Life is a dance which leads each one of us to the ultimate truth-Death. Here I am traveling towards my coffin, not walking but dancing. Without music, without obliged to any defined rhythm, I am inching towards it, towards my coffin. Throughout my dancing once again I am watching everything...

I am dancing without music
Dancing without definite steps
Without a rhythm and melody
Dancing towards the coffin

Daylight creeping away streets
Through the deserted ferries
Windless deserts and silence
I am dancing without music

Through colorless dreams
Through unspoken whispers
Through cemeteries
I am dancing without music

I am dancing without music
Dancing without definite steps
without a rhythm and melody
Dancing towards the coffin

Without wearing glass shoes
Without a stockings
Without feeling bleeding feet
I am dancing without music

Through burned gardens
Through spring never visited valleys
Through silence filled emptiness
I am dancing without music

I am dancing without music
Dancing without definite steps
Without a rhythm and melody
Dancing towards the coffin

poem by Raj ThampiReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share

Black and White and Red

Black and White
And Red I see
Demons they do
Torture me
Black and White
And Red all day
The voices are real
Or so they say
Black and White
And Red abound
I'm lost I call
I'm never found
Black and White
And Red flow out
I scream but you
Don't hear me shout
Black and White
And Red so bright
Exit blood and
Enter light
Black and White
And Red of death
Now I breathe
My final breath

poem by Anonymous GhurlReport problemRelated quotes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!

Share