UNTIL THAT DAY
My parents met on a New York subway
back before World War II
Dad said “Aren’t you one
of Judge Crawford’s daughters?”
Mom said . . . how do you do?”
That’s how the conversation started
above the clickity clack
on a train from the Bronx to Manhattan
when two 20-somethings began to chat
CHORUS:
Until that day
what can I say
they were two young commuters
long before there were computers
until that day
what can I say?
stars align when
love is kindly
on display
First thing they did after they married
was to move north 50 miles up
to live the life bucolic
drinking from the loving cup
the children came first one
then another and another
I am the fourth of nine
they did the best they knew how
to keep us kids in line
It was never easy
with a family that size
thank God for our Black Labrador Spanky
with his gentle, trusting eyes
often Spanky
was the only one in our house to be
loved by everyone . . . unconditionally
My oldest sister went to nursing school
my oldest brothers were college bound
soon I was too, but for much of time
I was lost until I found that
music gave me purpose
so I saved every dime
finally quit my day job
though it took me a long long time
The five younger kids all made their way
in science sports and history
one because a therapist
one became a journalist
he’s a bit of a mystery
most got married some divorced
some have kids who are now grown
I keep up with their exploits
cause they text me on my phone
Yes I’m riding the NYC subway
staring at this screen
I look up - there’s a little boy
pestering his mom
she looks all of 19
a lovely girl sporting earbuds
near a guy with earbuds too
they’re both staring at screens
and for all we know
she’s in Brooklyn
he Katmandu
I want to introduce them to each other
and say, “Kids, open your eyes
standing right beside you
might be a sweet surprise”
but I say nothing as this subway
just rumbles into the dark
every now and then I remember
as I disembark
that years ago
a conversation started
above the clickity clack
on a train from the Bronx to Manhattan
when two 20-somethings began to chat
on the day they started talking
everything was new
you gotta look up from your cell phone
so this can happen to you
CHORUS:
Until that day
what can I say?
they were two young commuters
long before there were computers
until that day
what can I say?
stars align when
love is kindly
on display
Credits:
Christine Lavin: vocal and guitar
Steve Doyle: bass
Brian Bauers: vocal harmony
Daniel Glass: percussion