FIRST DANCE/LAST DANCE (SONG FOR DAVID IPPOLITO)
There’s a couple hundred people up on the hill
dozens more strolling by
a sweet teeny tiny little one year old
catches the guitar man’s eye
looks like she learned how to walk last week
she’s babbling her own brand of baby speak
she’s wigging and giggling
bopping up and down
slowly slowly
she turns herself around
Now she’s dancing her very first dance
look at her swing and sway
her helicopter parents are hovering
three feet away
the guitar man mesmerizes her
she loves to watch him sing and play
now she’s dancing her very first dance
in Central Park on a Saturday
Here comes a man in a morning coat
with a woman in a long white dress
they just stepped out of the Boat House
where they both said, “I do,” I guess
now they’ve stumbled upon the guitar man
who instantly becomes their wedding band
the people on the hill join him in song
as the newlyweds dance along
Now they’re dancing their very first dance
as husband and wife today
hundreds of strangers sing an Elvis tune
they don’t know all the words
but that’s OK
You’ve got to admit this is much more fun
than tossing some bouquet
now they’re dancing their very first dance
in Central Park on a Saturday
Saturday afternoon is the only time
that this can happen
you’re in luck if the sun is shining
and it doesn’t rain ‘cause then
people from all over the world are here
they’re laughing and they’re clapping
they come together to sing
with the guitar man
again and again and again and again
[if not for the pandemic this would
have been David’s 28th year]
He brought the Beatles to America
brought the Rolling Stones too
he touched the lives of millions
that’s what visionaries do
now he’s sitting in a wheelchair over there
how he loves the city, the city air
being part of the people on the hill
just look at him, through sheer will
He’s dancing his very last dance
look at him swing and sway
lifted by the power of music
as his friend David plays
oh Sid, you influenced the planet
in a most remarkable way
now he’s dancing his very last dance
in Central Park on a Saturday
Maybe this is your first dance
maybe this is your last
maybe you like a slow fox trot
maybe you like it real fast
when you hear the guitar man playing
that is your cue
the world is calling
she wants to dance with you
Oh everybody let’s dance
let’s swing and let’s sway
music has brought us together
to celebrate the day
oh David you inspire us
we love to watch you sing and play
oh how I love the summer
Central Park and these —
oh how I love the summer
Central Park
and these Saturdays . . .
Credits:
Christine Lavin: voice and guitar
Steve Doyle: bass
David Ippolito: 2nd guitar and harmony
Robin Batteau: violin