thevalleyisavortex

The Valley Is a Vortex Alto, piano 2006

Hi. No I am not talking about Death Valley, or even Silicon Valley. I am talking about western Massachusetts, the place I grew up, and the place that remains dear to my heart. Anyone who has lived there knows that moving away is very difficult and more often than not, a person ends up moving back there, then moving away again, then back. I wrote this song for someone who was making his final exit ~ and starting a yoga studio in Chicago: bikramyogaevanston.com

I haven’t known you long but I’ve liked you a lot

You’re sweet and smart and strong and you don’t smoke too much...

But ever since I met you, you’ve said “I’m leaving this place.

I’m busting for Chicago and I won’t leave a trace.”

But the Valley is a vortex that could suck you back in

She’ll swallow you whole and not ask if you can swim

She’s full of lefties... (etc.)

We say, Good-bye, good luck….. and don’t come back!

You’re too tough a yoga teacher and you’re too straight a guy

You ask too many questions and then leave us wondering why

You tell us “Lose the water bottle” and then shout “Lock the knee”

You’re downright rude and vicious and can anyone say “feisty”

But the Valley is a vortex that could suck you back in

She’ll swallow you whole and not ask if you can swim

She’s full of New Age ninnies and anoints all-know-it no-ones

We say, Good-bye, good luck….. and don’t come back!

Your voice is too loud and you’ve got too much to say

Your music’s too expensive and we’re too cheap to pay

So go on somewhere new where you can give things a try

Go sing to city buildings and pigeons shitting from the sky.

But the Valley is a vortex that could suck you back in

She’ll swallow you whole and not ask if you can swim

She’s full of grungy greasers groping grossly for their grapes

We say, Good-bye, good luck….. and don’t come back!