The man with the velvet collar

and the impressive skills on the piano

once sang a song for me

across the white crested waves

between the past

in the undiscovered Bronx

and my home in Bicester

and I could not help but be saved

 

I put a dime in the juke box

and I believed all what the Piano Man sang

about the ups and downs of a life well lived

and how at times the girl gets away

but if your fortunate enough

the one who loves you poor

will still love you when you are rich

and no matter the state you are in.

 

The songs that the Piano Man sang

as I changed my clothes

across the years and

I took his advice and I moved on out

were not the only lyrics I praised

but there is something special about

the call of Midnight’s beating heart

that takes me back to the soul of 42^nd Street.

 

He turns up the collar and leaves

me dreaming of throwing history

onto the fire

but I refuse to throw the memories

of the Piano Man playing forever

for the woman he loves

and wishing in some small part

that I could do the same.

 

For keeping the faith, Thank you Billy Joel.

Ian D. Hall 2015