Rock 'n' Roll - I Wish.
I Wish I could have been there, the day the music died,
and spent the years before then
with Buddy and the others by my side.
It's not I'd want to go the way
that took those young men out of life,
but the thought of having known them all,
would mean my life was spent
in witness of their skill and growth
and all their gained success had meant.
The Winter Tour was not a thing that Buddy chose to do,
but he did it of necessity,
when the coach broke down they flew.
I wish I could have had the chance
to be there, in those early, hectic days,
to see them all in concert,
all those young men on the stage.
Sam Cooke, J.P., Ritchie, Fats and Dion, Buddy knew
Eddie and The Platters... they all knew The Drifters too.
Pioneers of a music, be it solo, group or band,
unlike any other, which some folk could not understand.
Many years have passed but their music still lives on,
although they're not forgotten and other friends have gone
to meet them in another plane...
one day I'll join that throng.
June will lead the gospel choir, Johnny singing bass.
Waylon's there and Jesse, in Fury's Wondrous Place.
Gene has had his leg fixed but holds it straight and stiff,
he keeps it as a trade mark, like Elvis Aaron's quiff.
Rick will throw a Garden Party and Ray will play the keys,
Lennon sings 'Give Peace a Chance',
I sure know that's bound to please.
It's wrong to say the music died
when the plane went down that fateful day,
we were robbed of youthful talent - true,
but their music's here to stay.
Their music gave me pleasure
in the springtime of my youth,
and, even now, through autumn eyes,
it still reveals a simple truth.
I know I have a talent, a vision and a dream,
not for me the music but a different creative theme.
It might not fire a generation, like Buddy chose to do
with unrelenting passion and the drive to follow through;
but it would reach those who want to have it all,
I know that much is true.
What's missing is the passion, the reason and the 'why',
to use the talent with effect before time slips swiftly by
and not to go and meet them unfulfilled and ever wishing,
to take my music with me because I had no passion.
I wish that I could find it, the passion which I crave
to give meaning to this empty life before I'm in my grave.
If that could happen in my time I'd feel my life well spent.
not on wishing, but with passion
which was truly heaven sent.
I wish.
© Copyright April 2006 Kenneth G Woolcock
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