As I was writing our Community Vlogcasts for Positive Actions this week, not knowing if I would get to go to work while waiting to hear if the teacher's strike would continue here in Morgan County, well... here in West Virginia..., all the news of unions, PEIA, teacher's salaries, health coverage, WV public employees, tax payers,... it all got me thinking about a little parody I prepared nearly five years ago.
Here is my revised version, now sadly #2 version, of American Pie,
utilizing a little liberty with the "levee" and hoping we all will start "thinkin' past tomorrow."
Sing along with
me. Come on....I know you know the melody!
I can still remember how that teacher used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those students dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But now May 8th makes me shiver
With every Facebook post I quiver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take more more ed-
itorial in the Morgan Mess
When I read about the other side
But something touched me deep inside
The day the teachers cried
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my School Board to the Levy
But the Levy was dry
And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high
Singing this'll be the day that they cry
This'll be the day that they cry
Did you vote for the Levy then
In the 50's it was when
Morgan County they began
Do you believe in your success
Can schools save us from the rest
And can you teach me how to do with less
'Cause I saw you spendin in the store
You both bought brand news shoes and more
Man, I want some of those too
I was a lonely tax payin' broncin buck
With bills and kids in a Suburban truck
But, I knew I was out of luck
The day the levy died
I started singin'
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my School Board to the Levy
But the Levy was dry
Banks left town, with others not far behind
Banks left town, with others not far behind
Singing this'll be the day that they cry
This'll be the day that they cry
For five decades, we've been on our own
Now, May and his teachers strikin' all alone
But that's not how it might soon be
With the levy gone jobs at the Dairy Queen
will be all our kids have seen
Said a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the King was looking down
And Brooks tried again to steal His thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
Kate's verdict was returned
And while Lenin read a book on Marx
The band still practiced in the park
Parents sang dirges in the dark
The day the levy dies
We'll be singing...
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my School Board to the levy
But the Levy was dry
And the ole Sheetz boys are drinkin' coffee and high
Singing this'll be the day that they cry
This'll be the day that they cry
I met a mom who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I too have bills at the sacred store
Where my kids need fed like yours before
But the man there said the levy wouldn't pay
And in the streets the students screamed
The teachers cried, and the parents dreamed
But not a word was spoken
School buildings all were broken
And the three men I admire the most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the levy died
And they were singing
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Have we learned anything?
With the Levy gone dry?
And the ole Sheetz boys still drinkin' coffee and high
Singing this'll be the day that they cry
This'll be the day that they cry
