Roads in Disrepair
©1984 Andrew Calhoun, recorded on The Gates of Love and Where Blue Meets Blue.
Written in a laundry room on Jarvis Street in Chicago in 1984, in 40 minutes. But two lines that took 15 years to fix.
Spring has come again
And the men are upholding their manhood
And the dogs are going to the dogs
We haven't spoken in a month
The neighborhood is changing a little
Some roads are in disrepair
Spring has come again
Marcia goes on saying she can't go on
Tyler's tending bar
Hugh and Cindy are getting a divorce
and another car
We haven't spoken in seven weeks
We haven't gotten that little dinner thing going
Summer's comin' in
Tulips gone already
Hey, pretty Betty
Kiss me like you done before
Pick that bean
Bang that door with the broken screen
Bang that door with the broken screen
Summer's hot and summer's hummin'
Look out now, your new friend's comin'
Tan and sandy man and woman
There's time to break, and make amends
And make it while the summer ends
Autumn is a friendly time
Sweaters, almonds, apple wine
Old people praying in the park
Children playing after dark
Teacher goin' back to work
Some roads are in disrepair
First snow is something new
To the baby Donald who
Sits in a stroller, warm and young
While Mommy smiles and points and talks
"See the snowflake on my tongue"
Weary days and winter walks
Winter brings the solemn fear
Merciless, glorious and real
I lost my job on the subway line,
Finished up the apple wine
We haven't talked in a half a yea
Winter sets the blade in me
I cannot fight its currency
I caught myself the Asian flu
Lost myself a day or two
Caught myself still loving you
Spring is comin' soon
First buds popping in the trees
Green shoots pokin' through dead leaves
Damnation, and the smell of ham
Come find me, I am where I am
Come find me, I am where I am
And when I called her, she was home
And she was fine, but not alone
And I said, "I am glad for you"
I was proud and lonesome too
And Spring has come again
And the men are upholding their manhood
And the dogs are going to the dogs
We haven't spoken in a month
The neighborhood is changing a little
Some roads are in disrepair