T.V. Talkin' Song
One time in London I’d gone out for a walk
Past the place called a-Hyde park where people talk
‘Bout all kinds of different gods– they have their point of view–
To anyone passing by, ’n’ that’s who they’re talking to.
There was someone on the platform talkin’ to the folks
About the T.V. god and all the pain that it invokes.
“It’s too bright a light,” he said, “For anybody’s eyes,
If you’ve never seen one it’s a blessing in disguise.”
I moved in closer, got up on my toes -
Two men in front of me were coming to blows -
The man was saying something 'bout children when they’re young
Being sacrificed to it while lullabies are bein’ sung.
“The news of the day is on all the time,
All the latest gossip, all the latest rhyme.
Your mind is your temple, keep it beautiful and free,
Don’t let an egg get laid in it by something you can’t see.”
“Pray for peace!” he said– you could feel it in the crowd –
My thoughts began to wander, but his voice was ringing loud.
“It will destroy your family, your happy home is gone -
No one can protect you from it once you turn it on.”
“It will lead you into some strange pursuits,
Lead you to the land of forbidden fruits.
It will scramble up your head and drag your brain about,
Sometimes you got to do like Elvis did and shoot the damn thing out.”
“It’s all been designed,” he said, “To make you lose your mind,
And when you go back to find it, there’s nothin’ there to find.
Every time you look at it, your situation’s worse -
If you feel it grabbing out for you, send for the nurse.”
The crowd began to riot and they grabbed hold of the man -
There was pushing, there was shoving and everybody ran.
The T.V. crew was there to film it, they jumped right over me -
Later on that evening I watched it on T.V. . .
#AmericanWriters 1990
Liked or faved by...
