Michael Gutierrez-May

Brooklyn for Beginners I learned more about DUMBO than I did in the movies On a stroll through Williamsburg I looked up Park Slope, I searched Prospect Park I kept going and going and going They need to write a book called Brooklyn for Beginners Visitors are easily lost On the six line, on the eight line, take a bus from Manhattan Brooklyn for Beginners! We have Brooklyn to thank for the Dodgers For Brillo pads and the Cardboard box For the last 20 years, oh so much music: My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Panic at the Disco, Beastie Boys! I could keep going and going and going. They need to write a book called Brooklyn for Beginners Visitors are easily lost. On the six line, on the eight line, all the way to Coney Island Brooklyn for Beginners! We have Neil Diamond to thank for Brooklyn Roads We have Streisand to thank for People Brooklyn keeps giving, the world keeps taking Brooklyn keeps giving, the world keeps taking Do you want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge? It’s always for sale!

Drifting To The Right He’s hurting and he’s angry, he’s looking for a fight He’s losing his perspective and drifting to the right Drifting to the right, drifting to the right, drifting away I last talked to him in high school, he was a party guy He had several different girlfriends, he was almost always high But he was different when we spoke on the telephone last night Slowly, slowly, slowly drifting to the right Drifting to the right, drifting to the right, drifting away His businesses went bankrupt in the housing industry Now he’s selling insurance and building equity He’s starting to do pretty well but he’s not really happy Slowly, slowly, slowly drifting to the right Drifting to the right, drifting to the right, drifting away Lost in the new America, can’t talk to his wife Losing his perspective, looking for a fight Can I help him with his anger, let him know he’ll be all right Stop the drifting, drifting to the right Drifting to the right, drifting to the right, drifting away.

I’m A Realist I’ve been here since the beginning, you will hopefully outlive me And at times life has been hard, nothing ever has been free. If I had a guiding thought I would say never run away No matter what mistakes are made, you honor me that way. Chorus: People love and people die, people sometimes hide away I’m still standing, I’m still moving, I will be here for you always But I’m a realist, I will be gone someday. I’ve done a lot of traveling, not as much as I would like I’ve been able to be here this long because I have been wise If I knew ahead of time I would still be here today You and I would have traveled more across the USA. (chorus) I still read a lot, you know, watch my programs on TV And even if the news is not good, it’s still interesting to me I’m a realist, it doesn’t worry me. (chorus to end)

Dream Dream, dream a little dream Take me on a little trip on a contented cloud Drop me off someplace nice Come back in a little while Dream, move me in and out Show me something that could never happen Walk across the dream world My cloud will wait for me Walk in three quarter time Dream, don’t scare me tonight Please be reassuring So much else could go so wrong Don’t disappear and leave no trace when I awake Be a contented dream in a peaceful place Dream

Head Full of Garbage Air Force veteran, 14 years Left the military for another career Married, three kids, California girl Ran a pool service business, Fowler’s World “ The storm is coming”, she was part of the throng “Nothing will stop us, three million strong.” At the US Capitol, a woman dies Head full of garbage bullshit and lies She supported Obama, then drifted to Trump And all of his lies, she just ate them up “The election was stolen, the election was rigged.” “It’s there on the Simpsons, they’re stealing our kids” “I don’t wear a mask, it’s all just a hoax” “Why would they stop at stealing your votes?” At the US Capitol, a woman dies Head full of garbage, bullshit and lies She was part of a threesome, love all around The force of one bullet threw her to the ground A riot dispersed with one deadly sound At the US Capitol, a woman dies Head full of garbage, bullshit and lies Head full of lies.

Never Again It was on the porch from Amazon, a small atomic bomb I ordered atomic fireballs, imagine my aplomb! Complaining got me nowhere, I knew what I must do, I’m calling you know who Never again! Tracked to package to its source Never again! Blew them right off their high horse Don’t make a fuss, just call us, never again consulting! We made a big mistake they said, we charged your credit card We really didn’t mean it but refunding you is hard I complained, they didn’t listen, I knew what I should do I’m calling you know who. Never again! Hacked their server into shreds! Never again! Paid me back a dividend! Don’t make a fuss, just call us, never again consulting. We counted all the votes, they said, no need for a recount I stood all day and tried to vote and finally wore out. I thought about complaining, would be the civic thing to do But then, I called you know who! Never again! A Million people in the streets! Never again! Getting rid of that deadbeat! You made a fuss, but don’t forget to call us (If you need us) Never again consulting! Never again consulting

Cadillac Dreams It was getting late and it all seemed wrong Sonny was waiting until Tammy came along She said she would be there, promised to be back Pull up beside him in her black Cadillac Got that car at an auction sale At the time Tammy bought it, it s color was pale But that wouldn’t do so she painted it black Sonny helped her paint it and put on shellac Chorus: Life ain’t always what it seems, high high hopes and Cadillac dreams Do you know what you know as a matter of fact? She’s gone missing in her black Cadillac Sonny sent a text in her direction Hoping the message would return with affection The message went unanswered for a long, long time Then Sonny heard a beep, Tammy’s on the line! (chorus) This is Tammy’s husband Charlie, who is this? Sonny hoped it wouldn’t come to this Sonny said Tammy had an appointment at two, please forward the message But thought who’s fooling who Charlie said Tammy wouldn’t need that appointment She’s gone missing, hope you’re not disappointed Sonny knew what he meant by that She’s not pulling up in her black Cadillac (chorus to end)

It Is What It Is Chorus: It is what it is Wouldn’t be if it wasn’t Couldn’t be if it can’t It is what it is. Brushfires in Oregon, brushfires in Washington Orange skies, orange days, orange nights Don’t want to cause panic, don’t want a stock market crash Just want to ignore it, it will all go away (chorus) Teenagers with guns, armed men in caravans Boat parades, go Trump go Let’s shoot a protestor, their lives don’t matter that much Our livelihoods matter, support our police (chorus) No time for discussion, no room for reasoning Black and White, no room for the gray He might be offensive, he might tell a lie or two or three He is who we need and he’s never wrong (chorus to end)

Imaginary Tomato I threw an imaginary tomato at the Trump International Hotel I don’t care much for that president; he can go to Hell! But all my frustration, my indignation finds its way back to you And it makes us both uncomfortable: I don’t know what to do Oh, oh, oh, imaginary tomato And I’m really, really frustrated with my fellow Democrats They’re telling me I can’t do this, telling me I can’t do that And all my confusion, my disillusion winds up in your lap And I’m a crying sniveling baby who really needs a nap. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, imaginary tomato! Even an army of deadly nightshades couldn’t straighten this thing out All the vegetables in my garden couldn’t squash this sour Kraut And all my intention, all my invention gets tangles up with you If there’s hope for us, it’s on the next bus that’s pulling through Oh,oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh,oh, imaginary tomato