DanMargarita.com

I'm one of those people who clings to every last ounce of summer, wearing the lightest clothes possible for as long as possible, and I just don't accept that I should be seeing Christmas Carol CD's the first week of October.

Wasn't it just Labor Day?

It occurred to me that fall is sort of the yellow traffic light of the seasons. Spring and summer are the green light, with the blossoming leaves and green grass meant to be enjoyed by all. Fall as I say, is the yellow light, which appropriately matches the foliage, in that we better hurry and enjoy it because the dreaded red light, winter, is about to be upon us and stop us in our tracks. The harsh red light tells us "stop!" and like with winter your paralyzed, your movements limited until the soothing spring/summer green comes along.

Yet, I'm reminded of the lamenting of summer by early Rock & Roll legend Eddie Cochran in his most famous song, 1958's Summertime Blues . Let's take a look at the song and see if we can figure out what was bothering Mr. Cochran. An internet search reveals several slightly differing lyrics depending on the source, so I?ll piece it together as best I can relying largely on memory.

I?m a-gonna raise a fuss, Im a-gonna raise a-holler
About a-workin? all summer just to try to earn a dollar

Ok, I don't know what the median income was in 1958, but surely he could've put away at least a dollar. Of course the cost of living was less, but still, he couldn't save 100 pennies? I'm even giving him the benefit of the doubt and taking into account the of paying taxes and other expenses.

Every time I call my baby and ask her for a date
My boss says ?No dice son, you gotta work late?

So, he's constantly working overtime and can't save a dollar? If the boss is always asking him to work late, shouldn't the boss consider hiring more help? Perhaps he's dating the boss's daughter and the boss is just trying to keep them apart. Why is he always asking her for a date when the boss is around?

(chorus) Sometimes I wonder what I'm a-gonna do
But there ain?t no cure for the summertime blues

What, you'd rather be in school?

Well my Mom and Papa told me "Son, you gotta earn some money
If you want to use the car to go ridin' next Sunday"

Fair enough. A car costs money to run with gas, oil, etc.

Well, I didn't go to work, told the boss I was sick
"Now you can't use the car 'cause you didn't work a lick"

I assume that's one of his parents telling him he can't use the car. The boss may be able to tell him he has to work late, but he's out of line telling him whether or not he can use his parent's car.

(chorus)Gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation
I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations

I don't know where he lives, but if he hasn't been able to save a dollar all summer, how can he afford to take a vacation and go to the United Nations? With the Cold War being at it's height, I don't think the representatives of the world's governments are likely to take the time to consider the problems that a high school kid has with summer. Let's hope they're more concerned about nuclear powers not incinerating each other.

I called my congressman and he said quote
"I'd like to help you son, but you're too young to vote"

Apparently he wasn?t paying too much attention in Civics Class or he would;'ve known that his congressman was in Washington D.C., not at the United Nations in New York City.

Well, it's time to go now. The leaves are starting to change colors and I want enjoy them before nature says "1-2-3 red light!"