The following is a rap about Court Square, the park in the heart of downtown Memphis, that tells it like it is. The first verse was printed in my journal in 2003. The Center City Commission is going to hate me for this.
ODE TO COURT SQUARE: A DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS PARK
(c) 2005 Paul Ryburn. All rights reserved.
Boarded-up buildings
Don’t pay no rent!
“Look here, mayne,
Lemme get about fitty cent”
When I see bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
Bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
Sleeping on a park bench
All night and day
Liquor store
Is just a block away
From the bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
Bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
Drinking Mad Dog 20/20
With Crazy Homeless Sally.
Throw the bottle on the ground
Urinate in the alley.
With the bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
Bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
It shows no sign of stopping,
And this is why I’m rapping.
Lots of bums, lots of pigeons,
Lots of begging, lots of crapping.
Bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.
Bums. And pigeons.
Bums and pigeons.
Bums, bums, pigeons, pigeons,
Bums and pigeons.