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Reggae Rambling

2 June 2005



Potholes State Park
Washington

This is a lovely park on the Potholes Reservoir. The campground is laid out in rounds, with sites lined up like the spokes of a wheel. Surrounding each wheel is a thin stately wall of 90 foot poplars, planted 3 feet apart. Manicured lawn. Lots of shade. There's nothing wild about this place.

Looks like the estate of a Roman Emperor. Very peaceful. Hardly anyone here. Everybody's probably down at the Coliseum, feeding Christians to the lions.

Okay, let's face it.

After a long day or so, driving is boring. Thank God for satellite radio. I've been listening to a lot of the Reggae channel. It was bound to happen. I mean, how much public radio can you stand? Anyway, that happy beat has gotten into my bones, and as the miles slid by I began to hear odd lyrics in my inner ear. Lyrics that had nothing to do (I think) with those being sung.

Finally this morning I wrote them down.

So here's a retired redneck fireman's version of a reggae song. Maybe you just had to be here. It has ended up as a sort of courting song, after several wrong turns. Hope you like it.

If possible, read it with any regular reggae beat turned down low in the background. If one is not available, well... that does not bear thinking about. If you begin to tap your feet, well, bless you.

My understanding of the "I and I" in Rastafarian lingo is that it refers to the two parts of a man. Body and soul. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I won't typecast a charming accent by trying to consistently cast it into type. Mon. But I've given a hint of it, and it certainly belongs in there.

What the hay. It sure beats "99 bottles of beer on the wall". Err...well, I think so, anyway.


-------------------------------------------------------

Without My Woman


     If she don't love me
     How can I-n-I be One?
     Wit'out my Woman
     How can I-n-I be One?


Woman she show me the shoulder.
Woman she show me the back of her head.
Now me bed is gettin' colder.
Was it sometin' that I said?


     If she don't love me
     How can I-n-I be One?
     Wit'out my Woman
     How can I-n-I be One?


God give a man two kinds of love.
He say "Let's see what you make of this, Mon."
(Ho, ho, ho) --
That woman she want a man take an oath
To give her both.
(Ho, ho, ho) -
To give her all of them both.


     But if she don't love me
     How can I-n-I be One?
     Wit'out my Woman
     How can I-n-I be One?


Sometime God want to give a man hope,
He just shove him a little more rope.
Woman she do the same.
Woman she play the game.


     But if she don't love me
     How can I-n-I be One?
     Wit'out my Woman
     How can I-n-I be One?


Woman, do you think I'm crazy?
Woman, do you think I want to be alone?
Woman, won't you amaze me?
Woman, won't you make I-n-I One?


     If she don't love me
     How can I-n-I be One?
     Wit'out my Woman
     How can I-n-I be One?

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Bad Bob, making the miles go by.



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