Roads in Disrepair

©1984 Andrew Calhoun, recorded on Gates of Love and on Where Blue Meets Blue

This is one of my most requested songs. Wrote it in a laundry room on Jarvis Street in Chicago in 1984, in 40 minutes. But there were two lines that took me 15 years to fix. The guitar accompaniment is unique in my repertoire, different behind each verse, 240 hours of arranging time.


Spring has come again
And the men are upholding their manhood
And the dogs are going to the dogs
We haven't spoken in a month
The neighborhood is changing a little
Some roads are in disrepair

Spring has come again
Marcia goes on saying she can't go on
Tyler's tending bar
Hugh and Cindy are getting a divorce and another car
We haven't spoken in seven weeks
We haven't gotten that little dinner thing going

Summer's comin' in
Tulips gone already
Hey, pretty Betty
Kiss me like you done before
Pick that bean
Bang that door with the broken screen
Bang that door with the broken screen

Summer's hot and summer's hummin'
Look out now, your new friend's comin'
Tan and sandy man and woman
There's time to break, and make amends

And make it while the summer ends
Autumn is a friendly time
Sweaters, almonds, apple wine
Old people praying in the park
Children playing after dark
Teacher goin' back to work
Some roads are in disrepair

First snow is something new
To the baby Donald who
Sits in a stroller, warm and young
While Mommy smiles and points and talks
"See the snowflake on my tongue"
Weary days and winter walks

Winter brings the solemn fear
Merciless, glorious and real
I lost my job on the subway line, finished up the apple wine
We haven't talked in a half a year

Winter sets the blade in me
I cannot fight its currency
I caught myself the Asian flu
Lost myself a day or two
Caught myself still loving you

Spring is comin' soon
First buds popping in the trees
Green shoots pokin' through dead leaves
Damnation, and the smell of ham
Come find me, I am where I am
Come find me, I am where I am

And when I called her, she was home
Friendly, fine, but not alone
And I said, I am glad for you
I was proud and lonesome too
And Spring has come again


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