The Punchline and the Shin

Cinematic Storyteller Pop / Piano Rock (Think lounge singer 80's style)

[Intro, Melodic piano with a slight circus-style whimsical trill]

[Verse 1] 
Nineteen-seventy-six, I had a circus dream 
Exaggerated gestures, part of the Ringling team 
I blew my nose with flair, I gave it all I had 
They took my name and number—man, I wasn't half-bad 
But Florida never called, the phone just stayed still 
So I built a stage in Detroit, by the force of my will 
Two hours of stories in a mid-rise flat 
While my mother threw pennies... yeah, it was tragic like that.

[Chorus] 
But I kept on writing, kept on searching for the light
 Down at the Delta Lady on a Tuesday night 
Five minutes of silence, then a laugh or two 
That’s the spark that carries a comic through 
From the basement stage to the bright L.A. sun 
I was chasing the funny, I was having my fun.

[Verse 2] 
There was a girl named Bunny, a heckler in the crowd 
The drinks made her brave and the laughs made her loud 
I said, "Take me home and hurt me," like a Woody Allen line 
She said, "Why wait?" and kicked me square in the shin 
(Ouch! That’s gonna leave a mark!) 
I took that bruise and turned it into gold 
Told that story 'til it never got old 
Three months in and I’m getting a check 
The Delta Lady put a professional medal 'round my neck.

[Bridge] 
I saw the big names, I shared the same air Dangerfield,
Rivers—yeah, I was right there 
Sold a joke, shared a smoke, opened for the best 
But life has a way of putting the punchline to rest 
L.A. was a mountain, then the family came 
Then a tragedy in Utah changed the whole game 
The road got long, and the lights started to dim 
But I wouldn’t trade a single mile for a whim.

[Verse 3] 
From an Avon Park chorus to the Senior Games 
Three hundred venues, too many to name 
I stood at the banquet, giving it one last go 
When my wife started heckling from the very front row 
A fitting final nail in the comedy box 
Just a man and a microphone and a few hard knocks.

[Chorus] 
Yeah, I kept on writing, kept on searching for the light 
From the Delta Lady to the middle of the night 
Five minutes of silence, then a laugh or two 
That’s the spark that carried this comic through 
From the circus dream to the setting sun 
I was chasing the funny... and damn, it was fun!

[Outro] 
Regrets? 
I had a few... 
But I made the memories, and I made the friends 
And that’s how the comedy story...
 (Wait for it...)
That's how it ends. 
[Big Final Chord.] 
(Thank you! You’ve been a great crowd!)
...and the curtains close...
[End]

2478/7500

[Intro, Melodic piano with a slight circus-style whimsical trill] [Verse 1] Nineteen-seventy-six, I had a circus dream Exaggerated gestures, part of the Ringling team I blew my nose with flair, I gave it all I had They took my name and number—man, I wasn't half-bad But Florida never called, the phone just stayed still So I built a stage in Detroit, by the force of my will Two hours of stories in a mid-rise flat While my mother threw pennies... yeah, it was tragic like that. [Chorus] But I kept on writing, kept on searching for the light Down at the Delta Lady on a Tuesday night Five minutes of silence, then a laugh or two That’s the spark that carries a comic through From the basement stage to the bright L.A. sun I was chasing the funny, I was having my fun. [Verse 2] There was a girl named Bunny, a heckler in the crowd The drinks made her brave and the laughs made her loud I said, "Take me home and hurt me," like a Woody Allen line She said, "Why wait?" and kicked me square in the shin (Ouch! That’s gonna leave a mark!) I took that bruise and turned it into gold Told that story 'til it never got old Three months in and I’m getting a check The Delta Lady put a professional medal 'round my neck. [Bridge] I saw the big names, I shared the same air Dangerfield, Rivers—yeah, I was right there Sold a joke, shared a smoke, opened for the best But life has a way of putting the punchline to rest L.A. was a mountain, then the family came Then a tragedy in Utah changed the whole game The road got long, and the lights started to dim But I wouldn’t trade a single mile for a whim. [Verse 3] From an Avon Park chorus to the Senior Games Three hundred venues, too many to name I stood at the banquet, giving it one last go When my wife started heckling from the very front row A fitting final nail in the comedy box Just a man and a microphone and a few hard knocks. [Chorus] Yeah, I kept on writing, kept on searching for the light From the Delta Lady to the middle of the night Five minutes of silence, then a laugh or two That’s the spark that carried this comic through From the circus dream to the setting sun I was chasing the funny... and damn, it was fun! [Outro] Regrets? I had a few... But I made the memories, and I made the friends And that’s how the comedy story... (Wait for it...) That's how it ends. [Big Final Chord.] (Thank you! You’ve been a great crowd!) ...and the curtains close... [End]

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