I’ve Played Old MacDonald—I’ve Played Dancing Queen

POETRY

I’ve Played Old MacDonald—I’ve Played Dancing Queen

Reflecting on life as a bar musician

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Oh, there were plenty of songs I’d refuse to play Turn up my nose, say no fucking way I’m not wasting my time with the popular stuff You play it and play it and it’s never enough ‘Just one more,’ they shout, ‘We want to bop,’ ‘You’ve had your fun,’ I would sneer as I stopped But here’s one thing I found, a thing that I found It’s taken a while, because I’m not profound I think I’m an artist and so conceitedly Always thought I was playing for me But I understand now, the reverse is true I don’t play for me, but for you

These days I play songs by Lennon, Diamond and Young I play them sober, I can play them half stung I see you singing along and nodding your heads You love this old stuff and my heart, it gets fed We cover the sixties, the seventies and more People that watch us, they know the score They know every word to most of our set If it makes them happy, then where’s the regret? ‘We just love you guys,’ they say at the end Another hand shaken, a back slapped, a new friend If they want another, well that’s OK too I don’t play for me, but for you

It’s a gift to hear how my notes can mend I watch them connect, a smile for a friend Or maybe they aren’t, and they’ve only just met It’s a first intimation, their first duet They stand and lead out onto the floor We’ll have a break later, let’s play some more Something upbeat, or something they’ll know We launch a fast medley, and then something slow But they’re still moving as if in a dream So we keep on playing, to stop would be mean When it’s joyful and playful, it’s not work for me While I play for you, not for me.

Someday this circus will all come to an end Not certain just where, not sure just when Not sure who will be there to see our last show Not sure if anyone will miss us at all when we go That’s OK because the songs will remain Played by another, who plays kind of the same A mind with dreams of travelling far A fresh set of hands on this old guitar Music is like a road without end One we travel along, with songs as our friends One thing I know will always be true I didn’t play for me, but for you.

I used to be terrible musical snob, but had an epiphany a few years ago. Somehow I finally understood, if a song makes someone happy, and I can play then why not? It’s only a couple of minutes out of my life, and it’s worth it all to see the smile it always brings.