THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

Well this will either be a laugh, or will totally bomb. So let's go.

A long time ago in a workplace far, far away, a young Keyser and his work buddy used to make up lyrics for C&W songs, as a laugh. We tried to include as many country cliches as possible (jail, beers, losing your woman, cheating on your woman, working hard for The Man for little pay... you get the drift).

I thought we could try that, as a collective.

We pick a classic country song and we take it in turn to write new lines, one at a time. So, I write line one and anyone tags in and writes line two. And on and on until we complete it. I'm suggesting we use George Jones' Good Year For The Roses - as well as being Great, it only has two verses and the chorus.

The rules:
No criticsm of someone's effort; each is as valid as the next, UNLESS IT DOESN'T SCAN, in which case it gets rejected.
There are no other rules. You get kudos for humour and cliche count.

Here's the lyrics, as a guide. Plus a link to Good Ol' George singing it in great style on the You Tubes.

I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick on the cigarettes there in the ashtray
Lyin' cold the way you left 'em, but at least your lips caressed them while you packed
Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee that you poured and didn't drink
But at least you thought you wanted it, that's so much more than I can say for me

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgvBwCiCzy0

I'll go first, in the next post.

_________________
I don't need your ill-informed, half-baked, idiotic opinions. I have plenty of those myself.

Line 1

When I lost my job in Tucson, my girl left with my buddy - and my pick-up

_________________
I don't need your ill-informed, half-baked, idiotic opinions. I have plenty of those myself.

Shows how much I know, I thought it was Elvis’s song.

That doesn't scan - rejected.

_________________
APL Champion 2018 + 2025
APL Hall of Fame Champion 2024 + 2025
140 grounds - 78/92

'Can I expect my team to stay in the Championship when they have to train at a school when the weather is bad?'
'Every year we’re in League 1 is a year too long'
Pete W

So I drank away the hurtin', torched his trailer, shot her dog, and headed west,

_________________
APL Champion 2018 + 2025
APL Hall of Fame Champion 2024 + 2025
140 grounds - 78/92

'Can I expect my team to stay in the Championship when they have to train at a school when the weather is bad?'
'Every year we’re in League 1 is a year too long'
Pete W

With nuthin' but an empty bottle to wash away ma' pain

_________________
They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

Good work guys! With the line below we've finished the first verse. Chorus next.

When I lost my job in Tucson, my girl left with my buddy - and my pick-up,
So I drank away the hurtin', torched his trailer, shot her dog, and headed west,
With nuthin' but an empty bottle to wash away ma' pain
But they stopped my on the County Line and I spent the evenin' in the local jail

_________________
I don't need your ill-informed, half-baked, idiotic opinions. I have plenty of those myself.

A'm a headin' back to mama, I know there's lovin' there

_________________
They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

If we get this done, I'll set it to music, record it in my studio, and put it up online.

_________________
They say don't kick a man when he's down. Show me a better time.

I was hoping you'd do that.

_________________
I don't need your ill-informed, half-baked, idiotic opinions. I have plenty of those myself.