Lyr Req: Buddy's Laundry

Subject: Buddy's Laundry
From: GUEST,Sir Roger at Work
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 08:46 AM

There is a poem entitled "Buddy's Laundry" about the fact that Buddy Holly took his last flight mainly to get to the next town early enough to do his laundry before the evning show. Does anyone have the words and know who wrote it? I would like to use it on Tuesday when we have our Buddy Holly theme night on the 45th anniversary of his death.

Also, has anyone come across another poem entitled something like "the rock n roll museum of death"?. It takes the form of a guide leading you through the aforesaid museum and pointing out the various exhibits. I've only heard it once in a club so don't know anymore


R

Subject: RE: Buddy's Laundry
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 02:16 PM

Help?

Subject: Lyr Add: PLEASE DON'T GET ON THE PLANE (H Andrews)
From: harvey andrews
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 02:35 PM

Sorry, can't help with that one. Is it really 45 years since that dreadful day?

PLEASE DON'T GET ON THE PLANE
Harvey Andrews

CHORUS: Please don't get on the plane.
It's cold and the snow's so thick in the air.
Please don't get on the plane.
See, the band's on the bus and it's just over there.
And yes, I know that you're tired,
So you hired it to fly on ahead of the gang,
But please don't get on the plane.
Take your time like the words of the song
You just sang.

VERSE: Maria Elena's alone in New York.
She can't sleep well tonight.
And Jerry and Joe say the Crickets'll go
Back together, all right.
And there's a boy in the U.K.
Who's growing up okay, and singing your songs
But he's only 15; he's not seen very much
And he needs you along.

Big Bopper just roared
At the claim that he scored
In the dance hall last night,
And Ritchie's too shy.
He won't try, though he says
That the next gig he might.
And now the pilot's on board,
And he just can't afford
Not to take on the job;
And you're thinking you've come a long way
Since the days of Buddy and Bob.

Now you're moving on out;
You're beginning to roll.
But why can't you see
There's a boy in the snow
Who's saying, "Don't go.
Don't go and leave me."
And now he's shouting and screaming,
Past fifty and dreaming
Of yesterday when
And he wakes with a start
And his heart's like a hammer
And he's 15 again…saying: CHORUS

Subject: RE: Buddy's Laundry
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 04:47 PM

That was great.

Yes, 45 years. Do you think that they are waiting for 50 before they release all the overdubbed stuff free of all the added crap. There isn't even a proper remastered CD collection of the all the stuff that was released on vinyl let alone the bootleg material, outakes, alternate versions etc. I know that there was loads of bickering amongst his wife, family, manager and others that held it up for a long time but most of them are dead now so why can't it all be released now.

R

Subject: RE: Buddy's Laundry
From: harvey andrews
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 07:07 PM

I think because maria Elena is still in charge.A bit like Yoko.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Buddy's Laundry
From: GUEST,sir roger at work
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:26 AM

I'm pretty sure that the original poem was published in the Guardian or Observer although I can't find it in an archive search of either.

Have emailed the Guardian Arts editor in the hope of getting some information.

R

Subject: Lyr Add: BUDDY'S LAUNDRY (Martin Newell)
From: GUEST,sir roger (cookieless)
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:30 PM

I've found it!!

It was published in the Independent on the 40th anniversary ie 1999. I must have cut it out and stored it away in a file - strange because I don't take the Independent.

It is written by Martin Newell and, if you are interested, it goes:

He wanted to get his laundry done
Ran out of shirts and things like that
Wanted to sleep in a bed that night
The reason that he took that flight.

The real reason that Buddy died
Is most discussed in touring vans
By tired musicians on the run:
He wanted to get his laundry done

You don't wanna wake up grubby, cold
Crick-in-your neck on a fuggy bus
Missing the missus/daughter/son
No, what you need is your laundry done

And they never tell you in the mags
What any working heart-throb knows;
The ratio of gigs to pants,
It sort of kills the whole romance.

So half-way through the average tour,
The interviews, the jokes, the drink,
they're very nice and all of that
But what you crave is a laundromat.

The brilliant songs and banging set
Hide dirty, pissed-off, homesick boys.
An extra date on the "final" leg
For the goose that laid that golden egg.

And in the end you'll hijack time
Take a plane on a dicey night
With bucket loo and a plywood seat
just to escape the whiff of feet.

And so the reason Buddy died
Among those theories going on
Musicians often point to one:
He wanted to get his laundry done.

R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Buddy's Laundry
From: GUEST,sir roger at work
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 04:29 AM

for anyone interested, the other poem I was seeking is apparently called "The rock and Roll Hall of Death" and is by comedian Mich Benn who appears on BBc radio 4 quite a lot. his website is at www.mitchbenn.com/

R