A Family Tradition

"Classical Gas" was a family tune With horns and percussion,drums and bass too It played through my youth, down the stairs In a basement set up for a band, in their lair Trumpets,slingerlands, electric guitar Bass, tambourine,much music from afar From Beatles,Ike and Tina, Chicago too My brothers and friends played upwards till "two" Al Hirt, Al Green, the theme from "Hawaii-five- O" Was practiced for hours preparing for a show A lead singer would arise out of the crew Singing "Proud Mary" more times than a few My parents were smart had insulated the home So upstairs only the bass would reverberate and roam Allowing their children to experiment in sound While upstairs classical music was always around This family grew playing music just so Their children played piano,viola, clarinet and banjo Guitar was a staple for many it seems One carried the brass section,a band of all dreams At Christmas and holidays after dinner was done Round the piano we'd sit ,listen and sing for fun Playing music and singing together in time Reminders of my youth a time that was fine Remembering my dad's voice singing many hymns Show tunes, ballads, anything it seems 'Twas a joyful experience shared over the years Now just remembering can bring me to tears.