Grateful Dead Cassette

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5/29/2025 for Prince Roger Nelson Songs Poetry Contest sponsored by Karen Jones

To be sung to the tune of Little Red Corvette by Prince Roger Nelson 

I guess I should’ve known by the way you said, “you’ll get it back real soon”
That I’d never see it again
See, you’re the kinda person who listens to a tape and quickly loses it
Like you might do with men
I guess I must be dumb ‘cause you had all those tapes in your back seat
A place you sometimes use 
But it was Saturday night, I guess you thought it might 
Be a good tape to choose

I say, give me my Grateful Dead Cassette
Baby your memory’s dim (oh)
Grateful Dead Cassette
You got it from me not him

I guess I should’ve known you never returned a thing
When at your place I could see
All those familiar used books and records 
Only some of them belonged to me 

Believe it or not, I started to worry
If one of my records might skip
But it was Saturday night, and I thought you might
Kiss me on the lips 
Oh yeah!

My Grateful Dead Cassette
Baby your memory’s dim 
(yes it is)
My Grateful Dead Cassette
You took it on a whim
(oh oh)

Recall like yours requires a mnemonic
‘Cause it’s on the verge of bein’ spotty
Pay attention, baby, listen up
I’m gonna give you a reminder, oh so, naughty

I say, give me my Grateful Dead Cassette
Baby your memory’s dim 
Grateful Dead Cassette
You got it from me not him, hey hey

My Grateful Dead Cassette
You say it’s lost not found (not found?)
My Grateful Dead Cassette
Better find it, cuz I got to hear that sound
My Grateful Dead Cassette
I gotta hear that sound (honey, it must be found)
Honey it must be found
My Grateful Dead Cassette
Baby your memory’s dim
You got it from me, not him

Girl, it’s a jam like I never heard, ow!
What a ride
Like a psychedelic bluegrass bird
Ow!

I say, give me my Grateful Dead Cassette
Baby your memory’s dim 
Grateful Dead Cassette
You got it from me not him

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Karen Jones

Date: 6/19/2025 2:49:00 AM

David this poem was brilliant and had me cracking up! I loved the rhyme and how you made this piece your own! Congratulations on your win and thanks again for supporting my contest!

David Crandall
Date: 6/19/2025 6:12:00 PM

Haha - thanks for liking it and forgiving me for doing that to a perfectly good song!

Hilda Greenhough

Date: 5/29/2025 3:00:00 PM

I remember that Grateful Dead fans were totally obsessed. The music was good. I really enjoyed your poem. Buy another cassette.

David Crandall
Date: 5/29/2025 3:38:00 PM

haha, I love the Grateful Dead, but was never an obsessed Dead Head. I was imaging one of those who might have a specific tape from a very specific concert. I actually never went to any of their concerts. I remember when a guy down the all in the dorms saw one, and he put on the chalkboard on his door "nothing like a Grateful Dead Concert".

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/29/2025 2:39:00 PM

Baby your memory’s dim Grateful Dead Cassette You got it from me not him…Love that ending ow!

David Crandall
Date: 5/29/2025 3:36:00 PM

Thanks, having some fun here - ow!