One Night With the Mjq (For Sue M)

It was a night I'll always remember, I've told this tale so oft, Sometimes I forget, and on my 3rd repeat My friends think my mind has gone soft But it's way back, maybe "69, I was but a teenager hanging out, My young new wife and another couple Just sitting, lounging casually about When from the kitchen radio An advertisement we did hear The MJQ (Modern Jazz Quartet) was playing that night It's true, I tell you true!! Now to put this in perspective So it makes some sense to you, And I do here swear That what I say is true! Let me enumerate some facts... See, I was a young aspiring musician My neighbor a well established one Percy Heath, bassist of the world famous MJQ My best friend then was his son He used to listen to our jams no choice i guess he had, Our music sometimes too loud For that I now feel sad... So we looked at our financial state, Not too impressive, be assured $20 here,$10 there,maybe she has $5, $10 had the last, It'd be tough to manage this, we knew But at this point our determination was well cast We managed to take a cab, To the NYC Rockefeller Centre, and up, to the classy Rainbow Grill The atmosphere so different It really seemed a thrill! But, see, we were like country bumpkins For this elite wealthy NY crowd Well heeled, well dressed, well mannered, Well moneyed, most important, they were, Easily at home here, well above the highest cloud Now the Maitre d' did quickly size up Here we would not fit in, So he'd show those sophisticated others his wisdom But to me it seems a sin He seated us behind a thick pole With the band so hard to see We struggled with the 2 drink minimum How embarrassed we should be But once in awhile the losers win And God in heaven smiles For stuck-up rich old morons, Under "losers" they he files For when the MJQ took their break They all came over and sat with us! My pride, my gratitude, my "up-yours!" wish Came to us without a fuss So now you should remember Don't preen and think you're cool, Cause once in a while, The tables turn, And you become the fool!