Frankie Paradiso's BE-BOP-A-LULA BLUES (Ode to Gene Vincent)
Channel: Frankie Paradiso
Date: 2013-01-25

An ode to my Rockabilly Idol, the truly heroic Gene Vincent - I wrote this song after watching the tragi-comic rockumentary "Gene Vincent - The Rock Singer" (1969) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuYfqJMIiyk, kindly uploaded by Dave (User:Memphis209).
PUBLIC DISCLAIMER: The anecdote I tell before singing my tribute was improvised on the spot and is purely fictitious and facetious; the story IN NO WAY represents the facts of Gene Vincent's life & music - I'll leave that job to his professional and authorized biographers. Thanks to User: Lilly Blue for her critical input and my apologies to any fans/relatives/former band mates who might have taken hold of the wrong end of the stick.
I would like to dedicate this song to my Godfather Frank and to my great Canadian pal from Exonian days, Baron Memphremagog James K. Wilson, who have always managed to keep Gene's spirit alive!
Symbolic decor: the ukulele that inspires my melodies; a bag displaying a painting by Vincent van Gogh, near whose museum I used to live in Amsterdam; a British Council bag to honour my first employer with Voluntary Service Overseas London in Indonesia, and the umbrella that sees me through the merciless rainy season here on Java...

BE-BOP-A-LULA BLUES (Ode to Gene Vincent)    [the song begins at 3:33]
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Music & Lyrics by Frankie Paradiso 2013
REMINISCING 'BOUT THAT HIGH SCHOOL HOP
LONG BEFORE THE MIGHTY BUCK WOULD DROP
TWISTING 'ROUND THE BEND WITH DARLENE-LOU
I SAW ONE STAR DOOMED TO BID ADIEU

GENE VINCENT, BLUE-CAPPED CUPID
ETERNAL ADOLESCENT
GROWN-UPS WERE SO STUPID
TO CALL YOU A DELINQUENT
BUT YOU REFUSED TO STOOP -- IT
MADE YOU EFFERVESCENT

SO LET'S DRINK A TOAST
TO ROCKIN' GENE VINCENT!

NOW THERE WAS A GUY WHO GOT THAT GREASY BEAT
FATE LEFT HIM A CRIPPLE, NO FLASHING FEET
HE WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THOSE LYRICS DANCE
THE COOLEST DUDE TO REIGN O'ER TEEN ROMANCE

BE-BOP-A-LULA LONG LIVE GENE VINCENT
ROVING EYES SO DELIQUESCENT
BE-BOP-A-LULA THOSE BLACK LEATHER PANTS
KEPT US JIVING TO CLIFF's LIGHTNING HANDS

BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO SAY FAREWELL
YOU'RE ONE OF A KIND, NOBODY AS SWELL
HATS OFF TO YOU, VIRGINIAN GRANDMASTER
YOU LEFT TOO SOON, THE DEVIL'S LANE'S SO MUCH FASTER

OGLING THAT GAL IN THE RAINBOW JEANS
YOU'RE THE LEADER OF THE LOVE-TORN TEENS
GENE VINCENT, GREATEST ROCKABILLY GENIUS
THIS WORLD HAS SEEN AND I DON'T MEAN MAYBE

YOUR SONGS SURE DID LIGHT UP THE SKY
MADE GREY CLOUDS ROLL, MY OH MY
BYE-BYE GENE VINCENT, BLUE-CAPPED CUPID ...