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Given a text, write a compressed version of it in a single sentence.

I was, and still am, captivated by Babies cry for liquor an ' the birds sing bass, and in the arrogance of my youth, I was certain that nobody else on the airfield either knew or cared who Bessie Smith was, nor would any other G.I. be enchanted by basso birds, so I turned thief.
Output:
I was, and still am, captivated by Babies cry for liquor an ' the birds sing bass, and in the arrogance of my youth, I was certain that nobody else on the airfield either knew or cared who Bessie Smith was.