What Is It?

by @mikegtz

Liner Notes

This is a song for the RISA (Rhode Island Songwriter Association) songwriter showcase I will be part of along with Sandy Pliskin, Beth DeSombre and Jim Tata in March. The songwriters are given a title to write a song about and I came up with this idea. Last verse: sorry the punch in didn't quite work.

Oh, the answers are:

  1. Southeast Light
  2. The Breakers
  3. Green Animals Topiary Garden 3a. Portsmouth RI
  4. Roger Williams Zoo
  5. Iggy's Doughboys (Iggy's is acceptable)

Lyrics

It Sits on Block Island, a beacon of light It flashes on and off day and night Like the red sun at night, it's a sailor's delight What is it?

It's a big old house at the edge of the sea Owned by the wealthy, turn of the century There's a billiards room, pool balls on the walls What is it?

If you go there, you're taken by surprise Animals everywhere of all shapes and sizes Jackie Kennedy was a debutante there What is it? Where is it?

Speaking of animals not in a cage The festival of lights there is all the rage Half price admissions in January What is it?

Finally, there's a place to eat Popular in summer and a little offbeat Take the road there and you hit a dead end What is it?

(outro)

Comments

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Oh I LOVE this! I love that it's a question so and there are answers not in the song. Very unique and interesting. I'm sure people who know the answers will like it even more, but it makes me wanna visit.

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The feeling of immediacy is terrific; the hyper-local, concrete approach makes it feel very lived-in and "real," even to those of us not from the area (although, being in CT, I'm awfully close 😀 ).

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I like how the singing style really fits with the mysterious lyrics, which have a David Lynch movie vibe!

[FAWM]