LET THE JUKEBOX PLAY
By Brian Donegan

Put some nickels in the slot
A-clink, A-clink, The records drop.
The stack of wax falls into place
The music starts and a smile crosses my face.

The coin-box jumps with Doo-Wop jive,
The Marcels, Del-Vikings, Cadets, and Jive Five.
The Bop-Chords, Cadilacs, and Moonglows, too
Had the soda shop dancin’ two by two!

The music stops, the dancin’ ends.
The search for change from friend to friend.
More nickels are found and put into the slot
Once again, the music gets hot!

The soda shop rocks from side to side
With music from our parents we have to hide
Gene Vincent, Joe Turner, Billy Riley too,
Even Carl Perkins had us “Boppin’ the Blues!”

The alarm clock rings and I awake,
I jump out of bed with a rattle and shake.
‘Just A Dream’ I sigh under my breath
After a dream that won’t come true, before my death.

For I was not born in that ‘Golden Age,’
When Doo-Wop and Rock N’ Roll were all the rage.
Now the music has changed and the culture too.
The drive-ins and diners are a miniscule few.

Yet, my ears constantly yearn for those old ‘dusty discs,’
People tell me I’m old-fashioned, but I admit.
I would not have it any other way
So drop in another nickel and let the jukebox play![