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billroperSo Gretchen and I set out to write a song that can be performed either as a duet or as a solo piece if she's not around. We're still finishing up the patter (so you'll have to wait to hear that!), but here are the lyrics, because it's a long time until the next convention.
Words: Bill and Gretchen Roper
Music: Bill Roper
Copyright 2023
Road Trip
If I had a rocket ship, I’d set out for adventure.
You could come along and we would find another star.
But in the world we’re living in that’s nothing but conjecture,
So if we want to take a trip, we’ll have to go by car.
There’s a lot of places out there that we ought to go and visit
I’m not talking ‘bout some roadside stand that makes you ask “What is it?”
There’s places that we need to see all scattered ‘cross the nation,
So I think we ought to set out on an overdue ---- vacation.
Halfway cross the country where the Ice Age was defeated,
There’s a geologic marvel carved out by the strength of ice.
The glaciers left great gashes that they filled when they retreated,
One-fifth the world’s fresh water in a land made to entice.
Now our majestic inland seas link in a hydro highway
Joining ports and moving goods on a northwest passage gateway.
Shining cities, soaring trees, fishing, farms, and freight;
Is it any wonder that we call -- our five lakes great?
Let’s head southwest on past St. Lou on the way to Arizona
Where every business route’s a fragment of the Mother Road
With old motels and tourist traps and bars that sell Corona,
A place to settle for the night, for laying down your load.
Not far off the highway there are visions unacquainted:
A forest that’s been petrified, a desert that is painted,
A crater from a meteor with a rim around the side,
And the canyon that the Colorado River carved -- eighteen miles wide.
Golden Gate and Brooklyn and Mackinac and Bay.
George Washington and London and Chesapeake Bay.
If I had a rocket ship, I’d set out for adventure.
You could come along and we would find another star.
But I’d rather travel somewhere real than journey by conjecture.
That’s why we packed our bags to cross the USA by car.
We’ve seen red rocks and Yellowstone and walked the giant redwoods.
Crossed the Great Divide both ways and took a turn through Deadwood.
Missouri to the Mississippi, cross by dinnertime.
We’re homeward bound and making plans to head out East -- next summertime.
If I had a rocket ship, I’d set out for ---- adventure.
Words: Bill and Gretchen Roper
Music: Bill Roper
Copyright 2023
Road Trip
If I had a rocket ship, I’d set out for adventure.
You could come along and we would find another star.
But in the world we’re living in that’s nothing but conjecture,
So if we want to take a trip, we’ll have to go by car.
There’s a lot of places out there that we ought to go and visit
I’m not talking ‘bout some roadside stand that makes you ask “What is it?”
There’s places that we need to see all scattered ‘cross the nation,
So I think we ought to set out on an overdue ---- vacation.
Halfway cross the country where the Ice Age was defeated,
There’s a geologic marvel carved out by the strength of ice.
The glaciers left great gashes that they filled when they retreated,
One-fifth the world’s fresh water in a land made to entice.
Now our majestic inland seas link in a hydro highway
Joining ports and moving goods on a northwest passage gateway.
Shining cities, soaring trees, fishing, farms, and freight;
Is it any wonder that we call -- our five lakes great?
Let’s head southwest on past St. Lou on the way to Arizona
Where every business route’s a fragment of the Mother Road
With old motels and tourist traps and bars that sell Corona,
A place to settle for the night, for laying down your load.
Not far off the highway there are visions unacquainted:
A forest that’s been petrified, a desert that is painted,
A crater from a meteor with a rim around the side,
And the canyon that the Colorado River carved -- eighteen miles wide.
Golden Gate and Brooklyn and Mackinac and Bay.
George Washington and London and Chesapeake Bay.
If I had a rocket ship, I’d set out for adventure.
You could come along and we would find another star.
But I’d rather travel somewhere real than journey by conjecture.
That’s why we packed our bags to cross the USA by car.
We’ve seen red rocks and Yellowstone and walked the giant redwoods.
Crossed the Great Divide both ways and took a turn through Deadwood.
Missouri to the Mississippi, cross by dinnertime.
We’re homeward bound and making plans to head out East -- next summertime.
If I had a rocket ship, I’d set out for ---- adventure.