Write It Yourself

[billroper]

While pondering the question of an optimized topological sort (which appears to be what is called an NP-hard problem; I believe that, because it is certainly hard), I poked at a directory on my hard drive to see if there were any old Wordstar files lurking there. (So far, no.)

I did, however, find the lyrics to a song that Gretchen and I wrote in 2001 and which I had completely forgotten. So here is a blast from the past for you. :)

Write It Yourself
by Bill and Gretchen Roper
(to the tune of “Do It Yourself”)


G
I went to sing my filksongs but the lyrics were all lost.
C G D7
I could have got them xeroxed but I wouldn’t pay the cost.
G C
I had to write a new one so I set my eyes to roam
G D7 G
‘Cause you can write a filksong ‘bout the things you find at home.

(Chorus)
G
Cats and rats and puppy dogs and other things with tails
C G D7
Kitchen drawers all full of junk, the guy who brings the mail,
G C
Things that linger in the fridge, and chili pots that roam
G D7 G
Yes, you can write a filksong ‘bout the things you find at home.


I’ve books upon my bookshelf that I haven’t time to read.
But fantasy and SF are no longer things you need.
If you want to write a filksong ‘cause you’re going to a con
You can wander to the kitchen and then turn the chili on.


My kitten is a terror as she stalks the house at night.
She drops a lamp upon the dog and runs away in fright.
The howling and the yowling may create an awful din.
I grab my pen and paper cause I know they’ll fit right in.


I have a filing system that’s the finest in the land.
I drop it all into the drawer that’s closest to my hand.
Flashlights, tacks and matches, superglue and lingerie,
Everything that I can’t find is safely tucked away.


My songs are full of characters, arcane deranged and odd.
One of them’s a doctor and another thinks he’s God.
Vampire priests and Vegans and a telepath that sends –
When I run out of subjects, well, at least I’ve got my friends.