Pamme Swan: Swan Songs
Crimson Strawberry/Patchouli Room
This is the story.
(This one’s for you Tommy Fowler)
Tired of stacking the store shelves and being a bag boy on the run
Sick of counting coupons and being a grocer’s son
Tommy took a ride in his mustang fourteen miles to the north
To the town with the college and students and professors hiking back and forth
He parked his car on a two way street that reeked of vomit and stale beer
And he saw an angel in a store front window, his passion now perfectly clear
Tye-dye, incense, beads and a fairy
Bongs and hookahs in the Crimson Strawberry
Tommy hit up his old man to co-sign on a loan
He said “Trust me on this one dad” and set out on his own
He bumped into a real hot girl an’ he gave her some fruit
They poured through the catalogs there was no Internet and they ordered some real cool loot.
A logo was needed, and the hot girl looked good in red
With a strawberry in her mouth, sitting on Tommy’s bed
Tye-dye, incense, beads and a fairy
Bongs and hookahs in the Crimson Strawberry
Tommy hired a photographer who got a real awesome shot
Posters went up everywhere and eating strawberries was hot
Well her name was Denise who lived out in Lebanon in a trailer
With a brother and her mother and her sisters and some others and a backwoods hippy sailor
She made it through high school and ended up down south
So much for the real hot girl with the strawberry in her mouth
Tye-dye, incense, beads and a fairy
Bongs and hookahs in the Crimson Strawberry
Well Tommy’s store opened up when the college rang the bell
And the street of beer and vomit soon had a sweet exotic smell
Everybody was smoking everyone was getting high
And the government was stupid, an’ people were sick and tired sick and tired of asking why
So from Syracuse to B-Town and as far as South Pharsalia
People went on shopping spree’s to buy Tommy’s paraphernalia
Tie-dye, incense, beads and a fairy
Bongs and hookahs in the Crimson Strawberry
He sold T-shirts and hippy skirts, Jesus sneakers and rings
Posters and papers and many other needed things
He hired an employee so he could hang out in the bar
Or play frisbee in the street with his dog, or pick up chics and take them cruisin’ in his car
Yeah you could shop with a basket the store was too small for a cart
And we all had blown bong vases and told our mothers it was art
Tie-dye, incense, beads and a fairy
Bongs and hookahs in the Crimson Strawberry
Now many years have passed through this quaint little college town
Tommy got bored sold out he was sick of hanging around
So he went to Colorado and became an snow ski bum
And married a nice Jewish girl because Tommy isn’t dumb
Still the students pass by and the store changes again and again
It’s a computer shop right now but I remember when
When it was Tie-dye, incense, beads and a fairy
A hot girl dressed in red with a crimson strawberry
( Denise, where you is ? )
(…and I thank you Tommy Fowler)