Written during the Park Protests of the 1990's but just as applicable in the 2020's!
Rock around the Park – Tune: Rock around the Clock
Lyrics: Joan Levin with more by Herb Caplan
(Note: this was written for Lincoln Park but where appropriate substitute "We love our parks and we'll fight to keep them green" or substitute the name of any threatened park and we'll fight to keep it green)
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When the city brings those big machines,
We’ll stand and say “Just leave it green!”
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
Put your big bulldozer into gear,
And drive it right on out of here!
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
We do not need that playfield here,
We want it Open, Free and Clear,
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
So let the Mayor rant and rave –
We’ll stand our ground so he can’t pave!
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
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This is a cooperative venture, so feel free to add your own rhymed couplet for the first two lines!! Joan
More Great Verses from Herb Caplan!
We made our case, the truth is proved.
Latin is wrong, we won't be moved.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
Let Tim Mitchell try to harass,
We smile and tell him Kiss our grass.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
And still more from Herb Caplan!
Once again, to be sung to "Rock Around the Clock!"
(This was written during Latin School's efforts to usurp a heavily used local park for its own use as a playground exclusively for its students.)
Tell Latin School at North and Clark
You can't just steal a public park.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
How can a school have class appeal
that teaches how to sneak and steal.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
Your secret deal creates a stench
Why can't Latin act like a mench.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
Soccer fields can sprout with fees. But
Rare meadows do not grow on trees.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
Meadow by meadow moves the theft
Until no blade of grass is left.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
A grassy field to play and prowl
Then Latin comes to turn it foul.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
What Latin wants, Latin will take,
St. Patrick come drive out that snake.
We love the grass and trees and sand and surf, and we don’t need no Astroturf
We love Lincoln Park and we’ll fight to keep it green.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clearly Herb Caplan Wins the Trophy for Best Lyricist!
😀