Joan's Lyrics

6/11/94

Biographical Notes for Be a Farter for Carter and Hexagon

NO songs here. Just some notes.

When we moved from Chicago to Washington in 1979 I felt a little displaced, but by 1980 I was working as an attorney at Department of Energy in the Office of General Counsel for Solar and Conservation, where we were involved with the implementation of President Carter's initiatives aimed at producing at least 20% of our energy from solar sources by the year 2000.

https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/assets/documents/speeches/energy-crisis.phtml

(As I recalled this involved 20 Quads, or quadrillion B.T.U.s of energy in this manner - -I need to check this figure!)

Solar energy is not just from direct sunlight. It is from water and wave energy (as the heat of the sun moves water), geothermal energy from natural underground sources, wave energy (waves respond to solar gravitational pull), and other technologies.

We had several programs to achieve this, including small demonstration grants where local entities - schools, community facilities, etc. - could apply for grants to install solar and conservation features and then show their communities how these innovations worked, what they cost and what they saved, small loan programs to allow building and home owners to invest in the new technologies that could save them money over time, and certification programs for local businesses that would be involved in installing these technologies.

But in 1980 when Reagan was elected, among his first pronouncements was that this would make us "hot in the summer and cold in the winter" and (presumably with the approval of the oil interests that helped him get elected) began to dismantle our programs. By the end of 1981 they were vastly diminished or gone, and I was working at Public Citizen Health Research Group.

However, during that time I decided to try out as a writer for Hexagon, a popular annual topical variety show that raised a lot of money for some wonderful charities. Hexagon was originally created by a group of Princtonians who had been active with the famous Princeton Triangle Show. When Princeton went co-ed, they added another triangle to produce a hexagon, hence the name of the annual Washington show.

https://www.hexagon.org

We were asked to appear at an audition and present a song we had written. The music didn't matter. Only the lyrics. They would have composers writing all original music for the songs.

I was still working for DOE and I had been impressed with I had read about the methane produced by intestinal gas expelled from animals in feedlots was being converted to provide the heat for a large office building complex in Nebraska! (Now we know more about the role of methne in climate change, but this was back in 1981 or so).

So I wrote Be a Farter for Carter and sang it to a nondescript melody for my Hexagon writing staff audition. The committee broke up with laughter and then announced that while this song was too edgy for the already edgy Hexagon, they wanted me on the writing staff, and I produced a number of other lyrics, a few of which made the show.

The music for these was written, by happy coincidence, by one of their volunteer composers, Doug Maurer, a computer engineer now working in D.C. but whom I knew from our undergrad days at University of Chicago.

Hexagon was a fun experience and I'm glad I did it --- once!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8/6/93

Georgetown CTEFLA Class in 1993

I took a summer program at Georgetown University in 1993, a practicum on teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

I had been doing that in DC and thought I might continue for a while.

It turned out to be a terrific program, where our "students" (whom we taught every afternoon) were men and women from other countries employed by Georgetown in jobs including building engineers & maintenance people, housekeeping and restaurant employees, etc.

It the morning we learned from our teachers and in the afternoons we practice taught with these students, who were given free time and free tuition to take our class. It was a win-win-win; for Georgetown because as these newly immigrated employees improved their English, they could take on a wider variety of jobs; for the employees themselves because they would earn more in these jobs and live more successfully in the U.S., and for us because we could practice on real people while being observed by our own teachers with whom we would continue in late afternoon sessions after the students left.

It was a long day but I learned a lot -- and enjoyed the class and my fellow students. (And enjoyed teaching both in D.C. and when I returned to Chicago about two years later.)

I wrote the first song below for us to sing to our "students"at the party marking the conclusion of their program. Georgetown provided a lovely party room and great refreshments with a huge congratulatory sheet cake, and all of us -- students and student teachers - were all dressed up and we cheered as our students received their Diplomas of Completion for this program.

(Click on it to make it larger!)

For many of our students who had come to the U.S. with minimal education, this was a really important day and many brought their spouses and children to witness this!

The second song is what I sang at our own student party. Mary and David were our teachers who instructed us in the morning and evaluated us as we taught our students each afternoon. It references some of the teaching methods we studied and the two part evaluation forms they filled out as they observed us teaching.

(Click on it to make it larger!)

It was an excellent program and I'm really glad I did it!

10/20/92

Where did she Get That Mink, Mr. Mayor

So many questions about our D.C. Mayor during the 1990's
I liked Mayor Barry, but oh the questions he raised!
Especially in regard to his wives!
Couldn't help writing this!

Tune: Where did you Get that Hat

Sung by D.C. Mayor Marion Barry

We said "I do" and settled down,

A happy loving pair,

No gaps in our togetherness,

No scores went unshared.

But then one day we parted,

I found another honey,

But now I find, while I made time,

YOU kept all the money!

Where did you get that mink?

Where'd you get those wheels?

Tropical vacations, designer clothes,

Fancy downtown meals?

I knew you kept pin money,

But the cash kept flowing in,

And now the papers say you had,

Some mighty fancy pins!

Wish I'd held on to mine, kid,

It's sadder than you think!

For where'er I go, they shout HELLO!

Where'd she get that mink!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to find the news accounts relating to this! All in the papers in the 80's. Mayor Barry's third wife was Effi Barry. Actually I always liked Effi (who died much too young in 2007). Effi Barry was a fellow student in my "off campus" John's Hopkins Biostatistics Class where we were both taking courses towards an MPH. She was doing great work with public health programs including AIDS awarenesses, funding, etc.

11/15/90

City in a Garden

Many years ago, responding to announcements about a Chicago song context I submitted the lyrics below, following the directions for the contest, with original music by Ron Combs. We didn't win anything. However when I told my Uncle Al about this, he wrote a song, sang it into a cassette recorder and mailed in the cassette. He didn't win first prize, but The sponsoring radio station played his cassette on the air and sent him a case of Pepsi Cola!

City in a Garden (Urbs in Horto)

City in a Garden, Chicago is your name,

Green parks and sparkling waters,

Surround your mighty frame.

Your spirit shines from factories,

From Loop and Water Tower,

To crown the golden prairie

With magnificence and power

City in a Garden, upon your river banks,

Explorers, traders, settlers,

Marched on in timeless ranks.

Great railroads gathered by your lake,

Where barges braved the foam,

To build our own Chicagoland,

Our working city home.

City in a Garden, with flowers of every kind,

Your children are a medley,

Of old worlds left behind.

Life springs from your variety,

Strength from a neighbor’s hand,

Lift every voice in harmony,

To praise Chicagoland.

5/18/89

Chicago Politics in Song; Lyrics by Joan Levin

These are copied here from other posts (Transit Songs, Schubert's Winterreise, etc.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONWARD YELLOW TAXICAB - TUNE: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
Lyrics by Joan Levin around 1981

This was written after an incident on Castlewood Terrace a tiny, three block long one way street on the north side of Chicago. Famous Chicago author and entertainer Studs Terkel lives there, and one day Dan Rather, one of the best known TV newscasters in Chicago, went to visit him and got into an altercation with the taxi driver (who may have just gotten lost looking for this tiny street).

This story made all the local papers -- as here:

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/11/Cab-driver-charged-with-taking-Dan-Rather-for-a-ride/9361342766800/

The second verse is just a knock on city workers. Pam Zekman was a Chicago journalist who wrote many stories going underground to learn first and how city corruption worked. Sauganash is a residential enclave northwest Chicago where city workers could have nice homes and excellent schools while still living in the city, as they were required to do.

Onward Yellow Taxicab,
Here's a one-way trap,
Castlewood is hidden
On your city map.
If you drive Dan Rather,
Don your oldest duds,
For you'll have a free-for-all,
Before you get to Studs' ---
Onward Taxi Driver,
Punch a fare today!
Knock him senseless while your,
Meter ticks away!

Onward Civil Servant,
You can earn your pay,
Underneath a park bench,
Or in some café.
Grease a little palm, then,
Oil a squeaky wheel --
Pray that Pammy Zekman will not
Join you in your deal!
Onward Civil Servant,
Squirrel away that cash,
So you can retire to,
Sumptious Sauganash.*

Far Northwest Side neighborhood where politicians required to live in Chicago reside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert Winterreise Frühlingstraume (Spring Dream)

Winter Nightmare Lyrics Joan Levin © 1979
(also see this in Schubert Winterreise Post)

I dreamed of a city snowplow,

Cleaning the snow from my street.

I dreamed that my driveway was shoveled,

The sidewalks swept clean at my feet;
The sidewalks swept clean at my feet!

But with the sparrows chirping,
Mel Zellman* said “more snow!”

And sounds spilled through my window,
From icebound streets below!

The whirring, screeching, churning,
Of cars in need of tow!

But down in Florida sunshine,
Who’s toasting his buns on the beach?

Who else could it be but our guv’nor,**
Where Icicles never reach!

Where icicles never reach!

I dreamed that Rapid Transit, was cheerily making it’s way,

I dreamed that the buses were running, with never a snag or delay!

With never a snag or delay!

But once again, those sparrows!
I grab my radio!

And hear the Shadow Network,
And learn of transit woe!

And find that nothing’s running,
To where I want to go!

But there at RTA,
Who’s saying “we must plan next year?”

But there at RTA,
Who's saying “we must plan next year?”

Who could it be but Lou Hill!***
Better late than never, my dear!

Better late than never my dear!

* Weatherman

**Governor Otto Kerner
***City Planning Commissioner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8/20/88

Transit Songs from Chicago and Washington

(The CTA Jeffery Express served our Hyde Park Chicago Neighborhood. )

Jeffery Express (Tune – Wabash Cannonball)

From the mighty southside steelworks, to the Loop’s fast give and take,

From busy Stony Island, to the borders of the lake,

She’s huge, she’s hot, she’s dirty; her insides are a mess,

She’s commuter consternation; she’s the Jeffery Express!

(Chorus)

Feel the jarring and the swaying and the weaving of the ride,

Bucking o’er the pavement while you suffocate inside,

What’s this strange creation? You only get one guess,

It’s the Southside abomination, the Jeffery Express!

All the seats are taken, by big tough looking dudes,

Dynamic body builders and booted ducktailed hoods,

Old folks stand there in the aisles, but they don’t mind unless,

Someone tries to mug them on the Jeffery Express!

Listen to transistors, obscenities and smell,

The Colonel’s good home cooking, and Boone Farm Wine as well;

And what that guy is smoking, is anybody’s guess,

You’ll get high by osmosis on the Jeffery Express!

Say you’ve got a dollar but no silver to your name,

Better take a taxi or play the hitching game.

It’s putting you through changes but you’ll get no ride unless,

Your changes total fifty on the Jeffery express!

Listen to the shrieking of people with their feet,

Trapped there in the doorway as the bus rolls down the street,

The driver has a schedule that he sticks to, more or less,

He’ll make up time while you’re running for the Jeffery Express!

Here come seven buses, moving in a line,

The last six nearly empty, looking mighty fine,

But if you miss that convoy, you’ll wait an hour, no less,

Thanks to the herd instinct of the Jeffery Express!

Steven Douglas gazes down and sees beneath his feet,

One hundred stranded riders, all milling in the street,

The lakefront breezes chill them; it’s a daily scene unless,

They get some new equipment on the Jeffery Express!

See that mighty tailpipe, discharging blackened smoke?

Better hold your breath now, it’s sure to make you choke!

Ozone locks the city in a smothering caress,

Aided by the engines of the Jeffery Express!

If you can’t climb up the stairway, if you can’t get through the door,

If you need some extra room inside, it’s gonna cost you more.

Bilandic’s bus will take you; five bucks to be his guest,

Til’ a Federal Court puts you aboard the Jeffery Express!

Here comes Milt Pikarsky, in his cool limousine,

Waving to his buddies, who run the big machine.

They don’t seem to see him, perhaps they never will;

The Jeff Express will simply have to make it up Lou’s Hill!

Read about the fixes and the politicians’s scam,

While riders stand like cattle in the old Chicago cram.

If a working stiff needs wheels each day, why should he pay much less,

Than his precinct captains caddy on the Jeffery Express?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel Levin (who was knocked over and almost flattened underneath the Jeffery Express as it rounded the corner by the viaduct at Lake Park Avenue as he was on his way to Kenwood High School around 1977) added these lines:

Dan’s Addition to Jeffery Express

August 30, 2019

I love it!

If the folk tradition allows each generation to adds verses reflecting their personal experience, here’s my cautionary addition:

Keep your wits about you crossing Lake Park Avenue.

And remember that the viaduct can obstruct a driver’s view.

A moment of distraction could leave you in distress,

Flattened ‘neath the bumper of the Jeffery Express!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: The original Jeffery Express lyrics were written in the 1970's; the Jeffery Express may no longer be running as of 2019 when I entered it on this blog! This was the reponse to my inquiry to the CTA about this (and about the spelling):

My Inquiry: September 2, 2019:

How do you spell Jeffrey Express and does this No. 5 Jeffrey express even exist anymore?

You have #100 Jeffrey Manor Express and #14 Jeffrey Express and #15 Jeffry local and you also have #14 Jeffrey also 100 Jeffery Manor Express and Jeffery Jump, # 15 Jeffery local and 100 Jeffery Manor Express and J14 Jeffery jump etc. etc. Can you tell me the correct spelling?

CTA Answer September 2, 2019:

webmaster@transitchicago.com

The correct spelling is “Jeffery”, as it is spelled on street signs, in maps, and on the route pages for routes #J14 Jeffery Jump (formerly the #14 Jeffery Express), the #15 Jeffery Local and the #100 Jeffery Manor Express.

The only route with #5 we have is the #N5 South Shore Night Bus. See maps for more information on where routes go. We hope this answers all your questions; have a good holiday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The L-4 Bus in Washington, D.C.

In the 1980's while living in Washington, D.C., I worked at U. S. Department of Energy near the Mall and then at Public Citizen Health Research Group near DuPont Circle.

I often rode the L-4 Bus which stopped near our house.

At one point the DC transit agency proposed getting rid of the L-4 Bus saying people should take the fairly new underground Metro subway instead.

This would have been much more expensive and inconvenient for me and many others and there were protests against termination the L-4 bus that eventually succeeded. Here is a protest song I wrote for that!

But the title has another meaning: there was a revolution in El Salvador at the time and the motto for opposing U.S. intervention was "Hands Off El Salvador." So this is a play on that as well.

HANDS OFF L-4

Tune: Wabash Cannonball
Lyrics (c) 1981 JoanD. Levin

From stately Federal Triangle,

To the hills of Chevy Chase,

With slow but steady motion,

She moves from place to place.

She’s the Grand Dame of the Great Northwest,

You’ve heard her name before,

She’s the pride of the Metro system,

She’s the elegant L-4!

Chorus: Hear the fare box jingle,

Oh what a pleasant sound!

Look right out the window,

And see the city round!

Let us travel on the road,

We’ve traveled oft before,

You can keep your Metro train,

Just leave us our L-4!

She rolls along Thirteenth Street,

And down the mighty K,

She passes on to Twentieth,

And Florida by the way.

She cruises up Connecticut,

And lumbers down once more,

She’s a shelter in a time of storm,

Our very own L-4!

Chorus:

If you would like to make a trip,

For lunch in Cleveland Park,

Or if you’d like to see the sights,

At DuPont after dark,

The L-1 will not stop for you,

The L-7 doesn’t run,

So hop aboard the old L-4,

To get in on the fun!

Chorus:

If you go downtown shopping,

To catch up on the sales,

To doctor or to dentist,

To fix whatever ails,

To work, to play, most any day,

Or anywhere you roam,

The L-4 bus will take you there,

And bring you safely home!

Chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONWARD YELLOW TAXICAB -

TUNE: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

Lyrics by Joan Levin around 1981

This was written after an incident on Castlewood Terrace a tiny, three block long one way street on the north side of Chicago. Famous Chicago author and entertainer Studs Terkel lives there, and one day Dan Rather, one of the best known TV newscasters in Chicago, went to visit him and got into an altercation -- that turned physical -- with the taxi driver (who may have just gotten lost looking for this tiny street).

This story made all the local papers -- as here:

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/11/Cab-driver-charged-with-taking-Dan-Rather-for-a-ride/9361342766800/

The second verse is just a knock on city workers. Pam Zekman was a Chicago journalist who wrote many stories, going underground to learn how city corruption worked.

Sauganash is a residential enclave in northwest Chicago where city workers could have nice homes and excellent schools while still living in the city, as they were required to do.

Onward Yellow Taxicab,

Here's a one-way trap,

Castlewood is hidden

On your city map.

If you drive Dan Rather,

Don your oldest duds,

For you'll have a free-for-all,

Before you get to Studs.'

Onward Taxi Driver,

Punch a fare today!

Knock him senseless while your,

Meter ticks away!

Onward Civil Servant,

You can earn your pay,

Underneath some park bench,

Or in some café.

Grease a little palm, then,

Oil a squeaky wheel --

Pray that Pammy Zekman will not

Join you in your deal!

Onward Civil Servant,

Squirrel away that cash,

So you can retire to,

Sumptious Sauganash.

###

5/12/82

Winterreise for the Great Chicago Blizzard of 1967 - Lyrics by Joan Levin

Songs set during the Great Chicago Blizzard of 1967. (See article about this at the foot of post).
Sing along with many great singers on the internet. Read about this famous song cycle at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterreise

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert Winterreise, Gute Nacht ( Good Night)

The City Council met today to talk about the snow.

The hot air in the Chamber room would melt the ice below!

Ross Lathrop* made a fiery speech, he's running hard this year.
And asked why not one Fifth Ward street was passable or clear.

"I've old folks living in my ward; their food is running low!
I can't imagine why you boys can't clear away the snow!"

Our Mayor** on the TV Tube looked puffy-eyed and sore,

And not the buoyant Bridgeport boy that we have seen before!

“You didn’t carry well for me, my local pols have said,

“And now you think we’ll dig you out? You’ve snowballs in your head!

“The Party gives, the Party takes, there ain’t no more free beer!

“Take lessons from Marzullo,*** Ross, and better luck next year!”

“We’ve made a deal with Kenny Sain**** for ninety thousand bucks,

“For which he’ll send the number of a pal who owns some trucks.

“He’ll get his like his Daddy did he knows the game quite well,

“And all you independent cranks can warm your toes in Hell!”

Now Oberman***** would pass a bill to make us clean our walk,

While all the City Council does is sit around and talk.

They’ll jerry-rig some garbage trucks and send them forth to clean,

They will not spend one dollar on a modern snow machine!

And will we see one penny of the cash they save that way?

Forget it friend, they’ll meet again to vote themselves more pay!

I’ve watched the scene at City Hall as crises come and go,

But this one makes my gooseflesh crawl: the politics of snow!

The politics of snow!

* An independent alderman

** Mayor Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley

*** Alderman Vito Marzullo, a Daley machine alderman

**** A party factotum, sometime putative Deputy Mayor, tied to Daley machine
*****Martin Oberman, an independent alderman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert, Winterreise Der Lindenbaum (The Linden Tree)

On the walk outside my doorway there stands my oldest child,

And he says he’ll help me shovel, where the drifts of snow are piled.

So I offer him a chocolate or a gingersnap or two,

But he answers as he starts his work, “Mama, fifty cents will do!”

Now the young one sees his brother removing heaps of snow,

And he thinks he’d like to try this and make a lot of dough.

Does he think to help his mother who is cold and stiff and sore?

No! That little imp is shoveling for the folks who live next door!

They’ve built snowmen,
They’ve gone sledding,

They’ve pushed strangers cars that mired

But when I cry “Please help me!”

They say “Mom, we’re just too tired!”

There are puddles in the parlor from a hundred snowy shoes,

Wool socks drying in the kitchen on this morning’s unread news.

Cocoa burning in a saucepan where they’ve gone to fix a snack,

And I’d gladly trade this household, for a day upon the rack! For a day upon the rack!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert Winterreise, Die Wetterfahne (The Weathervane)

I go out to roam in the bright winter sunshine,

To witness the wonder of nature’s display.

But here upon the streets about me,

I notice the fashions of winter today!

A jacket of down with an L. L. Bean label,

Of bright rip-stopping nylon is now de rigeur,

Unless you’ve a liking for pipeline apparel,

In which case it’s canvas with coyote fur!

They’re low boots and high boots and right-up-your-thigh boots,

And boots with spike heels with a sharp downward thrust ---

That seems to center in your instep,

As you stand there helpless packed in a bus!

The children are dressed in their snowmobile outfits,

And climb on the drifts and slide down with ease,

And plodding there in mounds of sweaters---

Just like a slightly drunken walrus--- A middle aged woman on cross-country skis!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert Winterreise Gefrorne Tranen (Frozen Tears)

My frozen mittens drying, I thaw my hands and face.

With hours and hours of trying, I’ve cleared a parking place—

I’ve finally cleared a place!

I’ve place a folding card chair; it marks my labor spot,

And damned be he who moves, it; I’ll make him wish he’d not!

Please take my bread and butter, but hands off that chair!

For the space I dug is mine, all mine, I’ll never, never share!

I cannot hang a ticket on your car, if it comes to that,

But beware, my friends, when you return,

You’ll find your tires all flat!
Yes, all four tires dead flat!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert: Winterreise

Der Musensohn (The Muse's Son)

Day 1:

The snowflakes gently easing a mantle white and pleasing,

Upon the wintry ground, upon the wintry ground.

The trees stand dark as etchings, the scene is simply fetching,

It makes the poet’s heart pound!

The scene is simply fetching, it makes the poet’s heart pound!

Day 2:

The snowflakes still are falling, and all the traffic’s crawling,

We shovel and shovel some more,

But when we’ve cleared a pathway, it just won’t meet us halfway,
It soon dumps more than before!
It dumps all over us as before!

Day 3:

Another snowy daybreak, my arms and legs and back ache,

I fight the drifts once more, that form at my front door!

I’m sliding and I’m slipping, on glacial sidewalks tripping!

I’m battered bruised and sore!

On glacial sidewalks tripping, I’m battered bruised and sore!

Day 4:

The windowpanes are leaking, the back porch roof is creaking,

My car looks like an igloo standing there!

The trees still look like etchings (they make me feel like retching)

It’s one big pain you know where!

It’s one great big royal pain you know where!

Day 5:

And once again it’s snowing, my cabin fever’s growing,

What shall I do? I know! What shall I do? I know!

I’ll conjure secret curses and hex all who write verses,

Romanticizing snow!

And hex all who write verses romanticizing snow!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert Winterreise Frühlingstraume -- (Spring Dream) Winter Nightmare

I dreamed of a city snowplow,

Cleaning the snow from my street.

I dreamed that my driveway was shoveled,

The sidewalks swept clean at my feet;
The sidewalks swept clean at my feet!

But with the sparrows chirping,
Mel Zellman* said “more snow!”

And sounds spilled through my window,
From icebound streets below!

The whirring, screeching, churning,
Of cars in need of tow!

But down in Florida sunshine,
Who’s toasting his buns on the beach?

Who else could it be but our guv’nor,**
Where Icicles never reach!

Where icicles never reach!

I dreamed that Rapid Transit,
Was cheerily making it’s way,

I dreamed that the buses were running, with never a snag or delay!

With never a snag or delay!

But once again, those sparrows!
I grab my radio!

And hear the Shadow Network,
And learn of transit woe!

And find that nothing’s running,
To where I want to go!

But there at RTA,
Who’s saying “we must plan next year?”

But there at RTA,
Who's saying “we must plan next year?”

Who could it be but Lou Hill!***
Better late than never, my dear!

Better late than never my dear!

* Weatherman

**Governor Otto Kerner
***City Planning Commissioner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Schubert Winterreise Der Leiermann (the hurdy-gurdy man)

Now the snow is melting, sunshine warms our way,

Sidewalks greet our footsteps, on Election Day,

Everyone is thinking: Surely she can’t win!

Stick it to Bilandic* and his silly grin!

Stick it to Bilandic and his silly grin!

Janey’s **in the subway, many hands to shake!

Say she’ll fire the big boys who are on the take!

All the pols are laughing, liberals the same,

They’re still second guessing Singer’s*** last campaign!

They’re still second guessing Singer’s last campaign!

See the morning paper?

No, it’s not a dream!

Snow and trash and Janey,

Stopped the big machine!

----------------------------------------

*Mayor Anthony Bilandic

** Mayor Jane Byrne – here running for office.

***Independent Alderman Bill Singer

Notes- interesting article about Musensohn

https://classical-iconoclast.blogspot.com/2016/09/manic-depressive-schubert-der-musensohn.html

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Here are some news accounts about that historic snow!

https://www.weather.gov/lot/67blizzard

50th Anniversary of the 1967 Blizzard - Largest Snowfall in Chicago on Record

The January, 1967 Blizzard

By Jim Allsopp, Warning Coordination Meteorologist (ret.) & edits by Meteorologist Richard Castro

The Event:

On January 26 and 27, 1967, Chicago endured its worst snowstorm on record. The snow started at 502 AM on the 26th, and by 1010 AM of the 27th a record 23 inches of snow crippled the city. The previous record snow for the city was 19 inches on March 25th and 26th, 1930. During the storm winds gusted to 53 mph at Midway Airport. The high winds caused considerable blowing and drifting. Drifts 4 to 6 feet high were widespread throughout the area.

The heaviest snow fell in the morning and early afternoon of the 26th with the maximum rate of accumulation 2 inches per hour during the late morning. A thunderstorm was reported at Meigs Field. Snow tapered off by evening but intensified again overnight.

Two days before the blizzard, on January 24th, the high temperature was 65 degrees and the low was 44, both records that still stand today. Thunderstorms occurred in the evening of the 24th. There were reports of wind damage, and funnel clouds were spotted in the southwest section of the city. The wind gusted to 48 mph at Midway. The wall of a building under construction at 87th and Stony Island toppled, killing one man and injuring four others.

The Impact:

Snow began on Thursday morning, January 26th but most people made it to work and school without much trouble. But by noon about 8 inches was already on the ground and O’Hare Airport was shut down. Some businesses and schools released employees and students early. The commute home, even for those who started early, was a nightmare. Many workers did not get home, or arrived very late. Many stayed at work or in hotels. By Friday morning the city was at a standstill. The airports and local transportation were shut down. In the city of Chicago 20,000 cars and 1,100 CTA buses were stranded in the snow. People walked to stores to clear the shelves of bread and milk. Helicopters were used to deliver medical supplies to hospitals, and food and blankets to stranded motorists. Expectant mothers were taken to hospitals by sled, bulldozer and snow plow. At least a dozen babies were born at home. Looting became a problem on the west and near south sides of the city. Another problem in the aftermath of the storm was low supplies of heating oil. Trucks couldn’t get access to buildings.

By Saturday the 28th, Chicago was beginning to dig itself out. Commuter trains were running and CTA buses were operating most lines. The city sent a workforce of 2,500 people with 500 pieces of equipment out to clear the streets. Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan sent heavy equipment to help with the snow removal. But the thousands of abandoned vehicles hampered the clean up. Snow was hauled by dump truck to the Chicago River. O’Hare finally opened around midnight Monday, allowing people who had been stranded for days to finally get home. Most schools didn’t reopen until Tuesday. By then most transportation was back to normal.

By the time it was over, 60 people were dead and there was an estimated $150 million in business losses (about $904 million in 2006 dollars). The 1967 snowstorm probably caused the biggest disruption to the commerce and transportation of Chicago of any event since the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

The Meteorology:

On Wednesday January 25 a cold front had moved through the upper Midwest replacing the balmy 60 degree weather of the previous day with more seasonal readings. A strong 1032mb (30.48 in) high pressure center was over the prairie provinces of southern Canada. A vigorous upper level trough was moving across the southern Rockies causing a low pressure area to form at the surface near the Texas Panhandle. By midnight of Thursday January 26 the high was building into the northern plains states while the low, now at 1008mb (29.77 in) continued to develop and move east to Oklahoma. During the day Thursday the upper trough moved through the mid and lower Mississippi Valley and an upper level low began forming near the Missouri/Arkansas border. The surface low moved through Arkansas and western Tennessee and Kentucky, reaching south central Indiana by midnight Friday. The low deepened rapidly to 997mb (29.44 in) as it moved to Indiana.

Dew points in the 50s to lower 60s over the southern plains and Gulf Coast states fed the storm with ample moisture while the Canadian high pressure, now centered over Lake Superior and southern Ontario, kept cold dry air pouring into the Great Lakes. The strong pressure gradient between the high over the upper Lakes and the deepening low over the Ohio Valley caused winds to howl off Lake Michigan. This produced severe blowing and drifting of snow as well as causing lake effect enhancement of the snowfall.

On Friday the upper low continued to form and move northeast to northwest Ohio. The surface low occluded and deepened to 990mb (29.23 in) as it lifted northeast across Lake Erie and into southeast Ontario, Canada by Friday night. By this time the snow had ended in Chicago and winds shifted to north northwest and began to subside.

The Forecasts:

Issued at 945 AM Wednesday January 25th

Thursday...Cloudy with a chance of snow especially in the afternoon. High near 30. Northeast winds 8 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Issued at 345 PM Wednesday January 25th

Thursday...Cloudy with rain or snow likely. High in the 30s. Northeast to east winds 10 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Thursday Night...Rain or snow likely. Low in the lower 30s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Friday...Rain or snow ending.

Issued 945 PM Wednesday January 25th

...Hazardous Driving Warning late tonight and Thursday...

Remainder of tonight...Cloudy and colder with snow possibly mixed with freezing rain beginning late tonight. Low in the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Thursday...Snow mixed with freezing rain likely. High in the lower 30s. Northeast to east winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation greater than 90 percent.

Thursday Night...Snow or rain changing to snow and turning colder. Low near 20. Chance of precipitation greater than 90 percent.

Friday...Partly cloudy and colder.

Issued at 345 AM Thursday January 26

...Heavy Snow Warning...

Today...Snow with accumulations of 4 inches or more by this afternoon. High in the lower 30s. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation greater than 90 percent.

Tonight...Snow diminishing or ending. Colder with the low near 20. North to northeast winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Friday...Partly cloudy and colder. High in the mid 20s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Issued at 945 AM Thursday January 26

...Heavy Snow Warning...

Today...An additional 4 to 8 inches. Windy with steady temperatures. Northeast winds 25 to 35 mph. Chance of precipitation 100 percent.

Tonight...Snow diminishing and ending. Colder with the low 10 to 15. North to northwest winds 15 to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Friday...Partly cloudy and colder. High in the middle 20s. Northwest winds 12 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Over the last half century, the advent of high resolution numerical weather prediction models, advanced GOES satellite technology, Doppler radar, and a dense network of automated surface observations has allowed forecasters to give much more accurate warnings of snow storms with much greater lead time, which enabled, for instance, a much longer advanced notice and preparation time for the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard. Despite the infamous photos of cars standed on a snowbound Lakeshore Drive, similar scenes were far more isolated after the Groundhog Day Blizzard. This is because the blizzard warnings were heeded and many businesses were closed before or as the snow started, so many people stayed home or left work early enough to return home safely.

Chicago Records:

▪ Greatest snowfall from a storm - 23.0 inches January 26-27, 1967.

▪ At the time, greatest snowfall in a calendar day - 16.4 inches on January 26, 1967 (this was surpassed when 18.6 inches fell on January 2, 1999).

▪ At the time, greatest snowfall in a 24 hour period - 19.8 inches January 26-27, 1967 (surpassed by Groundhog Day Blizzard 1/31-2/2/11: 20.0 inches February 1-2, 2011).

▪ At the time, greatest snow depth - Additional snows brought the snow depth to 27 inches by February 6, 1967. (This was surpassed when 29 inches covered the ground January 14, 1979) A total of 36.5 inches of snow fell on the city during the 11-day period from January 26 through February 5, 1967, which is close to normal snowfall for an entire season! Snow covered the ground until March 10.

▪ At the time, greatest snowfall for a season - The winter of 1966-1967 set the record for Chicago with a total of 68.4 inches. (The record has since been surpassed four times)

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