New Song: "Arrivederci 2020" (Patreon)

Polymath, tour guide, and generally awesome guy Adam Selzer asked me to do an end-of-the-year song for his New Year's Eve video podcast. I wrote it ON NYE Day, so no video was really possible. For that matter, I will go over this and a few other recent songs with a fine-tooth comb next week, and spiff up some stuff for you. But I thought we could all use something to celebrate. Happy New Year, everyone!

I tried to write a song that would sum up 2020.But I could not decide -- should it be serious or funny?On the one hand, 350,000 Americans died;On the other, we got through four years of Trump, made it out the other side.

We lost Chadwick Boseman, Ruth Ginsberg, Alex Trebek, and Max Von Sydow.I still haven't seen Wonder Woman, Love and Monsters, or Black Widow.Evangelicals keep on freaking out about gay spouses,But Chef Andres keeps on feeding people, Jimmy Carter still builds houses.

2020 was a banner year, and the banner should be torn down.Every day was made more difficult ‘cause our President’s a clown.As soon as we got used to one thing, another would take its place,And what is so damn political about covering up your face?

Do you remember when and why we impeached the president?It seems so very long ago, we’ve forgotten what it meant.Meanwhile a pandemic threatened all the human race,But you can stop it: wash your hands, and wear a mask, don't touch your freakin

Face it, half the country has been fooled by the elite --The real ones, out in Washington, not coastal, not effete --They don't believe in science, they think covid is a hoaxBut they’ll find out the real world doesn't care about their memes and jokes....

2020 was a landmark year, and the landmark is Chernobyl.Every day, two stupid hurtful things for every one that was noble.Environmental justice and Black Lives Matter both went global --Why do our representatives stay silent and immobile?

2020 was the year we all found outSome of us don’t care if some others diedWe all suffered through depression, angst, and doubt,And politicians lied and lied and lied.

2020 just kept coming,Like an angry, roaring, evil steaming train,But people stepping up still kept us humming,And we’ve still got a big damn swamp to drain.

And now, instead of our tradition of a peaceful power transition,Republicans’ new mission is electoral sedition.Our laws and customs and unity have constantly been sullied,McConnell won’t give people money, says he won't be bullied.

But still so many people trying to help their fellow man,To do what must be done, to do most anything we can.We’ve got some new vaccines, experimental treatments too,We’ve got to hang together, we can make things better if we do.

2020 beat us up and kicked us in the street.We still can’t go to movies, concerts, sports, or out to eat,We’ve all lost friends and family, and we couldn't even mourn,But now the old year's reached its end, and a new one’s being born.

2021 is yet unwritten, chapter, verse,We all hope it’ll be better, but we know it could be worse.But I believe we all can make it through,So ends this 2020 overview,With a wish for better days for me and you,And, 2020? Don't call us, we'll call you.