AL & RITA 042010 - EUREKA

James Michael Taylor

One day as I was turning into my driveway I saw Rita on her porch. She’s a lot like me.

AL & RITA Capo @2 in C

C stepping down to F
Al was a smoker. He’s dead now, of course
Al has Alzheimer’s. Alcohol made it worse
D stepping down to G
Al had a family, two sons and a wife
C F G C
Everyone said Al had a good life

Al was a lawyer, a decan, a friend
Al would smoke a cigarette, then he’d smoke it again
His memories were scattered along with his health
But Rita loved Al like nobody else.

F C
She’ll be alone for the rest of her days
C G
Too late to start over in too many ways
F C
Men at her church as lonely as she
C G A
But none of them dream about Rita.

Rita wears moomoos to cover her weight
Her nails are pristine. Her hair’s up yo date.
It’s hard on her heart but Rita knows it’s too late
Nobody’s looking for Rita

         Bb  or F           (Your guess is as good as mine...)

I climb up on her roof
Am
Rake the leaves to the ground
G
When things need doing
C G
Her boys aren’t around

She wakes at 6:30. She makes up her face
Scrambles an egg then washes the plate
Sits out on her porch and she ponders her fate
What does this world hold for Rita?

She’s looking back on the best of her days
Too late to start over in so many ways
Men at her church as lonely as she
But none of them interest Rita.
Al was the one man for Rita…

(C) 2010 Royal T Music
Another detail: The day of Al’s funeral I wanted to do SOMETHING, so, without telling or asking anyone, I swept all the accumulated leaves and branches off the roof. What I say about the sons might sound mean but it was something I had noticed over the years.