"Garden Party"

Ricky Nelson singing
"Garden Party" (1972)

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

Garden Party:
Album (1972)

Ricky Nelson sings
"Garden Party" (1972)

Preface: For Song #32, I've selected "Garden Party" sang by Ricky Nelson (1972). The song written by Rick Nelson and recorded by him and the Stone Canyon Band for the album "Garden Party". The song tells the story of Nelson being booed at a concert at Madison Square Garden. It was Nelson's last top 40 hit, reaching No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard pop chart, and reached number one in Canada. The song inspired me to write two poems— "Garden Party" (12-4-2022) & "Garden Party: Act 2" (12-6-2022); (Lyrics).

I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same

CHORUS
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
'n' over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise

CHORUS

lott-in-dah-dah-dah, lot-in-dah-dah-dah

Played them all the old songs, thought that's why they came
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou", she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave

CHORUS

lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
lot-in-dah-dah-dah

Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck

CHORUS

lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
lot-in-dah-dah-dah

'n' it's all right now, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself

© Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com
June 20, 2023