Golden Gate
©1996 Richard March

Daddy’s born there, I was born there too; It ain’t where I grew
Time I came ‘round, we had moved away, to south suburban streets
Where shopping malls and money make you sleep

Small town’s stuffy, thought I’d suffocate
Thinkin’ ‘bout the Golden Gate

Grandma lived there, I’d go spend the night, she did things up right
Fryin’ chicken, made the place smell fine.
We’d eat and then we’d play Backgammon, Go Fish and Crazy Eights

Me and Grandma, those were special days
Goin’ up to Golden Gate

Sunday sometimes, family’d ride
To the city, to a church so pretty that it left us all wide-eyed
Service over, it was Tommy’s Joint to start

With a little luck we’d feed the ducks
And play around in my favorite park

Backseat ride home, not a child awake
Dreamin’ ‘bout the Golden Gate

Lived in “Sunset”, in the “Richmond” too.
Guess I ain’t that cool

Fog rolls thick here.
I like it fine that way, it keeps my mind at ease
Night time streetlights glow so silver screen.

Like some movie filmed in ‘48
Romantic in the Golden Gate

Summer’s late here. It hardly holds
We ain’t got but three long seasons, that’s “windy,” “wet” and “cold”

Salt air soothes me, much more than a summer breeze
L.A. may be where you make it, but it only makes me sneeze

You ask most folks, seems they’re here to stay
Why? They love the Golden Gate

San Francisco, second chance
Brand new love for some and for others old romance

I was born here, It’s here I hope to die
But if I’m gone when I’m called upon, bring my body back by her side

Let my ashes float down to the waves
Underneath the Golden Gate