September (Earth, Wind, and Fire)

There’s this song that I know of,

that speaks to my heart, it speaks to everyone’s hearts

A holy song, played on the 21st night of September

Perhaps to alleviate, perhaps to gift

But whoever would hear this song

Couldn’t help but belt it out for all to hear

And the 21st night of September

was a special occasion. 

There would be no one to argue

because they all agree

September is the only song that they should play. 

Here I am, lonely boy in a lonely bar 

Here I am, looking to play something without a care 

Here I am, happening to stumble upon a place

Here I am, picking up my pace 

On this chilly night 

The cool night of September 

I have a mission

It is no mission for the faint of heart. 

No mission for the weak-willed.

No, it is for the most noblest of men.

Who march on despite what their heart may say. 

I walk into the bar, coins in hand

I know the place by heart, you see? 

And so I go straight to the jukebox, right there in the corner

Innocent and ready, with really no one to pay attention to

I feed in my coins, I punch in the number. 

I know it by heart, you see? 

I punch them in, one by one

I feed the coins in, one by one

I know I’m succumbing to the forces of Capitalism (with a capital C) by doing this

But Gods! I just need to hear it. 

I yearn to hear it with all my body.

Like how a pregnant women craves strange foods

Or how those with knowledge and power will crave more of it 

Or how kids will always crave ice cream.

I crave this song, the song that is played the 21st night of September. 

The song is played! 

I return back to my seat

I wait for chaos. 

It starts out well, it starts out swell!

It is the 21st night of September, and all is well!

They hop out of their seats, they boogie in their chairs!

They dance in pairs, without a care, a country united, it’s in the air! 

Three minutes and thirty five seconds of pure bliss! 

This is really something you can’t miss. 

But as the song fades away

And the patrons go back to their day

(Or should I say night? But I tempt fate yet again, I shall call it day)

The song starts back up again! 

This is not a song that should be repeated.

But it’s a welcome idea. 

The boogie is not gone yet, you see. 

So they dance yet again, they allow this supposed child his fun. 

But alas, what fools they are. 

It plays again, and again! 

It is for chaos, you see

A sweet chaos. 

The people groan the 3rd time 

The people scream the 4th time

And by the 5th time, oh-ho! You’ll see. 

One throws a steak knife! 

And it embeds itself on top of the jukebox. 

The 6th time the people cry

The 7th time the people throw plates 

The 8th time, people leave

By the 9th, they start walking out, a protest of injustice. 

That was their mistake. 

I am kind, I am smart

As a break, I play Heatwaves

The greatest song, by Glass Animals 

A moment of respite, in the darkest hours

Ah-ha! But I tricked them all again

Can’t you see? It was all just a play. 

A simple folly, a simple fall. 

And now we’re back to September, and the people cower in fear.

Who is this daring person? 

Who plays a song 9 times in a row?

Who is this stupid person?

Who risks his life over a simple song?

Who is this person?

That I must kill?

They cannot find me, because humans are mostly blind

(I would know, I am one) 

And so they quickly finish their food

Or ask for takeout

They check their checks and pay the cash

And they run out the door, hands over their ears. 

They look towards me, the only person in the bar. 

(I get kicked out of the bar, it is obvious it was me who played it)

But it was all worth it, you see?

September must be played.