highline56 op ed

They say that no matter how old we are, in our minds we are still 18 years old

As the 50-year reunion moves ever closer, my thoughts return to those early years. All the things I did that I wish I hadn’t done and all the things I wish I had.

This prompted me to write the words to a song. Perhaps someone out there could add the music.

THE CARS I WISH I HAD OWNED

THINGS HAVE CHANGED, THEY ALWAYS DO,
BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WAS YOUNG TOO.
IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS A RULE,
YOU HAD TO HAVE A CAR TO BE REALLY COOL.
NOT ANY OLD CAR LIKE A FAMILY HAND-DOWN,
IT HAD TO BE SPECIAL FOR CRUISING ROUND TOWN.

LIKE A 40 FORD WITH A CLASSIC SOUND
A 49’ FORD LOWERED TO THE GROUND
A 54‘VETTE, THE FIRST OF THE LINE
OR A 56’ TBIRD, THEY LOOKED REALLY FINE.

I’VE OWNED CARS SINCE THE DAY I COULD DRIVE,
FROM A 47’ STUDIE WITH OVERDRIVE.
TO A 51’ CHEV THAT NEVER WINS,
AND A 57’ DODGE WITH GREAT BIG FINS.
THEY WEREN’T COOL OR EVEN TWO-TONED,
NOW THESE ARE THE CARS I WISH I HAD OWNED.

A 40’ FORD WITH A CLASSIC SOUND
A 49’ FORD LOWERED TO THE GROUND
A 54’ VETTE, THE FIRST OF THE LINE
OR A 56 TBIRD, THEY LOOKED REALLY FINE.

NOW THAT I’M OLD AND OUT OF MY PRIME,
I GUESS I COULD GET THEM ANY OLD TIME.
BUT THEY WOULDN’T BE COOL AND NIETHER WOULD I,
SO I’LL JUST CARRY THESE MEMORIES TILL THE DAY THAT I DIE.

OF A 40’ FORD WITH A CLASSIC SOUND
A 49’ FORD LOWERED TO THE GROUND
A 54’ VETTE, THE FIRST OF THE LINE
OR A 56 TBIRD, THEY LOOKED REALLY FINE.

THINK OF ME AFTER I GO,
WHEN YOU SEE THESE CARS IN AN ANTIQUE SHOW,
THEY’LL BE RESTORED AND PERFECT TO VIEW,
BUT THEY WON’T BE LIKE WHEN THEY WERE NEW.
AND PICTURE ME AT 17 AND BEHIND THE WHEEL
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE JUST HOW COOL I FEEL.

DRIVING A 40’ FORD WITH A CLASSIC SOUND
A 49’ FORD LOWERED TO THE GROUND
A 54’ VETTE, THE FIRST OF THE LINE
OR A 56’ TBIRD, THEY LOOKED REALLY FINE.