Parky has always been attuned to the avant-garde, and he’s always loved Laurie Anderson!
In anticipation of the upcoming World Parkinson Congress, he’s re-written Anderson’s “Sharkey’s Night” as “Parky’s Night,” which in the original recording features the voice of über avant-garde writer, William S. Burroughs! (Two YouTube versions appear below!)
Parky’s Night
Portland’s coming up, like a big orange muffin
Rising up over the Rockies. (Oooee.) It’s Parky’s time.
Yeah. It’s Parky’s time to rhyme.
And the mayor says: Parky?
He’s travelin’ right now. (Oh yeah.)
Could you find him and give him a message?
And Parky says: Hey, Congress in-crowd!
Long time no see!
He says: You get on the planes.
You come play with me!
He says: I picture us all drinking lattes,
Staring as the milk begins to steam.
Steam swayin’ like a friendly ghost,
And changing shape like an ever-shifting dream.
And the steam it shimmies,
And it’s doin’ everything I do.
Every time I swish my tail, it swishes, too.
If I take a sip and look at you,
The steam rises up, and looks at you, too.
Because it’s Parky’s night tonight!
Parky’s night in Portland!
And Parky says: Deep in the hearts of doctors,
Researchers,
Care givers,
PwP’s,
Patient patients,
Hotel rooms adjacent,
Hotels filled to bursting, homes of the brave,
For a five-day, all-inclusive Parkinson’s enclave!
He says: Listen to my heart beat.
Paging Mr. Parky!
What courtesy telephone, please?
See you soon in Portland!
