the future finale: before the music ends

i reached the age of forty somewhat sooner than expected

living at a fairly hectic pace. when i count the years that i have happily collected

the future shows its apprehensive face. quite a different song must be sung

when the singer is no longer young. before the music ends

before it fades away

there are several very necessary things i must do. friends

i must be again certain places where i must be again. before the music ends

i must go to hoboken one more time. i wanna run down that street where that thin italian kid ran. then slow down at the school

where those nice old ladies tried to teach me

unaware that i knew much more than they did. and stop at the poolroom for a beer

and sadly say to myself

i don't know anybody here. one thing i'd like to do

before the music ends

is to thank some wonderful life-long friends

i've never met but have known so well. from one frank to another

thank you for your dream

your dream is now my own. and thank you ludwig van

for the flight of fancy you sent me on. thank mrs. verdi

for joe and a special thanks to jackelo. all of you took turns in delivering sunrise a little sooner to my window. before the music ends

with company by dino and clark

i'd like to make one more charge at baker's. you won't find me at that idiot wheel that spins

and spins and spins. i won't play the slot machine

the management always wins. not for me the game where the jack is called black

and meet them dikes that stand back. you won't hear me talk about saving new shoes

baby's got 57 pairs

all i ask is time

just plain and simple time

time!

in years to come

i may forget if i lost or if i won

but i'll always remember how much fun it was. and when the music ends

i'd like it to end this way

i'll ask chester to write me one more song. i'll get lesty to make me one more chart

and i'll make one more record with the best musicians in the world. and when that cat with the sight comes tugging at my sleeve

i'll be singing as i leave.