A stolen melody

it was all wrong
the school barracks
old chewing gum stuck
in judgemental ceilings
our music teacher ignored
everything except three chords
no pupil sang, express yourself
and you'll be hanging forever
in a cord from the ceiling
a catchy melody about
a happy music loving hooker
The Havana Girl in her window
giving a red rose to a sailor


now thirty years later
barracks are demolished
poisonous heavy metals
was found underground
I remember the shiny sand
we dug up from the sandbox
and pretended it was silver
I was not surprised to hear
the melody was stolen
from a Christian song
so now I play it
on my piano and one day
I'll sing along fearless
with my own words