The Boys In The Lesbian Jazz Band

The boys was sitting in a corner of the club one afternoon like they usually do, Playing music for a long time without interruption That they eventually named “Lesbian Love Tune”— They couldn't give any reason why when we asked them about it later— One of them had said it and the others had nodded. Apparently it just sounded that way! After that, the rest of us sat around trying to sort it out. Did all their other tunes sound different now? Maybe this way or that, Maybe masculine or tough, But it didn’t seem to be the case, And no one ever knew where or why That tune had come from. I think there’d have been less drama and curiosity If they’d called it instead by some vulgar name For a woman’s parts, some word That you normally can’t even say, But in the jazz world of that day might have prospered! At any rate, it plagued them and followed them From one engagement to another Until nobody wanted them any more. It wouldn’t have mattered any more If they’d named the tune “Balls” Or if they’d squelched it And never played it any more, But they were mesmerized by it, They couldn’t lay it down Any way except that one way! They painted themselves into a corner— With all their hearts they Played themselves into oblivion— And no one even remembers their names. No, not even me.