Winter 2008
Issue

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Mary Beth Doyle
1961-2004

MB: Personal Rememberances

Lyrics and Poetry

February/March Issue, 2006

Girlfriend

I’d been thinkin’ we’d spend more time
You with your guitar, me with mine
Playing some tunes with Chuck
   on the bass
Your voice was pretty as the smile
   on your face

You’d sing your heart out and you’d
   scat some lines
Hang on some notes and send chills
   down my spine
Singin’ “Cockles and Mussels” and
   “Red River Valley”
“Frankie and Johnny” and of course
   “Bill Bailey”

Chorus:

Oh, your life was too short for me – Mary Beth
I guess your heart was too big
And your spirit too free – to hold you here
I just wish you were here still – Mary Beth

I’d been thinking ‘bout the food we had
Your mixed greens salad ‘n’ garlic bread
We three at the table talkin’ ‘bout the day
Sometimes so long barely time left to play

You baked your first apple pie with me
Jona-Macs and Spy-Golds from your love, Keeney
I was thinkin’ and hopin’ we’d cook again
Skip the cilantro you just couldn’t stand

Chorus

I was impressed with your New York Times
Crossword finished every morning by 9
I am so serious; you liked to laugh
You were smart, and witty, and matter of fact

You weren’t into horses but we both loved to dance
Play music, eat brownies and shop second hand
The Dance Floor, The Old Town, Parties, and Knit-Night
Girlfriend, Oh Girlfriend, you were such a delight

Chorus

-- Nancy Broxholm

 

In Memory of
Mary Beth Doyle

She went to her mother’s side and stayed with her to the end
She loved to dance, she loved to laugh;
She was a fighter and a friend
She set an example; so often took the extra time
Her spirit lasts in our hearts and in our minds

She used to volunteer to help in any way she could
She worked hard to protect the earth andshe did a world of good
In just a short time she changed a lot for you and I
She’s welcomed home to the land and sea and sky

Can you see her dancing?
Dancing through the night
Dancing, dancing with the northern lights

She’d want us to laugh and sing and to always try our best
This world would be a happier place ifwe could all be more
   like Mary Beth
Life lasts just a short time; we all know it’s true
But Mary Beth, it’s hard to say goodbye to you
Mary Beth, we’ll always remember you

-- Gerry Butterwick

 

Who’s That Girl?

(written for Mary Beth )

who’s that girl
dancing like she doesn’t even care what she’s doing
or who’s watching
she just wants to be moving to the music
who’s that girl

who’s that girl
wiggle like a fish and then she jumps in the ocean
shakes her body with each musical notion
watch her dancing
who’s that girl

it must be time for letting go of
everything you left behind
everybody wants a share of
feeling fine

who’s that girl
who’s that girl

who’s that girl
I think I’m gonna try and get a little closer
watch her dancing and you know it’s fun to know her
I want to know her
who’s that girl

watch her twirl
I’m gonna try and get inside what she’s doing
the way she smiles while her whole body’s moving
to the music
who’s that girl

everybody’s never sure of
everything they left behind
everybody wants a share of
feeling fine

who’s that girl
dancing like she doesn’t even care what she’s doing
or who’s watching
she just wants to be moving to the music
who’s that girl

who’s that girl
who’s that girl

-- Dick Siegel

 

I See You in the Morning

I see you in the morning as the sun
Begins to rise over the ridge
And moves across the blue and cloudless sky
Very high toward the West.

I see you in the things that live with us in peace
Things that make our world so green
I see you in the people that I hold so close to me
Hold us close and set us free.

And as we seek each other for the love
We’re meant to share, I think I can see
That as the things that live around us grow
I think I can see that’s how it will be for us.

I see you in the things that live with us in peace
Things that make our world so green
I see you in the people that I hold so close to me
Hold us close and set us free.

-- Jim Grenoble

 

The Doyle

You knew that you’d never save the world
But you never gave up trying
What’s the world going to do without you

I don’t remember where it was we met
I don’t know how long it’s been
It seems like you’ve always been a friend

Seems like you’ve always been a rock
Seems like you’ve always been an anchor
And you never let the assholes get you down

Chorus:

Dance like the world is on fire
Dance like you are all alone in your room
Keep on dancing girl and we’ll dance with you

-- Jack Spack Jr.

 

Vinyl is a Girl’s Best Friend

Laurie and I wanted to share this song with you all. Some of you may remember it from the talent show in Siren, Wisconsin. We wrote the words with Mary Beth in the car on the way to the meeting. It’s to the tune of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.”

As many have already said – MB had a love for life. Whether it was wearing a leopard nursing-bra, cheering with pom-poms, or dressing in jewels and boa – MB always knew how to make our work fun. This song is just one of the many examples.

She was a dear dear friend and a fantastic activist. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I called on her to help me work through a problem or brainstorm an idea. I could always count on her to give me honest feedback. Right now I just can’t imagine doing this work without her.

And we shared more than just our work – we shared our passions, dreams, fears and our love to dance. The loss is great ... for all of us. Hope this song makes you smile.

-- Monica Rohde & Laurie Valeriano

Marble for tile is just so continental.
But vinyl is a girl’s best friend.
Cheap is the plan when you must make the rental.
So vinyl’s nice. It wears out, you do it twice.
It gets old and truth be told
It loses its charm in the end.
But cracked, curled or leaching
These floors don’t need bleaching.
Vinyl is a girl’s best friend.

There may come a night when a girl’s feeling flashy.
And vinyl is a girl’s best friend.
Silk may be nice, but when you’re feeling trashy
And you want to flirt – that’s when you need that vinyl skirt.

Then the fun is done and you gotta run
You throw it in the trash in the end.
And then they just burn it.
Dioxin – oh durn it!
Vinyl is a girl’s best friend.

You wake up one morning, and you’re feeling sickly.
Vinyl is a girl’s best friend.
You go to the doc - then things get kinda prickly.
Cuz the IV’s vinyl.
You say “No way and that is final.”

DEHP is not for me.
It gets in your blood in the end.
You don’t know the facts, sir.
Send that crap back to Baxter!
Vinyl is a girl’s best friend.

One day your pipe breaks so you call up a plumber.
And vinyl is a girl’s best friend.
You say you want clay, but he says “Lady bummer.
Sure clay is nice. But not in stock – so no dice.”

Bill Carrol’s the guy.
His stocks are high.
But we’ll take him down in the end.
‘Cause Rossi and Tom Lent
This gang – they’re just hell bent!
Vinyl is a girl’s best friend.

-- Mary Beth Doyle, Monica Rohde & Laurie Valeriano

(original lyrics by Leo Robin)

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