Washington Street

Whenever I can’t take no more of all the news and noise
I tie my walkin’ shoes up on my feet
And I go past the Stop sign where the dandelions grow
And head on down to Washington Street

And I see there’s Mary Daley like she is most every night
Sittin’ with her newborn on the stoop
Watchin’ all her others playin’ in the driveway
Throwin’ basketballs at that old rusty hoop.

And God bless Al Pischiotta in his orange folding chair
Lookin’ through the off-track racing form
And Helen Williams pullin’ weeds and pressin’ on her back
While the kids run through the sprinkler on the lawn.

And my mother told me every life’s a story
You never see the heartache and defeat
But still it seems to me things are just like they should be
When I’m walkin’ down on Washington Street

Here comes the ice cream truck ringin’ that old bell
Kids runnin’ out and wavin’ dollar bills
Driver man handin’ out the snow cones and the crunch bars
Whike the kids lean in to feel the freezer chill

And there’s that fella I seen works up at the bank
Chippin’ whiffle golf balls in a cup
And the little brown-eyed boy that stays with Lisa Frank
Til her sister comes from work to pick him up

And my mother told me every life’s a story
You never know the tragedies they meet
But still it seems to me things are just as they should be
When I’m walkin’ down on Washington Street

There’s sweet Amelia Fusik, sittin’ on her porch
Lookin’ out at some place far away
Lost her husband to the Covid, 50 years together
But I know she’s gonna be OK