African Friend -- time to dust it off?
Posted: November 9, 2006 11:26 pm
This has long been a very favorite Buffett song -- the melody and storytelling among Jimmy's finest. One first sees a black man, but comes to understand so much more. He's a fellow traveler of the world, a person of strength, character, insight and class, a gambler with the courage to win, who made those around him richer for having crossed his path, and was taken away too soon. In the end, one's first impression didn't matter; he was just another good friend.
I wonder if Jimmy might dust this off to honor the friend he lost today....
AFRICAN FRIEND
Jimmy Buffett
Disembarking at Duvalier Airport
Seeking transportation to town
As the purple ink dried on his passport
He could still feel the eyes look around
"Messieur ou est le casino?"
He spoke to the cabbie and smiled
The driver replied "Vieux ou noveaux?"
As he motioned the dark man inside.
Business in Aruba concluded
He now had a little money to spend
That's how I came to meet my African friend
We were rollin' the bones several hours
Conversing as most gamblers do
We were calling on all of our powers
Hoping to see the night through.
But not approving at all of our winning
The pit boss he tugged at his sleeve
Through the whole thing my new friend was grinning
When he motioned it's time we should leave.
With our night at the tables behind us
We were ready just to do it again
That's when I came to know my African Friend
But I woke up on the steps of a whorehouse
Soldier told me I' better leave
As I stumbled to find me a taxi
I saw a note pinned to my sleeve.
"It was a pleasure and a hell of an evening
It was truly our night to win
But the authorities insist on my leaving
Take care, my American friend."
With my weekend at Haiti concluded
I now had a little money to spend
That's when I came to meet my African friend
That's how I came to know another good friend.
I had the privelege and opportunity to watch Larry King talk with the 60 Minutes crew this evening (rebroadcast at Midnight ET). Steve Croft, a personal friend as well as co-worker clearly grieved Ed Bradley's loss. But there was laughter along with the sadness as Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Don Hewitt, and Bob Schieffer also recounted stories of their deeply-respected colleague. And more than one sniffle was audible following Aaron Neville's "Stand By Me".
Don Hewitt told the story of when he hired Ed at 60 Minutes. He announced to the team: "I hired Ed Bradley because he's a minority." After the room settled back down Don continued: "Ed's an outstanding reporter and a gentleman. If that's not a minority I don't know what is."
Classy, kind, professional, competitive, caring, honest, humorous, fair, and on and on....
To the family and friends of Ed Bradley, thanks for sharing with so many.
Ed, may smooth jazz, the Neville Brothers and a bit of Buffett fill your sails.
I wonder if Jimmy might dust this off to honor the friend he lost today....
AFRICAN FRIEND
Jimmy Buffett
Disembarking at Duvalier Airport
Seeking transportation to town
As the purple ink dried on his passport
He could still feel the eyes look around
"Messieur ou est le casino?"
He spoke to the cabbie and smiled
The driver replied "Vieux ou noveaux?"
As he motioned the dark man inside.
Business in Aruba concluded
He now had a little money to spend
That's how I came to meet my African friend
We were rollin' the bones several hours
Conversing as most gamblers do
We were calling on all of our powers
Hoping to see the night through.
But not approving at all of our winning
The pit boss he tugged at his sleeve
Through the whole thing my new friend was grinning
When he motioned it's time we should leave.
With our night at the tables behind us
We were ready just to do it again
That's when I came to know my African Friend
But I woke up on the steps of a whorehouse
Soldier told me I' better leave
As I stumbled to find me a taxi
I saw a note pinned to my sleeve.
"It was a pleasure and a hell of an evening
It was truly our night to win
But the authorities insist on my leaving
Take care, my American friend."
With my weekend at Haiti concluded
I now had a little money to spend
That's when I came to meet my African friend
That's how I came to know another good friend.
I had the privelege and opportunity to watch Larry King talk with the 60 Minutes crew this evening (rebroadcast at Midnight ET). Steve Croft, a personal friend as well as co-worker clearly grieved Ed Bradley's loss. But there was laughter along with the sadness as Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Don Hewitt, and Bob Schieffer also recounted stories of their deeply-respected colleague. And more than one sniffle was audible following Aaron Neville's "Stand By Me".
Don Hewitt told the story of when he hired Ed at 60 Minutes. He announced to the team: "I hired Ed Bradley because he's a minority." After the room settled back down Don continued: "Ed's an outstanding reporter and a gentleman. If that's not a minority I don't know what is."
Classy, kind, professional, competitive, caring, honest, humorous, fair, and on and on....
To the family and friends of Ed Bradley, thanks for sharing with so many.
Ed, may smooth jazz, the Neville Brothers and a bit of Buffett fill your sails.
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