COTTON the CLOWN

T'WAS THE MONTH BEFORE CHRISTMAS

WORDS & MUSIC BY COTTON, 2004

T’was the month before Christmas,
And the heat was so hot
Extra help was not needed
For popcorn to pop.
Winter coats all were hung in the closet together
In the hopes of the birth of a break in the weather.
The heater sat idly, in hopes of a chill…
Gas companies postured to jack up our bill.
When all of a sudden it poured: how it rained!
And instantly we all forgot we’d complained
We flipped on our heaters; we heated hot chocolate
While stiff fingers fumbled for gloves in our pocket.
We shivered; we layered, we chose to stay in
We planned a vacation to summer with friends
We looked out from inside, noses smushed on the glass
Contemplating when all this “cold coldness” would pass
When suddenly our thoughts abandoned the weather
~lest we miss getting geared up for Christmas together!
So we planned, and we shopped; and we shopped and we planned,
We rested, and then went out shopping again.
Suffering sore, achy feet, and some “purchase” regrets$
Our plastic, (now dog-eared from accruing new debts…)
We wrapped, and we packed, and embellished the tree.
(We adjusted our thermostats to 73.)
We cleaned, and we cooked, and then made a deposit
(No, not at the bank, but into the hall closet)
Out of eyesight: those boxes; just taking up space:
From Christmases past~now just cluttering the place
         The month after Christmas arrived much too quickly,
             A mere walk to the mailbox would make us feel sickly.
                Many letters to open, and mostly from banks,
                   With details on interest we’d pay for those “Thanks.”
So we settled our minds on the next thing at hand:
Hot weather, no jackets; the vacation we’d planned!

HANUKKAH IS COMING TO TOWN

Words by Cotton, 2002

 To be sung to Santa Claus is Coming to Town 

REUBEN THE RED RUSSET LATKE

AS SUNG TO “RUDOLPH THE R.N. REINDEER

WORDS BY COTTON, 2004

You know scalloped, au gratin, and mashed or French-fried  (S,A,M,F)

Creamed, boiled or twice-baked with cheddar and chives... (C,B,T-B-C-C)

But do you recall...?

The most famous POTATO of all?

Reuben the red russet latke

He’s as tasty as can be

He comes around at Hanukkah

For the hungry families.

Reuben the red russet latke

He’s as tasty as can be

DON ‘T TOUCH HIM, ‘CAUSE HE’S HOT-KE,

~No more fast food fries for me!

Once he was a lonely spud

In the produce isle

Now he’s in our frying pan

We’ll eat him in a while!

Reuben the red russet latke

He’s as tasty as can be

Don’t touch him, cause he’s hot-ke

~No more fast food fries for me!