The Band of Brothers: MP3s/Lyrics

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)
• MP3 play whole song, lo-fi (modem)

Note from Michael: One day, I found myself considering the life of my great-great-grandfather, John Stephany; an immigrant to America from Bavaria during the mid-19th century. John found work in a buggy-whip factory in Rochester, NY; yet lived to see the advent of automobiles and the demise of horse-drawn carriages (and therefore buggy-whips). I began considering the changes of technology that his generation faced and wondered what his thoughts might have been about those changes (as I wrote the song I realized the lyrics were as timely today). Thanks to Jamie Stevens for encouraging The Band of Brothers to work on an arrangement of this song, as I was close to demoting the tune to my "Not-Quite-Ready-For-Anything-But-Oblivion" file. It has since become an audience favorite. Go Figure.

They’re closing down the Buggy-Whip, they’re locking the factory doors.

The Year of the Horse is over, the motor-car will roar

Down our streets and alleys - It never will be the same.

All in the name of progress and I think that it’s a shame.

They’re closing down the Buggy-Whip, they’re locking all the doors. Hey-Hey!

What’s the sense of being so speedy? Is life really better that way?

The faster we go towards our destination, the more we gotta pay.

That motor-car’s nice and shiny, but it can’t nuzzle your ear.

And it don’t know the way home, if you’ve had too much beer.

They’re closing down the Buggy-Whip, they’re locking all the doors. Hey-Hey!

Now, I don’t see the reason behind the thinking of today.

Some folks seem to want to rearrange things just for the sake of change.

I always thought if it ain’t busted - then it don’t need to be fixed.

So, I’m gonna hitch up my Old Paint - and get out my buggy whip.

They’re closing down the Buggy-Whip, they’re locking all the doors. Hey-Hey!

C’mon, Old Paint! Giddy-up! I want to move!

I want to see my Sweet Sue, my Little Buttercup.