I woke up a few days ago with a question on my lips:

What song shall I sing next?

As I look at the rest of my life, I see singing.  I see many marvelous songs written by other people … memorized by my brain and given to audiences.  It’s the strongest image that comes, even bigger than my future love Elise.

The song that appeared recently was “Did She Mention My Name?” written and sung by the Canadian legend Gordon Lightfoot.  There was no analysis of why that one, merely a nod that it was the right one.

As I started learning the lyrics yesterday, they were familiar.  Is that because I listened to Gord’s rendition so many times or did I try to memorize the words in my deep dark past?

The next open mic session in Gent is on Friday, June 7 … nine days away.  Is that enough time to thoroughly learn the song?  Maybe.  Do I play it safe and sing something else that I know better?  (No)  Or do I give the folks “Mention My Name” come hell or high water – even if forgotten lyrics and some out-of-tuneness?  (Yes)

“Do it up big, Bruce!  Sing what’s demanding to be sung.”

Here are the words.  They’ll be heard on the Sint-Salvatorstraat on a Friday night near you …

It’s so nice to meet an old friend and pass the time of day
And talk about the hometown a million miles away
Is the ice still on the river?
Are the old folks still the same?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Did she mention my name just in passing?
And when the morning came, do you remember if she dropped a name or two?
Is the home team still on fire?
Do they still win all their games?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Is the landlord still a loser?
Do his signs hang in the hall?
Are the young girls still as pretty in the city in the fall?
Does the laughter on their faces still put the sun to shame?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Did she mention my name just in passing?
And when the talk ran high, did the look in her eyes seem far away?
Is the old roof still leaking when the late snow turns to rain?
And by the way, did she mention my name?

Did she mention my name just in passing?
And looking at the rain, do you remember if she dropped a name or two?
Won’t you say hello from someone?
They’ll be no need to explain
And by the way, did she mention my name?