'No Flash in the Pan': Obama and the G20 Blues

Caught in gentle downtown Brooklyn traffic. Imagining 44, on Air Force One, flying over the Atlantic on his way to G20. He's jamming to Bob Dylan's "Cry Awhile." And not air guitar, no, not this Prez. Hoops, blues and the law. Croonin' and laying down those mean blues licks, backed up by Tim Geithner on drums, Joltin' Joe Biden on bass. A blues soul if there ever was one. Raised all across the American continent and in Asia to boot. Steeped in Chicago cool and Columbia law dreams. He glances over at the picture of the kids, and winks at Michelle who sits by a window, reading The Economist. The Man's come a long way in a little while. China, like a club-owner watching the bottom line, may express caution; Merkel and Sarkozy may argue over the primacy of cool Euro jazz over American blues, but soon it won't matter.

44, his missus, and the Team are on their way to show G20 what's what and, lettin' the cat out of the cage, that will be that.

Dylan's actual performance from 2002 Grammy's here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X7iw8pk-84

Cry A While by Bob Dylan

Well, I had to go down and see a guy named Mr. Goldsmith
A nasty, dirty, double-crossin', back-stabbin' phony I didn't wanna have to be dealin' with
But I did it for you and all you gave me was a smile
Well, I cried for you - now it's your turn to cry awhile

I don't carry dead weight - I'm no flash in the pan
All right, I'll set you straight, can't you see I'm a union man?
I'm lettin' the cat out of the cage, I'm keeping a low profile
Well, I cried for you - now it's your turn, you can cry awhile

Feel like a fighting rooster - feel better than I ever felt
But the Pennsylvania line's in an awful mess and the Denver road is about to melt
I went to the church house, every day I go an extra mile
Well, I cried for you - now it's your turn, you can cry awhile

Last night 'cross the alley there was a pounding on the walls
It must have been Don Pasquale makin' a two a.m. booty call
To break a trusting heart like mine was just your style
Well, I cried for you - now it's your turn to cry awhile

I'm on the fringes of the night, fighting back tears that I can't control
Some people they ain't human, they got no heart or soul
Well, I'm crying to The Lord - I'm tryin' to be meek and mild
Yes, I cried for you - now it's your turn, you can cry awhile

Well, there's preachers in the pulpits and babies in the cribs
I'm longin' for that sweet fat that sticks to your ribs
I'm gonna buy me a barrel of whiskey - I'll die before I turn senile
Well, I cried for you - now it's your turn, you can cry awhile

Well, you bet on a horse and it ran on the wrong way
I always said you'd be sorry and today could be the day
I might need a good lawyer, could be your funeral, my trial
Well, I cried for you, now it's your turn, you can cry awhile

Copyright ©2001 Special Rider Music