In the Air Force we shared a cubicle
First day, long flight, I dumped my
Dufflebag and fell into the cot
"Are you offended if I strum a guitar?"
A problem for some in tight quarters
It began a ten year friendship my friend and me
I opened my eyes and noticed tears in his eyes
A letter fell to the floor--should I explore?
His girlfriend from Jr High was breaking up with him
They had a fight when he said he was joining the Air Force
His dad, his grandfather before, he was born an military brat
Both were nineteen in love, he would come back to her
It was a teenage promise he had made and one he would have kept
Next day I helped him send Roses to Ruth, a poem of promise
A poem he had put to music and was sending to his one love
His voice soft, caring words poured out in promise
He asked, "What do you think Dandy?" I answered honestly,
Add a little Do Wop and some baby babies it's a hit."
The poem, the roses, the candy bar---were not accepted
We read it on the back of a comic book, "Send you music to us!"
We will record it in music, make you famous, a play on words!
So the wired recording was sent in--I got a letter from my friend.
"Turn on your radio and listen to the number one hit of the week!"
I will let you be the Judge--my friend did not copyright his song
"A teenage promise---we had a quarrel, I'm sending you these Roses
and a Baby Ruth----!
The rest of the story: My friend never got back with his girlfriend
Ruth. She sent him a letter telling him of her new boyfriend. My friend
came to visit with his new wife. They met while serving in Japan
His heart bleed for the orphans they had seen he adopted two. Last
thing he said to me, "Dandy, I am reenlisting for Viet Nam. I feel
it my duty to serve my country as my family always has. I stopped
getting letters one day. I haven't the courage to look on the wall.
Lee communicated Japanese with his wife. I really don't want to know.
On the back of the album the singers disclosure says, "The songwriter
said I ruined his song. The songwriter I know said they stole his song