Hello Pa!
It's long distance
It's your brand-new southern daughter
It's Rose
Oh, everything's fine here
I suppose
How's the Hudson River?
I'm fine, just fine
I'm learning the lingo
Magnolia
Camellia
Azalea
Y'all
Their temple, get this
Has Sunday night bingo
Just like the goyim
Oy
A long-distance call!
So much to tell
The boy still hates me- oh
I really shouldn't be talking so loud
He leaves money in his pockets
And that really grates me
I tell him and tell him it's not allowed
Just shucking your laundry
Oh, you hear that? "Shuck!"
I'm a southerner already
Onto the floor
Take the money out first
God knows we're not poor
But show respect for your father
He worked hard for that buck
Well, no, not a whole buck
He's a boy
But loose change
Quarters
Those add up
The Negro maid
She's making bupkes
How does that look?
Leaving change in his pockets?
Indifferent to money
The kid's a little funny
Spoiled and quiet
Sad, I guess
I'm on a diet
I bought a new dress
Stu's giving lessons
Playing
Doing fine
Work is steady
He still misses Betty
I don't mind
I miss her, too
She was my best friend
I miss the city
I miss the old crowd
What?
Because we haven't got-
We can't just give her a raise, Pa
We aren't rich
We're just plain folk
We've only got bupkes ourselves
We're broke!
Typical
You obsess about the maid when your daughter's miserable
No! not miserable
I never said-
Well, that's not what I meant
I'm just not-
Just not a hundred percent-
It's very hot
And very damp
And out in the backyard
There's a little swamp full of noisy frogs
Last night I cried
I miss you, Pa
I miss the Upper West Side