Joe Jencks

This is something that has happened to us all. Whether in the grocery store, at the mall, in school, on the highway…it just seemed to put a fine point on a quintessential form of human embarrassment.  I had no idea how universal this feeling was till this song fell out of me on I-5 north of San Francisco, CA.  It has become one of my most requested songs, attesting to the universality of feeling foolish. If anybody knows Lyle Lovett, send him this song.  He should sing it, too.

Well I was stranded at the junction of Interstate America
And U.S. Boulevard
Oh, the traffic was tight
All I could see was tail-lights
For miles and miles around
There you were in your car shinning bright as any star
In your "Beetle" with the dashboard flower vase
Oh, you turned my way and smiled
I was giddy as a child
I saw a-thousand wondrous lifetimes on your face

This is the start of a beautiful romance
It happened in a traffic jam today
Suddenly there were choirs of angels singing
It's like a modern fairytale come my way

Traffic had not moved an inch but I could not care less
I imagined our whole courtship down through every sweet caress
How we went to meet your parents your old man gave me the eye
But your mom thought I was sweet as cream on fresh baked apple pie

This is the start of a beautiful romance
It happened in a traffic jam today
Suddenly there were choirs of angels singing
It's like a modern fairytale come my way

We had the perfect wedding all our friends were there
It was catered by some famous chef, you wore flowers in your hair
We bought a nice suburban home for a growing family
And had a couple children they looked just like you and me

This is the start of a beautiful romance
It happened in a traffic jam today
Suddenly there were choirs of angels singing
It's like a modern fairytale come my way

But suddenly the traffic up ahead began to break
I felt our moment slipping by
I wondered should I let it go or jump out of my car
And pledge my love for you until I die
As I sat in contemplation I had a sudden revelation
And a feeling I could almost call regret
It was not me who caught your eye
But that tall and handsome guy
Beside me in a brand new red Corvette.

This could have been a beautiful romance
It happened in a traffic jam today
Suddenly there were choirs of angels singing
"You're a fool boy!  Step right on that gas and drive away."

This could have been a beautiful romance
It happened in a traffic jam today
Suddenly there were choirs of angels singing
"Better luck next time! Step right on that gas and drive away."

Suddenly there were choirs of angels singing
"It's the pedal on the right, boy! Step right on that gas and drive away."

© 2000, 2003 Joe Jencks