Lyrics What Gives - Loudon Wainwright III

What Gives

Paul & George & Ringo, just a fraction of the Fab Four
Some still survive from Dave Clark’s Five
Washed up on the Mersey Shore Jerry has a pacemaker
The hermit’s name is Herman
That old man’s Manfred Mann &
The Animals merely vermin
Hank Junior sang with Senior his cheatin heart was cold
And just a few years back
Natalie and Nat King Cole duetted and went gold
There’s a way to make it pay
Though they’ve flown the coup
John Denver, Stevie Ray, Vaughan, Buddy Holly
Ricky Nelson, Otis Redding in one super group
Bring me the bones of Brian Jones
And Joplin’s tinted glasses
Hendrix’s pick, Keith Moon’s drumstick
And a caftan of Mama Cass'
Rock and roll will never die, neither can her heroes
Just pick a figure with three digits
Then tack on about six zeros
The Beatles are forever, it’s like John never got shot
Here’s what gives, Elvis lives, what is in fact is not
Here’s what gives, Elvis lives, what is in fact is not