Honk before Passing

'Beep Beep' on stage at Prairie Ridge. 'Spring 23

 The painting hanging in my Oakwood office keeps a great memory alive.

 In the spring of 2023 the University Woods campus was holding it's 'Cabaret,' a show open to residents and staff willing to get up on stage.

 I wanted to do an old novelty song but to bring it to life, I needed help. The work was done by a friend and colleague who is also a gifted artist. I found photos of a Cadillac and Rambler from 1957 for her to use as a reference and she did the rest.

 The two Oakwood campuses both put talent shows on stage last spring. At Prairie Ridge, I persuaded the campus chaplain to act out the role of the little Nash Rambler.  

A few weeks later at University Woods, my wife Rhonda and I performed together. Sadly, I don't have a picture of that performance. It was fun doing the show. What I didn't expect was that I still hear comments about "Beep Beep."

The baby blue Nash tried passing on the left throughout the song while the big red Caddy couldn't believe such a small car could keep up. The audience enjoyed the show almost as much as we did performing.

An on-stage memento now hangs on my wall. 4/24/24 dwm

 

After the show, I knew I wanted to keep at least one of the paintings as a souvenir of the performance, it
just took a while to come together.

 

The pair of paintings sat in my home office leaning against a wall for more than a year before I took one to the local Hobby Lobby to be matted and framed. I picked it up last week.

 

Becky's version of the plucky car that couldn't get out of second gear looks even better than it did on stage. I hope to keep it around a long time to remember two very fun moments. 

 

Beep Beep - written by Donald Claps and Carl Cicchetti, performed by The Playmates, 1958

 

While riding in my Cadillac

What to my surprise

A little Nash Rambler was following me

About one-third my size

The guy must have wanted to pass me up

As he kept on tooting his horn

I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn

 

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

His horn went beep, beep, beep.

 

I pushed my foot down to the floor

To give the guy the shake

But the little Nash Rambler stayed right behind

He still had on his brake

He must have thought his car had more guts

As he kept on tooting his horn

I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn

 

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

His horn went beep, beep, beep.

 

My car went into passing gear

And we took off with gust

Soon we were doing 90

Must've left him in the dust

When I peeked in the mirror of my car

I couldn't believe my eyes

The little Nash Rambler was right behind

I think that guy could fly

 

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

His horn went beep, beep, beep.

 

Now we're doing a hundred and ten

This certainly was a race

For a Rambler to pass a Caddy

Would be a big disgrace

The guy must've wanted to pass me up

As he kept on turning his horn

I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to scorn

 

Beep, beep. Beep, beep.

His horn went beep, beep, beep.

 

Now we're doing a hundred-and-twenty

As fast as I could go

The Rambler pulled alongside of me

As if we were going slow

The fellow rolled down his window

And yelled for me to hear

"Hey buddy, how can I get this car

Out of second gear!"