I had never had a close friend, or a close relative die, and I took it pretty hard.  I was a downright Beatles fanatic by then - which hasn't changed - and one of my greatest hopes, indeed a faith, was that one day the Beatles would get back together and release their most mature work.  I lost that then.

I spent the next day singing "I read the news today oh boy" to myself all day long.  It's 28 years later, and again my eyes well, and again I feel sorry for myself, for my own personal loss.

I never knew a death that hit me harder until my father died on Christmas Day, 2002.

I was living in San Francisco when Lennon died.  There was a picture in the Chronicle the next day of a long white wall by a sidewalk somewhere in the Mission District.  Someone had painted a giant message, at least 20 yards long:  

JOHN LENNON WILL LIVE FOREVER

The Dakota
Words and Music by Christine Lavin/Flip-A-Jig
Music ASCAP & Happy Valley Music BMI
Copyright 1986, Palindrome Records, Philo

It was a Monday morning, I was coming in from a long trip on the road.
I flagged a cab near the East Side Terminal,
I said, "Please take me home."
We drove up along Third Avenue, crossed through Central Park.
When we came out at Seventy second Street,
I felt a cold chill in my heart.

Every time I see the Dakota, I think about that night.
Shots ringing out, the angry shouts,
A man losing his life.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon,
But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Too many good men have been cut down,
Let's pray there won't be any more.

Rush hour traffic was bottled up,
We slowly inched by.
I didn't want to look, but I couldn't help staring
At the scene of the crime.
There was an old man sweeping last night's dirt
Out of the darkened vestibule,
And a uniformed guard in a gold-trimmed cap
Watching the world pass in review.

But every time I see the Dakota, I think about that night.
Shots ringing out, the angry shouts,
A man losing his life.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon,
But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Too many good men have been cut down,
Let's pray there won't be any more.

I don't believe in coincidence,
So why then on the radio
Did an old familiar voice
Echo back from not so long ago?
"Imagine all the people
Living life in peace."
Well, it's hard to do
When you are on this blood-stained street.

I wish I had the answer
To the simple question, "Why?"
I wish this taxi would go faster
Oh, I wish the driver would try
To leave this street
And leave this old building far behind.
I wish I could take these bitter thoughts
And just shake them from my mind.

But Every time I see the Dakota, I still think of that night.
Shots ringing out, the angry shouts,
A man losing his life.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon,
But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Too many good men have been cut down,
Let's pray there won't be any more.