Ramones Channel 1990 maybe 1991

Ramones Channel 1990 maybe 1991

Even though

Dee Dee was gone,

making rap albums

and shooting too much

smack, it was still

the Ramones.

Even though

I had seen them

the year before,

and they played too

fast, losing the melody

for the speed, afraid

of losing the hardcore

kids, always afraid

of being passed

by, it was still

the Ramones.

Even though

I wasn't sure if

Greg was going

to make the show,

and Greg made

every show, barreling

down 44 too fast in

his Nissan to the

Living Room or

crawling up 93

in my Cavalier

to a Rat hardcore

matinee, it was still

the Ramones.

Even though

I drove through

the worst fog I'd

ever seen on the

Expressway, so

thick my 45 mph

with the highbeams

on put me about

even with everyone

else on the highway,

for a change, still

the Ramones.

Even though

I ended up at

the show, alone,

standing near the

back with all

the old guys, old

like I am now,

nursing their

Buds and nodding

their heads to

the Cretin Hop

and Rockaway

Beach, still

the Ramones.

Even though

later Greg told

me he was there

up near the stage,

away from the old

guys old like

I'm old now, bobbing

their heads like

I do now, still

the Ramones.

Even though,

still played

too fast through

the fog

and the years

and no Dee Dee

and the old men

like I'm old now,

there was never

a time to say

no to

the Ramones.