In 2017, Nebraska celebrated its susque–sesqua–150th birthday. And those marvelous Main Street Players did what was, for us, a very ambitious play taking audience members through 150 years of Box Butte County history in under two hours.
Our director, Elaine Connelly Bleisch, wanted to spotlight the building of Carhenge, and surrounding controversy, with a rap (a music style gaining acceptance in the late 80s when all the Carhenge brou-ha-ha was happening). I wrote the rap, because…why not? This silly set of verses got a very nice response from the crowd and is one of my favorite lyrical creations. (In addition to writing two songs for The Riverfront Boys.)
(NOTE: The performance version differs from this slightly because of brilliant contributions by actors Chris Obershaw and Dave Kuskie.)
Got a story to tell
’bout a man named Jim
Cars get you around
But they were art to him
He built Stonehenge with cars
To remember his Dad
It made some people smile
And made some people mad!
RAP BATTLE (pro v. anti Carhenge)
People will come from all over the world
To see this automotive freak flag unfurled
Keep Carhenge up
It’s a point of pride
It’s the coolest thing
This town ever tried!
Yo, Jim, you’re off the mark
This looks more like a junkyard
than a city park!
It’s worthless and pointless
and what’s even more
Those graffiti-covered lemons
are a five-alarm eyesore!
BACK TO MAIN RAPPER
They argued for years but in the end
Carhenge became Alliance’s tourist trend
It’s part of the city, a roadside hit
And people come to town
just to visit it
So we salute you Carhenge
Cause you’re here to stay
With spirit of youth
And paint of gray!
Word to your muffler!