Daydream Therapy

["Pirate Jenny" by Nina Simone] [lyrics begin] You people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors. And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking. Maybe once ya tip me, and it makes ya feel swell, in this crummy Southern town, in this crummy old hotel. But you'll never guess to who you're talkin'. No. You couldn't ever guess, to who you're talkin'. Then one night, there's a scream in the night. And you'll wonder, "Who could that have been?" And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin'. And you say, "What's she got to grin?" I'll tell ya. There's a ship, The Black Freighter, with a skull on its masthead, will be coming in. You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors! Get upstairs! What's wrong with you? Earn your keep here!" And you toss me your tips and look out to the ships. But I'm counting your heads as I'm making the beds. 'Cause there's nobody gonna sleep here tonight. Nobody's gonna sleep here, honey. Nobody. Nobody Then one night, there's a scream in the night. And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?" And you see me kind of starin' out the winda. And you say, "What she got to stare at now?" I'll tell ya. There's a ship, The Black Freighter, turns around in the harbor, shootin' guns from her bow. Now, you gentlemen can wipe off that smile off your face, 'cause every building in town is a flat one. This whole frickin' place will be down to the ground. Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound. And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?" Yes, that's what you say. "Why do they spare that one?" Uh All the night through, through the noise and to-do, you wonder, "Who is that person that lives up there?" And you see me, stepping out in the morning, looking nice, with a ribbon in my hair. Huhuh. Huhuh. And the ship, The Black Freighter, runs a flag up its masthead, and a cheer rings the air. By noontime, the dock is a swarming with men, comin' out from the ghostly freighter. They move in the shadows, where no one can see. And they're chainin' up people, and they're bringin' 'em to me, askin' me, "Kill them NOW, or LATER?" Asking ME. "Kill them now, or later." Noon, by the clock, and so still at the dock. You can hear... a foghorn miles away. And in that quiet of death, I'll say, "Right. Now." "Right now." [song ends] ["Things Have Got to Change" by Archie Shepp]