Book of Bonnaroo: The Highway to Love is Paved with Highfives

The day was Wednesday, the eighth of June,
It could be a needed-beginning or a day of doom.
We packed our shit and crammed it tight,
Shelly started right up without a fight.

I look to my left and see my pretty lady,
Worry appears with news that the gas pedal's acting a bit shady.
I'm not scared, it'll all work out--
Ty and B got it covered, there's really no doubt.

All of a sudden, an angel arrives,
He's 60, a hippie and not Mary Jane-deprived.
Together, they combined their powers as one,
By the time the Beamer left, our worrying was done.

Not once, but twice the prophet came around,
Maybe, just maybe we'll make it out of Farmtown.
We relieve ourselves at Jack N the Crack,
If Joe would come along, we'd be a five-man wolfpack.

After a new fuel pump, we think we've got it,
Til we run outta gas next to some old cottage.
A full tank of gas and air mattress later,
We're cruisin along as cool as AC Slater.

There's a jungle in my cup and I'm so sexcited,
With smiles on our faces, we'd be happy in riot.
Tyler's at the wheel and we're on a roll,
All is right with the world because we got our lucky troll.

Lost a door today and v-card long ago,
When the music comes on, you know we'll be gettin low.
Left our gas cap at the Missourah Line,
Went back and found her, oh so fine.

Em and Ash hittin' it hard with juice in their cup,
Looking to share love, there's a PEACE SIGN COMIN' UP!
Spillin, slippin, slidding from side to side,
Waiting to find a hitchhiker in need of a ride.

Headlights are blazing, cars are in lines,
Druggies are dealing, avoiding tickets and fines.
We decide to forgo that awful wait,
and head to Walmart where no one could predict our fate.

We filled our carts with food and beer,
buzzes wearing off from that everclear.
People have come around from every state,
From Pennsylvania and Iowa, even through a prison gate.

While most were nice, friendly and know how to kick,
It got a little scary when that guy cut off someone's dick.
Woke up early, shootin' the shit,
Carmen is ready, coconuts on her tit.

It's finally time to meet our match,
Bonnaroo's her name and boy what a catch.
Pass through RV check like it ain't no thang,
We'll be dancin' all day and night come shine or rain.

Who knew it could be so fun setting up shop'
With NPH overseeing us the partying is nonstop.
It was finally time to pop that roo cherry,
The Kopecky Family Band is so good it's scary.

Instruments galore and songs that make you pumped,
In 100 degree weather, my arms were goosebumped.
Our bodies so hot like we just climbed a mountain,
It was a no-brainer to jump in that mushroom fountain.

Next up is Freelance Whales after we freshen up a bit,
Tyler came along and on the sandy beach we did sit.
They had us pumpin our fist and singing out loud,
That guy's brother from Glee must be so proud.

Cheating on Bonnaroo, we hit the showers,
Relaxing in the RV as the minutes turn to hours.
Never have I ever with the neighbors next door,
All we got out of it is that Emily's a whore.

Drinkin' jungle juice like Tarzan and Jane,
Little did we know, we'd never see our drank again.
But after the spill, we were still jolly,
Even more so after meeting our new friend Molly.

Feelin' great and seeing more than shells,
Our faces were blown off by the sounds of Sleigh Bells.
Dancin, Dancin, Dancin, passing around glow sticks,
Braydon's up front takin some bad ass pics.

Wander on back so we can pop a squat,
Look for mystery vendors selling a cot.
No luck with the bed, but that didn't matter,
Ashley was out like a Chicago Cubs batter.

Emily still in her boots and pulling out all the stops,
Listenin to Roo Radio and takin some shots.
4am comes along and we wake up freezin,
It's all good, I fucking love Bonnaroo season.

Friday morn we rest for the night ahead.
We'll be lucky if we don't end up dead.
First stop is Cafe Where,
Sitting up front next to the speakers full-blare.

Daes Veil keeps it cool in the tent,
Lead Singer with a voice that must be heaven-sent.
You can feel sex in the air as Grace Potter takes the stage,
Captain America shows up and is ready to rage.

AJ and Ash in the middle of the crowd,
watching this feline dance makes my lady parts proud.
Face paint is on and we are ready to swoon,
My face has never melted as it did with WALK THE MOON.

Takin' it easy as we grab a bite to eat,
One gets worn out after hours of dancing on their feet.
Ashley heads to Florence and can't see a thing,
But she sounded just as she does recorded, damn she can sing.

Tyler takes Emily around on a wild goose chase,
All she's wanted all weekend is a freaking hammock in a case.
They wind up at Sonic Stage as groupies usually do,
Decide to stay to see Walk the Moon, Round Two.

We meet back up at Em-Em-Jay,
The night's not even begun and it's been a perfect day.
Back to Shelly to pop a squat and drink beer,
Finding glow sticks makes us start to cheer!

Watching Belly Dancers is a pleasant surprise,
There was even a man wearing a woman's disguise.
We end our shows with Fire, Angels and Wayne,
With so much energy on stage, Weezy's surely insane!

On our way back, Emily has an awkward encounter,
A girl is nearby and a guy's surely gonna mount her.
And of course Ashley's asleep inside within minutes,
Emily hangs with the neighbor Richard, or is it Dennis??

Tipsy and out of it, sleep deprived,
Dick asks Emily if she's okay to drive.
Better than Joe, she backs that truck ass up,
Instead of a sleeping bag, she finds herself curled up like a pup.

Tyler and B stroll in around six.
They've been out on Roo Town waving hundreds of glow sticks.
Ashley and Em awake in the morning,
All to find up above Tyler is snoring.

Braydon overheating when he was sleeping outside,
Later we use water bottles to shower in our ride.
Mumford and Sons is first on the agenda,
If the Lead Singer gets raped, I might be the offenda.

The boys check out Wiz with that Warren fellow,
Goin nuts in the crowd to the words of Black and Yellow.
We then head to the main stage where people is all you can see,
Everyone must really love themselves some Black Keys.

Meet up with Tyler under the arch,
Going to get a beverage, boy are we parched
Make a quick stop to Gay J's campsite,
We knew it was the beginning of a magical night.

Souls were filled with the Scissor Sisters,
Having so much fun that I couldn't feel my blisters.
Ash and Em wait 25 minutes just to use the John.
No telling what the boys were up to while they were gone.

Nothing could prepare us for the Girl Talk madness,
This kind of music could get rid of a widow's sadness.
Up on AJ's shoulders Tyler did go,
All he could see was people going crazy row after row.

One brave soul doing acrobatics in the rafter,
Then the guys went down the water slide and through the fountain after.
On the walk back we can't believe these are our lives,
The highway to love is paved with highfives.

I was feeling great, steady and stable,
And then I learned we were sleeping four to a table.
Somehow we made it through the night and no one died,
The next band played and Emily cried.

Tears in her eyes, she smiles at me with all that she's worth.
Quietly saying The Head and the Heart are not from this Earth.
I hang in the shade as we indulge in some Fences,
There's no doubt in my mind that hearing is the best of all senses.

Partyin' on like Wayne and Gartha,
We eat some burgers while in the background plays Aunt Martha.
Naps are taken under THIS TENT,
Cold War Kids could stay with me and not pay rent.

A little upset they didn't play what's yours is mine,
Get in a disagreement with Ty but all will be fine.
I come to my senses and say we're leaving in the morning at six,
We head back to Roo one last time post-giving Shelly's battery a fix.

One thing I may have failed to bring up,
Is that Tyler and Mike are now sporting amazing do-cuts.
With all intentions of partyin' like tomorrow will never come,
After minutes, you can stick a fork in us we're done.

Ty and Em in the hammock giving off the sleepy vibe,
Richard on the roof deeming us the Bonnaroo Tribe.
In the morning, we wish our new friends well,
We'll see them next year under the same Roo Spell.

Inside the sight is more than frightful,
but Shelly runs fine as long as u have a rope pull.
We first came for all different reasons--
Music, utopia, beer and stress-easin.

But we leave here with an understanding of one,
We'll meet again next year under the Bonnaroo Sun.

Unspoken

Sometimes I beg when I should give,
I've been known to hide when I should live.

I wander around in a cold, dark place,
All while wishing you'd give me anything but this space.

I don't do good with quiet and distance,
Or your dodging glances and donning resistance.

Just when I decide to throw it all out,
You show me a smile and wash away my doubt.

At this rate, I'll burst before I know,
Because without you, I'm just winter with no snow.

My dreams are consumed by all that is unspoken,
I fear all that remains is my heart that is broken.

But right before the dawn opens my eyes,
That look on your face makes my hope start to rise.

So now here's the question, the one of my life,
Is it me that is guilty of turning the knife?

Did I make it all up? Is it real or not?
Two more weeks of this shit, my heart just might stop.

I'm asking you once, not counting the hundreds of times in my head,
Will you give us a chance when we're outside of your bed?

Never Know

Today is the day I let you go,
What could've changed our lives, we'll never really know.

I gave you all that I knew how,
It took breaking my every rule to see what I do now.

All this time I'd go back and forth,
Just begging for you to feel the love that I'm worth.

For 25 years, my record's been perfect,
Of not settling for what only looks good on the surface.

With this experience just like the others before,
I'll take with me the lessons and brace myself for more.

What I've learned from you is that I can share my kindness,
But I need to be aware of the potential of blindness.

I should never forget what I know to be true,
It's not really love if only one has a clue.

One day I'll look back, give you a second of thought,
Smiling for what was won with all the fights that I fought.

Even after all of this, I still see the greatness that you hold,
I hope you'll realize soon what I know you've been told.

That you deserve all the best with or without me,
My friendship is here; we know that's all we'll ever be.

You'll never be as young as you are right now,
So surround yourself with as much happiness as your world will allow.

But today is the day that I let you go,
What could've changed our lives, we'll never really know.