From: steve@Advansoft.COM (Steve Savitzky) [now steve@theStarport.org]
Subject: A song
Date: 21 Nov 90 21:11:25 GMT

The Medium-sized Teddybear pops in, near the bar.  For a moment as it
arrives, there is an afterimage behind it of a larger, darker, and
more dangerous-looking Bear; it almost seems to deflate.  The bear has
also neglected to allow for the differential posting velocity between
here and alt.chatsubo, and quietly slams into a barstool.

"Ouch!"

With that the bear turns into Steve Savitzky, wearing a pained
expression and still looking somewhat deflated.  "Double gin, Mike,
and some aspirin.  My back is acting up again, and I really ought to
spend the rest of the week in bed.  Instead, I'm going to be running
filking at Silicon[1].  I may live through it.

"Anyway, what I really wanted to do was sing a song.  I just wrote
this, so it's maybe a little rough around the edges."  He goes over to
table 28X and picks up Snuggles.

                         SOMEPLACE IN THE NET [2]

              Words & music copyright 1990 Stephen Savitzky
                         All rights reserved.

    A                  D        A         D                   A
    There is a Place I heard of once, and wished that I could find
          E7            E7&6E7          E7  A         E
    Where people listen to you when you say what's on your mind;
          A                 E7        D       A                G
    Where you can swap tall tales, or share a quiet drink with friends;
    E                  E6 E            D  A  E  A
    Where anything can happen, and the party never ends.

    I knew it wasn't anyplace but stories in a book,
    But now and then I'd pass a bar, drop in and take a look.
    Then I logged in to the network, in a group I'd never seen,
    And found what I'd been seeking, in the world behind the screen.

        DA                 E7     D        A                G
        Time and space are just a dream we dream when we're apart;
        E         As4 A   As2 A                   E
        Home is a welcome feeling deep inside the heart;
        DA                E7       D        A                 G
        Stranger's just a name for some old friend we haven't met;
        E7                  D   A     E  A
        When we're together someplace in the net.

    The Network's just a shadow-play of words upon a screen;
    But you can talk for hours with old friends you've never seen,
    In a world of words and dreams where only thoughts can roam,
    Where you can weave a fantasy and make it feel like home.

    (chorus)

    Some weave a magic cloak of words to shape their presence there:
    The Tiger and the Unicorn, the Tin Man and the Bear;
    Some weep for long-lost lovers, some laugh with new-made friends,
    And anything can happen where the party never ends.

    (chorus)

    (last chorus:)
        Time and space are not enough to keep good friends apart;
        Callahan's is just a name for somewhere in the heart;
        We'll drink a toast to friends we knew before we ever met;
        When we're together someplace in the net.

    Dedicated to the people of alt.callahans, the altnet, cyberspace.

"Darnit, my brain is fried, so I'm probably not going to write any of
those replies I intended to make.  Aahz, Colleen says "you're
welcome."  Enigma, happy birthday (in case my email failed to reach
you).  Good luck on the job hunt, and hang in there.  Liralen, virtual
hugs."

Steve hears someone toasting "To Friendship", and seconds it by
pitching his now-empty glass into the fireplace, where it makes a
merry crash.  "Good night, folks; see you all next week."

1
 Silicon:  a science-fiction convention in San Jose the weekend after
            Thanksgiving.
2
  When I get this thing transcribed, I'll figure out some way of
  posting the music.  Really!

--
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