A crime ballad
At one point, we parked, assigned the dog to guard duty and visited an art gallery. One devoted to the life of that most American of artists. Norman Rockwell. We did not spend the family budget on jigsaw puzzles, although the possibility was there. We wandered, and nodded, and then got back on the road.
As it turns out, we missed another attraction. This was and is the town of Stockbridge, MA, where one of the biggest petty crimes in recent history took place. Littering.
The incident inspired a ballad, which begot a full side of a LP and a full length movie. Also, a reference to a famous restaurant that does not exist. LICE’S. Go ahead. Look it up. Visit the town. Lovely New England town. But no famous restaurant.
Littering is a crime, and all of the moments in the ballad are about real moments in history. Even the names have not been changed, because this is not a tale of innocence. I think the garbage is gone, though.
MERICA HAS A LOT OF SINGERS. This time, the son of someone famous left his own mark on the sonic landscape. I can sing the ballad, and I have seen the movie. What else can I add?
