Ease On Down The Road

As an avid reader, I had already devoured the entire Wizard of Oz Series (you know there was more than one story right?) by the time the Wiz had come out. I was in the 6th or 7th grade and the school decided to take us on a field trip to go see it at the movies. I remember because we were going to Greenbriar (Atlanta Natives will know all about this). Our school was not anywhere near Greenbriar, but it was the theatre that Black people went to and seeing as my Elementary School was all black –we were gonna board the bus and head that way.

I was excited to see Michael Jackson! Oh Lawd he was gonna be on the big screen like 50 feet tall and playing the Scarecrow which was PERFECT for him.

My memories of this are in two parts. This first one is just funny. We weren’t allowed to bring things on these field trips, but how in the world were we gonna go that far without candy. I had been commissioned to be one of the people who snuck candy on the bus etc. I couldn’t think of anyplace to hide the candy so I decided to take the Nahl latars (that’s how you pronounce that, lol) also know as Now or Laters out the pack and stack them neatly along the sides of my bra. Yes that’s what I did – that flat part of the bra leading to the back was the perfect location who was looking there? Well I remember standing in line to file out to the bus when all of a sudden I felt movement – those SQUARE candy’s had started moving to the FRONT!! I had these square lumps on my chest and seeing as my chest wasn’t you know quite there it was crazy!! Yes I got all the candy taken, but you talking about FUNNY!

The next part is directly related to how Mike just is there. I really can’t tell you about my reaction the first time I saw the movie way back then because I don’t remember, lol HOWEVER – I can definitely tell you that I left there with a new theme song that would carry me through High School. YOU CAN’T WIN. Mikes featured performance with the Crows in the junk yard. That song was so ripe for teenage angst, lol I used to play that bad boy over and over and over – especially in the 13-15 years. My mom at one point, threatened to take the 45 from me cause she started to get the message – it was a passive/aggressive punk ass teenager move but it made me feel better, lol lol I had no voice and Mike always provided one for me.

I’ve watched the Wiz a couple of times and made sure my daughter saw it. Lena Horne was ALWAYS the most beautifulest Girl In The World and Nipsey Russell made me smile. Mike was just Mike in costume and Diana was the oldest teenager ever, lol lol




YOU CAN’T WIN

(Sung by Michael Jackson)

You can't win
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game
People keep sayin'
Things are gonna change
But they look just like they're staying the same
You get in
Way over your head
And you've only got yourself to blame

You can't win, chile
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game

You can't win
The world keeps movin'
And you're standin' far behind
People keep sayin'
Things 'll get better
Just to ease your state of mind
So you lay back
And you smoke that smoke
And you drink your glass of wine

You can't win, chile
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game

You can't win
You can't win
No way if your story stays the same
You ain't winnin'
But it's nice to see you
I'm awfully glad you came
Better cool it
'Cause it ain't about losin'
Then the world has got no shame

You can't win, chile
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game

You can't win
You can't win
You can't break even
Ain't the way
It's supposed to be
You'll be spendin'
Your little bit of money
While someone else ride free
Learn your lesson, refuel your mind
Before some turkey blows out your flame