Talkin' Basketball on the Music Blog?

So the college basketball journey is over, Congratulations to Louisville... not that I really care. But I woke up this morning thinking of a bouncing basketball (don't ask) and my mind went to the song, "Red Rubber Ball." And yes I know a basketball is orange. A little bit of writer's privilege is exaggeration.

Today's song goes back, way back. It was a hit in the mid 60's, was co-written by one of the greatest songwriters of his generation and it is incredibly infectious. Even though it's a melancholy song, there's no way to not smile when you hear it.

Totally pop in sound, the organ sounds like it came out of the circus. But is has a wonderful tempo and the lyrics are nearly spot-on perfect in the way they convey the message: You treated me like shit, I'm over it and movin' on.

Written by Paul Simon and, Bruce Woodley of The Seekers, the song hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a band called The Cyrkle.

"I should have known you'd bid me farewell

There's a lesson to be learned from this and I learned it very well

Now, I know you're not the only starfish in the sea

If I never hear your name again, it's all the same to me

And I think it's gonna be alright

Yeah, the worst is over now

The mornin' sun is shinin' like a red rubber ball

You never care for secrets I confide

For you, I'm just an ornament, somethin' for your pride

Always runnin', never carin', that's the life you live

Stolen minutes of your time were all you had to give

And I think it's gonna be alright

Yeah, the worst is over now

The mornin' sun is shinin' like a red rubber ball

The story's in the past with nothin' to recall

I've got my life to live and I don't need you at all

The roller-coaster ride we took is nearly at an end

I bought my ticket with my tears, that's all I'm gonna spend

And I think it's gonna be alright

Yeah, the worst is over now

The mornin' sun is shinin' like a red rubber ball

Oh, I think it's gonna be alright

Yeah, the worst is over now

The mornin' sun is shinin' like a red rubber ball"

So much fun.

"The roller-coaster ride we took is nearly at an end

I bought my ticket with my tears, that's all I'm gonna spend" 

Perfect. Now take a listen.

Written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley. All rights reserved.