Ambulance Down In The Valley
Sherry Meyer
Sherry Meyer <mey...@apci.com>
Allentown, PA USA
------------------------------------------------------
- Monday, October 26, 1998 at 12:30:41 (CST)
This article was posted from The John Denver Internet
FTP Site, at http://www.austin1.com/JD/index.html
You are invited to drop by and join in on the celebration of
life, and the wonder of living.
Bill
goes something like:
T'was a dangerous cliff as they freely confessed
though to walk near its edge was quite pleasant.
But over the edge slipped a duke and a prince
and it had fooled many a peasant.
The people all said something had to be done
though their projects did not at all tally
Some said put a fence around the edge of the cliff,
others an ambulance down in the valley.
The lament of the crowd was profound and so loud
as their hearts overflowed with great pity.
But the ambulance carried the cry of the day
as it spread to the neighbouring cities.
A collection was made to accumulate aid
and dwellers in highway and alley,
gave pounds and pence not to furnish a fence,
but an ambulance down in the valley.
For the cliff is alright if you're careful they said,
and if folks ever trip and are falling;
it's not the slipping and sliding that hurts
so much as the shock when they're stopping.
And so for years as these mishaps occurred
quick forth did the rescuers sally,
to pick up the victims who fell from the cliff
with the ambulance down in the valley.
Said one in his plea, it's a marvel to me
that you'd give so much greater attention
to repairing results than to curing the cause,
when you'd much better aim at prevention.
The mischief of course should be stopped at its source;
come friends and good neighbours let's rally.
It makes far better sense to rely on a fence
than an ambulance down in the valley.
He's wrong in his head the majority said.
He would end all our earnest endeavours.
He's the kind of a jerk that would halt our good work,
but we will support it forever.
Don't we pick up them all just as quick as they fall,
and treat them with care quite freely
A superfluous fence is of no consequence,
if the ambulance works in the valley.
Now this story is queer as I've given it here,
though things oft occur which are stranger.
More humane we assert to repair all the hurt,
than the plan of removing the danger.
Before it all ends its time to begin to attend to these things rationally.
Yes, build up the fence and let us dispense
with the ambulance down in the valley.
How'd I do ??
Sherry Meyer wrote in message <712f5h$gp8$1...@supernews.com>...
Ejucaided Redneck
>
> Many years ago, I saw John Denver in concert at Lehigh University's Stabler Arena. Although it was a huge audience, the concert was done in the round, like one of John's old coffee house concerts. He recited poetry and told stories about his personal life and interests throughout the concert. At one point, he recited a poem that I think was called "The Ambulance Down In The Valley" which about the benefits of preventive medicine. Does anyone know the poem and/or author?
Found this via Alta Vista:
THE AMBULANCE DOWN IN THE VALLEY
A Story often told by John Denver in his concerts
Author: Unknown
T'was a dangerous cliff as they freely confessed
though to walk near its edge was so pleasant.
But over its edge had slipped a Duke,
and it fooled many a peasant.
The people said something would have to be done
but their projects did not at all tally.
Some said, "put a fence around the edge of the cliff,"
others, "an ambulance down in the valley."
The lament of the crowd was profound and loud
as their hearts overflowed with pity.
But the ambulance carried the cry of the day
as it spread to the neighboring cities.
So a collection was made to accumulate aid
and dwellers in highway and alley,
gave dollars and cents not to furnish a fence,
but an ambulance down in the valley.
For the cliff is alright if you're careful they said,
and if folks ever slip and are falling;
it's not the slipping and falling that hurts them
so much as the shock down below when they're stopping.
And so for years as these mishaps occurred
quick forth would the rescuers sally,
to pick up the victims who fell from the cliff
with the ambulance down in the valley.
Said one in his plea, it's a marvel to me
that you'd give so much greater attention
to repairing results than to curing the cause, why
you'd much better aim at prevention.
For the mischief of course should be stopped at its source;
come friends and neighbors let us rally.
It makes far better sense to rely on a fence
than an ambulance down in the valley.
He's wrong in his head the majority said.
He would end all our earnest endeavors.
He's the kind of a man that would shrink his responsible work,
but we will support it forever.
Aren't we picking up all just as fast as they fall,
and giving them care liberally.
Why a superfluous fence is of no consequence,
if the ambulance works in the valley.
Now this story seems queer as I've given it here,
but things oft occur which are stranger.
More humane we assert to repair the hurt,
than the plan of removing the danger.
The best possible course would be to safeguard the source,
and to attend to things rationally.
Yes, build up the fence and let us dispense
with this ambulance down in the valley.
Duetschess
>Arena.
Friends of John Denver at Long's Park in Lancaster this coming Sunday, Nov.
1st, at 2:00 PM? Pat Cavanaugh aka Flyushome, planted a tree in John's memory
last Spring, and it will be near that. E-mail me if you're interested...I'll
be glad to send you the info about it!
Peace,
Peggy in Harrisburg, PA
AVangestel
I just so happen to have had this poem in my personal filing cabinet...
So, here it is. It's called "The Ambulance in the Valley", i think.
Just happened to run across this poem that John recited at a number
of his live concerts called "The Ambulance in the Valley". I think it's kinda
cute and thought you might get a kick out of it:
Twas a dangerous cliff as they freely expressed
tho to walk near its edge was so pleasant..
but over the side slipped a duke and a prince
as it could fool many a peasant
The people all said something had to be done
tho their projects did not at all tally
some said "put a fence around the edge of the cliff"
others..."an ambulance down in the valley".
The lament of the crowd was profound and so loud
as their hearts overflowed with great pity
but the ambulance camed..the cry of the day..
as it spread to the neighboring bity.
A collection was made to accumulate aid
and dwellers in highway and alley
gave dollars and cents NOT to furnish a fence,
but an ambulance down in the valley
For the cliff is alright if you're careful they said
and if folks ever slip and are falling
it's not the sliping and sliding that hurts
so much as the shock when they're stopping
and so on for years these mishaps occurred
and put forth to the rescuers sal'ry
to pick up those victims who fell from the cliff
with the ambulance down in the valley.
Said one in is plea, "It's a marvel to me...
that you'd give so much greater attention...
to repairing results than to curing the cause
why, "you'd much better aim at prevention".
"The mischief, of course, should be stopped at its source
come friends and good neighbors, lets rally!
It makes far better sense, to rely on a fence
than an ambulance down in the valley".
"He's wrong in his head" the majority said
"he would end all our earnest endeavors...
he's the kind of a jerk who would halt our good work..
but we will support it forever."
"Don't we pick up them all, just as quick as they fall?"
and treat them with care quite liberally?
A superfluous fence is of no consequence
if the ambulance works in the valley!"
Well, the story is queer as I've given it heree
tho things oft occur which are stranger.
more humane we assert to repair all the hurt
than the plan of removing the danger.
Before it all ends, its time to begin to attend to these things rationally.
Let's built up the fence...and let us dispense
with the ambulance down in the valley.
Enjoy!
Alison