Took the Blue Line and got off at Jackson
Headed east to Grant Park with a few friends
About a million or so, the first batch
From the four corners of the Earth we all came
Mixing with buildings, buses and cabs.
The morning was hot Chicago style
Our bellies were growling and going wild
The sizzling sounds, the smell of food
The traffic-guard whistle hastened our pace
Before we knew it, there was the Taste
Good golly Miss Molly The Taste of Chicago!
The park was dressed in pink-striped tents
Old Sears had a family village where kids
Bounced around in the jumping dome
And Batya the pretty Blue Bag lady was handing out
Bags next to face painters while chefs and cooks
Made fish in sauce to the tune of Andean music under the trees.
And city folks, country folks, suburbanites, tourists galore
Soccer fans, baseball fans, seniors and beer fans
Walked around eating turkey legs, corn on the cob
With Billy Goat burgers, buffalo wings and cherry ice cream
Just like a dream by Buckingham Fountain.
The music was bouncing all over the place
Ferris wheel danced with the water flume
Sailboats by the lake, covered in sun-screen
Where girls in butterfly bonnets
Strolled through the festival this hazy June
The Taste of Chicago in the afternoon.
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Waited under tents for the storm to subside
Huddled under trees, the people and me
All muddy and full, laughing and talking
And carrying on while the restaurant booths
Kept cooking and moving like dancing ballet
Until the sun came out again and steamed off the rain.
The moon was full, the Taste kept going
And Chi-town sang her lover’s song:
Especially for you, I will make the city pretty
I will organize a fiesta, I will give you castle burgers
And a beef al Italiano, rice and beans, cafe Cubano,
Sushi-bar, Caesar salad, chicken tacos and quesadillas,
Green plantains with morcilla, soul food plate,
Lox ‘n’ bagel, yogurt ice cream on your table.
Especially for you! Especially for you!
It was late at night when the Taste closed down.
Took the Blue Line back home with a few friends
About 3 million or so, slapping hands, happy and tired.
The Taste of Chicago, the sizzling fire.
And the city kept on dancing in a satin-city lullaby.
Yeah, the city she keeps right on dancing!