"Potluck and Pet Count"
(Lyrics and music by Paul Estin, copyright 2003.  V:Oct17)
Inspired by emails from Persis Thorndike and Gary McGath.
In D.  Top line = chords, middle line = lyrics, bottom line = melody.


.......D..............G..........D...........A
On the fifteenth, the meeting is out west in Milford
a..a...f#.f#......f#..g..f#...e..d ..b....b..b..a

.....G.............D............G.............A7
It's potluck; good food will be shared and be pilfered
b....c#.b.....d....d....e....f#.g......f#..f#.F#.e

........D.........A.........G............A7
You can bring appetizers, entree or side dish,
a...a...d.....d.d.c#.a....a.b....d..b....a ...<- [Note 1]

[pause]........Em.............G.........A.....D      - <- [Note 2]
(Pet count:) 2 guinea pigs, 2 hamsters, and a fish!
.a...a.......e.e..e...e.....e.d..c#.....b...c#.d


D G D A   Let us know what you're bringing; that's what we appeal
G D G A7  We want to ensure there's a well-balanced meal
D A G A7  You can bring any food to share that you wish--
Em GA D - (We've got) a guinea pig, a hamster, and a fish!


D G D A   Arrive as early as 3, business meeting's at 6
G D G A7  Then dinner-- but to avoid a bad fix,
D A G A7  Let us know if you're bringing dessert, like a knish
Em GA D   (Pet count stands now at a hamster and a _fish!)
D A G A7  In the kitchen I think I just heard a squish
Em GA D   (Pet count stands now at only one _fish!)
D A G A7  We need some more meat to feed four guys named Paul... [pause]
Em GA D - Good eating, but no pets here at all!


Note 1: In the 3rd line, the notes indicated for the melody are one octave
higher than in the rest of the song.

Note 2: In the 4th line, the chords G and A are only a half-beat long ("Em
GA D -") and preceded by a pause in which the lyrics "pet count" ("We've
got", in the second stanza) are half-spoken.

Note 3: In the final stanza, the word "fish" (indicated as "_fish") is sung
at the same time as the next line (note the missing beat)^Ö or, if there's
only one person singing, "fish" is skipped altogether.



(I was having trouble making a quick recording, so I just wrote down the
melody instead.  Feel free to suggest improvements, though I may not use
them.  It *is* just an overblown instafilk, after all.)