Never Looking Back

Night at the Apollo (part 2)

The Teenagers and I have taken the stage. Joe is standing in front of a microphone close to the front of the stage, and the other Teenagers and I are standing around another microphone a few feet away from Joe. With a smile on his face, Joe says, "Welcome and good evening, everyone! We're the Teenagers, and we are so glad you could be here! I'm Joe Negroni, and these are my lovely group-mates. Say your names, y'all!" Cheerily, the other Teenagers and I say our names. Once we finish, Joe says "Thanks for being here tonight! Alyssa, what do you think of the amount of our wonderful fans in the crowd?" Happily, I look out at the crowd, and I take notice of how many people are here. I reply, "I'm so glad to see all of these people! Hundreds of people are here, and I love it! I'm sure Shermie and my twins that are due in November are loving it, too!" Grinning, I place my hand on my bump as the crowd joyously cheers upon me mentioning my pregnancy. Sherman nods and Joe says "Good, good! Now, let's start the night off with our latest release on the Columbia label, entitled "What's On Your Mind." Let's go!"

After we finish performing "What's On Your Mind" and the crowd's applause dies down, Joe says "Thanks so much! The B-side of "What's On Your Mind" is "The Draw," a song written by the legendary songwriting duo, Leiber and Stoller! Sherman sings lead on it! Speaking of that song, we're gonna sing it now! C'mon, Shermie!" Joe walks over to us, stands next to me, and Sherman takes his place at the lead microphone.

"Now, don't be a fool
Back off, son
Listen to reason
Put away that gun

I know I'm the boss
Stick it in your craw
But nobody ever beats me to the draw
(To the draw, draw)

I hear your facts
But back off, son
(back off son, son, son)
Nobody's fast
'Til he's twenty-one
(Twenty-one, twenty-one)

When the chips are down
You turn to straw
Cuz nobody ever beats me to the draw
(To the draw, draw, draw)

It's a mean, thankless job
Being the sheriff
And I'm trying to do the best that I can

Well, if I hurt your feelings, boy
I'm sorry
(Sorry)
Let's just talk it out, man to man
(Man to man)

Did I hear you right
You're calling me down
(Calling me down, down)
What's that, you say
I'm the yellow clown
Well, alright

It's gonna be hard
Telling your ma
Cuz nobody ever beats me to the draw
(To the draw, draw, draw)

Cuz nobody ever beats me to the draw
It's your last chance, son

Cuz nobody ever beats me to the draw
Step back folks, now, step back..."

Once we finish the song, the crowd gives off amazed and joyous applause. We bow, and when the applause dies down, Sherman says "Thanks so much, everyone. Both "What's On Your Mind" and "The Draw" will be on our upcoming LP, The Wild Five, which is due to be released next week. A few weeks after that, an LP recording of tonight's concert will be released. Alright!" Smiling, I nod, feeling so damn happy. Then, Sherman says "Now, I'd like Alyssa to take the lead, so she can sing one of the classics we made while Frankie was with us. It's a track entitled "Please Be Mine," and as I said, my lovely wife Alyssa will sing lead." Happily, I walk to the lead microphone. I get to sing lead on "Please Be Mine." This is amazing, but not as amazing as performing here at the Apollo with all these people in attendance!