A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

Hale Bopp
Saturday, March 29, 1997
Listen

Every four thousand years it swings on by
It's up there now in the western sky
A hundred twenty three million miles high

Hale Bopp

It's big and bright as a comet can be
And I don't know much about gravity
But I feel that comet pulling on me

Hale Bopp

The night Hale Bopp came overhead
You and I sat up in bed
"What's is going on?" you said.

Hale Bopp

About the time Hale Bopp got big and bright
I started singing to you at night
And we danced together in the comet light

Hale Bopp

A comet that's twenty-five miles wide
And nothing but ice and dust inside
But its magic cannot be denied

Hale Bopp

And on April 1st it approaches the sun
Achieving its perihelion
And I'll dance with you and I will not stop

Hale Bopp

And one night we'll dance on the lawn
When all of the snow and ice is gone
Crocuses and tulips there
And Elvis sitting in an old lawn chair (SAX BREAK)
And on his lap a lady admirer
Reading a copy of the National Enquirer
And Elvis says:

TR: "Hello chief,
You see that comet? It's my belief
That comet is an omen --- that's right, ma'am,
It means: Hale Bop a wop bop bam.
(SAX BREAK)

GK: In another month it'll fade away
And disappear on the 8th of May
Heading south to Uruguay

Hale Bopp

Life is short. Things disappear.
Got to catch them while they're here.
May I have this dance, my dear?

Hale Bopp

New Lyrics ©1997 by Garrison Keillor