Let the waitress put the chairs up,
    let the glasses that you broke,
  form a picture of our leader
  with a halo made of smoke.
    Let the golden oldies station
  crackle and come through.
  With a final benediction
  we'll hum along to.
  Before we say goodnight
    Let our talk about the ball game
  and the weather show we care.
  Like a sound we didn't notice,
  until it stopped and left us there.
    With the traffic and our heartbeats
  beating in straight time,
  let our hatred and affection
  march in the same line,
  Before we say goodnight.
    Oh, protect our secret handshake
  once more with feeling.
  Let the toast to absent members
  push through the ceiling.
  Before we say goodnight.