The three newest songs on my new amateur album, New Dog, Old Tricks, are related to my dear Mary, who crossed my path several times before getting my attention with a hug, as chronicled in “Enter the Hugger” almost a year ago now.
I introduced the very newest song, “Better Late Than Never,” two weeks ago, and sent you to the stream for the whole album last Saturday. Today I call your attention to the second-newest composition, which is half as long and not quite as serious as “Better Late Than Never.”
I titled it “Based On A True Story (Hug Ya),” because, well, it’s based on a true story, and if I had any sense I would just call it “Hug Ya.”
Based On A True Story (Hug Ya)
I was minding my own business on a sunny, sunny day
When up came a beauty, and she planted in my way.
She gave me a sly smile, and she told me with a grin,
“I got something good to tell you, and I know where to begin.”
She took me by the hand, and she looked up to the sky,
And then she took a breath and she looked me in the eye,
And she said,
“Excuse me, would you mind if I give you a hug?
Everyone says I’m a hugger, and at the risk of sounding smug,
You look like you could use one, and I hope that I won’t bug ya
If I wrap my arms around you, ’cause I really want to hug ya.”
Well, the first thing that I knew, she had grabbed me by the heart,
And I had a funny feeling that we might never part.
The hugging turned to kissing, and you know, in point of fact,
It wasn’t long before I loved her to the moon and back,
And all because she stopped me on a sunny, sunny day
And looked me in the eye and said, “I got something to say,”
And then she said,
“Excuse me, would you mind if I give you a hug?
Everyone says I’m a hugger, and at the risk of sounding smug,
You look like you could use one, and I hope that I won’t bug ya
If I wrap my arms around you, ’cause I really want to hug ya.”
