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10/13/2003 Entry: "Lenny Bruce is ded."

It's hard to imagine the realm of modern standup comedy without the influence of Lenny Bruce. Before Lenny, all standup was basically a sequence of setup-and-punchline jokes, vaudeville Jimmy Durante style. Lenny was the first cat who was able to really string his act together in a conversationalistic, flowing style. He told tales and gave opinions about things like race, politics, religion, and he pulled no punches.
His style was oft likened to bebop.
He was in trouble with the law numerous times for obscenity and drug abuse, and eventually died on the john due to OD.

Here is the toast of the century, but I am no huge fan.

Here's

to the toast of the century.

I look at your face
look at my face
looking at your place

in this century.

You want the access
wait for actions
I weigh the assets

with which to bury me.

So here's

to the toast of the century.

And here

is all that is dear to me.

It's for my childr'n
and for my brothers
and if I have time

I'd like to explain it to Thee.

In mint condition
a complete edition
it's your decision

to throw it away for me.

So here is all that is dear to me.

Third verse here:

Cheer,

Would you have a drink with me?

It's been a decade,
it's been a "coon's age"
and having that sayed:

you look amazing to me.

I sent you roses,
and then my motives,
and then you notice:

time gets away from me.

So Cheer,

Would you have a drink with me?