King Dot of Dotville
decided music was bad
"Unsafe for the ears.
Just makes me steaming hot mad!”

"Rock & Roll's how it starts.
It muddles the mind.
Dots dance and they play...
a complete waste of time!

"With the instruments burned
and the radios smashed
all the Dots down in Dotville
will not get so dashed!

"The Dots will work better
because celebrations will not be.
Confiscating the music...
now, that is the key."

King Dot of Dotville
had quite a big goal...
to rid the country of music
from classical to soul.

He sent Dotcops through the city.
They searched by plane, car and boat.
They went into Dot houses.
They did not miss a note!

They burned all the tapes, cd's -
and the racks.
Nothing was safe...
not even 8-tracks!

Soon, when this started,
in fact...the very same day,
a few unscrupulous businessmen
began to plan a new way...

To make money
by buckets
by truckloads
Hee! Hee!
We’ll give the Dots What they love
but it won’t be for free!

"Music is natural"
The Dotfather said with a grin,
"we can produce it our selves,
it’s not that big a sin.

"Hike, Hike, Hike up the price!!
They'll pay...even if it's not good.
With all the money we’ll make
we’ll rule the hood!"

In warehouses and basements,
they produced music day and night.
They sold it in dark alleys
away from the light.

The Dotcops would catch
Low level dealers at best,
CD’s in their pants,
Tapes taped to their chest!

The problems just grew
In the War against Notes.
Lots of Dots down in Dotville
lost their cars, homes and boats.

This was The Sad Time
when Dot music almost died.
For weeks and then months
the happy sounds were denied.

“We’re protecting the children!”
King Dot would declare
“I put dancing Dots into prison
because of how much I care”

.....The turn in this story rests on a tot.
A Dot tot named Dottie who one day just thought...

“I’ll sing!
Music’s my choice,
I don’t believe they’ll arrest me
Just for using my voice!”

But before the 1st chorus,
They had her in jail,
taped her mouth closed
and denied her all bail.

On her day in Dot Court,
the King asked,
“How do you plead?”

“I love music" Dottie stated,
"it’s something I need.
If we’re hurting ourselves
that’s our business indeed...
not any of yours
all the Dots should be freed!”

“My head” continued Dottie
“is my personal place
I can fill it with music
Or paint on my face!
What I do with my head
Is my own private case!

"How can you outlaw
me simply singing a note?"

“Silence! the King shouted
You do not get a vote!”

“But sir”, She replied,
"You cannot make it end.
Dots will always make music
they'll make the wind bend.

"If they play it too loud
their own ears will suffer,
but other Dots can just leave
or simply wear mufflers!

“How can you tell me what to put in my ear?
Their my ears I tell you,
not to be ruled by fear!”

The King gave her a look -
more of a leer
He told her quite emphatically:

"Dots should be working,
their bodies in full gear.
Music is not useful -
it's just something to hear!”

Dottie stood strong
though she was shaking like a leaf...

“If Dots become violent
please get them off the street.
But Dots behind bars
just for keeping a beat?

"Sure, some Dot
will be offended some time
but you can't imprison all Dots
take their last penny or dime.”

“Please sir,
prison is not the place they should be.
Dots are peaceful beings,
you must set them free.

"Can't you see that your laws
have only created more wrongs.
You must stop this madness
Just let us sing songs.”

"Be quiet - I say!”
The King yelled from his seat.
But off in the distance
he could hear a faint beat....

The Dots down in Dotville
had begun to fight back...
not a silent approach
but a full music attack!!!

Buckets became drums
on that fateful day.
They used anything they could find
Just to Play, PLay, PLAy, PLAY!!

The music grew louder
With each word they spoke.
King Dot was infuriated
His ears began to smoke!

"Send out the army",
he screamed to his aides
"Put an end to this racket
Use guns, tanks and blades."
 

“Don't you see?” Dottie asked
“rounding up dots will not make it stop.
It will only fill prisons
Until they will pop!

"Your laws against music
have paved a new way
for bullies & bad-Dots
to receive really big pay.”

Just at that moment,
in the back of this place
something quite odd happened,
something...
that could change this case.

The King’s mother walked in.
She frowned at her son.
She looked in his eyes and asked...
"what have you done?

"Don't you remember my boy
when you'd scrape your knee?
I'd comfort you with song
- perhaps a little off key.

“Silencing the Music” she continued
“Is not the right of the state.
Please end this prohibition
Before it's too late.”

“But”, the King pleaded...
“I only was trying to make life here a bit better,
I thought I knew what every Dot needed
Right down to the letter.”

Just at that moment
The court doors swung wide
The Dots down in Dotville
Had regained their lost pride.

They marched into the courtroom
Pounding on buckets and tins
Singing and whistling to the air's lovely bends.

He could not make it stop.
The King was caught in a bind!
Should he punish the lawbreakers
Or try being kind?...

What Happened at that moment,
it is too tough to say....
but the King’s scowl changed
Became as soft as fresh clay.

Perhaps it was his mother
Or all those fresh, happy Dot faces,......

Whatever the cause...
the King threw out the laws
and cancelled the sentences
in all of the cases!

A ground swell of joy
swept through the big crowd.
The dots began singing
loud Loud LOud LOUd LOUD!

The dots sang and they danced
They JUMPED UP in the air!
They WIGGLED and PRANCED!
IT WAS A DOT-TASTIC AFFAIR!...

Remember the Dots' story
and how their music almost died.

How the Dot's became connected
stood strong & side by side...

their strength and their love
keeping Dot music alive.

copyright Daniel Baird 1998

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