Some People Come Into Our Lives And Quickly Go

I like to read obituary obituaries because the good ones are mini-biographies and what you learn from them can be fascinating. People can surprise you. I am very fascinated by the people who were a big part of my life without my knowledge. Last month a man named David Mason died. You may not know his name but you may know his music. Mr. Mason was the trumpet soloist on the Beatles' hit Penny Lane. All you Beatles fans probably have those notes floating through through your minds right now. The man had a beautiful sound.

In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he's had the pleasure to have know
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello

On the corner is a banker with a motor car
The little children laugh at him behind his back
And the banker never wears a "mac" in the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back

In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
He likes to keep his fire engine clean,
It's clean machine

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Full of fish and finger pies
In summer, meanwhile back

Behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout
A pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she's in a play
She is anyway

Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
And then the fireman rushes in
From the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes,
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit. and meanwhile back

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
Penny Lane

Read Mr. Mason's obituary here.