# real estate novelist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031 "2006-08-24T13:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/44 "2018-09-04T05:24:19Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > They’re regulars… They don’t sound much like the dancing kind to me, either. More like the chronically downtrodden and depressed. What’s so difficult to understand? The song explicitly says that they are sad: “The manager gives me a smile–because he knows that it’s me they’re coming to see, to forget about life for a while” “They’re sharing a drink called Loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone” . It’s a fine song, And that’s why it gets played so often. The only thing about the song that irritates me is Davy. Sure, I get that he’s a lifer,who joined the military for a stint but can’t find something better in life. That’s what the song is all about–people with sad goals. But, dammit, no adult is named Davy!!! That’s a nickname for little kids. Yeah, sometimes a songwriter needs a rhyme. But this one sucks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/45 "2018-09-04T05:30:54Z")
Tonic and gin also sucks. I might start a thread on this very topic. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/46 "2018-09-04T05:38:58Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Watering holes don’t have in tune pianos. They have juke boxes. This isn’t a neighborhood bar, it’s a lounge in a suburban chain hotel that now a reputation as a good place to stop off on the way home because John mixes a good drink, that leggy waitress is an eyeful, and the manager gets you home safe if you’ve had one too many. > And because that guy on the piano is pretty good. > > They used to go into they city or to a local dive to dance all night or listen to hot blues, but now they have jobs and kids and mortgages, and that’s good, but they don’t want this kid getting stuck here too just because the tips are good (which won’t happen, because he doesn’t like playing those old songs for the G&T guys.) > > The song is about dreams deferred too long. If it’s got regulars, it’s a watering hole, even if it’s in the Airport Hilton. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/47 "2018-09-04T05:46:11Z")
> [@j666](#): > > This isn’t a neighborhood bar, it’s a lounge in a suburban chain hotel that now a reputation as a good place to stop off on the way home because John mixes a good drink, that leggy waitress is an eyeful, and the manager gets you home safe if you’ve had one too many. No, they’re not driving home from work. It’s nine o’clock on a Saturday, and they’re the regular crowd. Drinks and music aside, they come here because they have nowhere else to go. I don’t think the waitress is young and leggy, either. She’s probably a middle-aged divorcee in orthopedic shoes who’s been waiting tables at this place for years. She stays because she has no other marketable skills and can’t be bothered to declare the tips she makes as taxable income. Yes, it’s a great song, but it’s also depressing as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/48 "2018-09-04T06:42:06Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > What’s so difficult to understand? > The song explicitly says that they are sad: > “The manager gives me a smile–because he knows that it’s me they’re coming to see, to forget about life for a while” > “They’re sharing a drink called Loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone” . > > It’s a fine song, And that’s why it gets played so often. > > The only thing about the song that irritates me is Davy. Sure, I get that he’s a lifer,who joined the military for a stint but can’t find something better in life. That’s what the song is all about–people with sad goals. > But, dammit, no adult is named Davy!!! > That’s a nickname for little kids. > > Yeah, sometimes a songwriter needs a rhyme. > But this one sucks. 🙂 So, why do some men still go by Bobby, or Jimmy, or Johnny, or Ricky, or…? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/49 "2018-09-04T06:52:38Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > So, why do some men still go by Bobby, or Jimmy, or Johnny, or Ricky, or…? 'Cause, for some reason, those names are acceptable for adults… (Bobby Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson) Yeah, okay…so there was Davy Jones of The Monkees. That just proves my point…serious adults don’t call themselves Davy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/50 "2018-09-04T13:37:34Z")
One of the hallmarks of a great song is the first time you hear it, you end up singing along with the last refrain. If you didn’t do that the first time you heard “Piano Man” I don’t want to know you. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/51 "2018-09-04T14:04:53Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Yeah, okay…so there was Davy Jones of The Monkees. > That just proves my point…serious adults don’t call themselves Davy. 🙂 Was he the same Davy Jones with the locker - the one forever linked with sailors? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/52 "2018-09-04T16:03:45Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > What’s so difficult to understand? > The song explicitly says that they are sad: > “The manager gives me a smile–because he knows that it’s me they’re coming to see, to forget about life for a while” > “They’re sharing a drink called Loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone” . > > It’s a fine song, And that’s why it gets played so often. > > The only thing about the song that irritates me is Davy. Sure, I get that he’s a lifer,who joined the military for a stint but can’t find something better in life. That’s what the song is all about–people with sad goals. > But, dammit, no adult is named Davy!!! > That’s a nickname for little kids. > > Yeah, sometimes a songwriter needs a rhyme. > But this one sucks. 🙂 What did you want: Dave whose still a knave? David who’s still an aphid? Not a big fan of Billy but he has some leeway here. Billy…hm ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/53 "2018-09-04T19:49:22Z")
Modern life, 21th century updated lyrics and ideas: And he’s talking to Carmy\* Who’s still in the Army. And probably will be for life. \*It’s ambiguous whether “Carmy” is male or female. And Paul is a real estate novelist Who thinks he has found him a wife But he’s talking to Lureen Who is a Marine And probably will be for life. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/54 "2018-09-04T19:57:28Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > What did you want: Dave whose still a knave? David who’s still an aphid? Not a big fan of Billy but he has some leeway here. Billy…hm “He’s talking to David, who looks like an aphid And probably should be stabbed with a knife.” ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/55 "2018-09-04T20:43:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > “The wind blew coldly, whispering of a hard rain as I hammered the ‘For Sale’ sign down next to the walkway leading to the comfortable two-bedroom bungalow (with detached garage on a shady tree-lined lot near area schools) that was now filled with the stench of old lies, dark secrets and broken dreams.” And then the murders began. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/56 "2018-09-04T21:08:14Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Modern life, 21th century updated lyrics and ideas: > > And he’s talking to Carmy\* > Who’s still in the Army. > And probably will be for life. If you want modern, go modern. \*He’s talking to Chase Morse, Who’s still in the Space Force… \* ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/57 "2018-09-04T21:32:19Z")
He’s talking to a right louse who’s still in the White house and it feels like it might be for life ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/58 "2018-09-04T21:55:19Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I don’t think the waitress is young and leggy, either. She’s probably a middle-aged divorcee in orthopedic shoes who’s been waiting tables at this place for years. IIRC, she turned out to be the piano player’s future ex-wife. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/59 "2018-09-12T23:22:31Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > The only thing about the song that irritates me is Davy. Sure, I get that he’s a lifer,who joined the military for a stint but can’t find something better in life. That’s what the song is all about–people with sad goals. > But, dammit, no adult is named Davy!!! > That’s a nickname for little kids. I know two different men in their 60s who go by “Davey.” Just sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/60 "2018-09-12T23:47:20Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > IIRC, she turned out to be the piano player’s future ex-wife. What, he married a middle-aged divorcee in orthopedic shoes?!? :eek: :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/61 "2018-09-13T13:30:56Z")
The line “Bu there’s some place that he’d really be” sums up the theme of the song perfectly. Indeed, we all have some place that we’d rather be. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031/62 "2018-09-13T20:10:19Z")
You know, I must have heard that song a hundred times, and it never occurred to me that it was Davey, to rhyme with Navy. Billy kind of mumbles the second syllable and I always heard it as David, without giving it a second thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-novelist/370031.md?page=2)