# Truly Bizarro NYC Subway Signs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284 "2001-06-02T01:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/1 "2001-06-02T01:52:34Z")
As we have a thread going on oddball anti-sexism signs, this reminded me of a truly whacky series of signs in one of the many pedestrian tunnels of the Times Square subway station in NY. These appear over your head in the tunnel from the A/C/E/Port Authority section to the IRT No. 7 line, at approximately, I would guess, ten foot intervals: Sign 1: So Tired Sign 2: If Late Sign 3: Get Fired Sign 4: Why the Pain? Sign 5: Go Home Sign 6: Do It Again. Sign 7: A photo of a bunch of rumpled sheets on a bed, with a vaguely piano-like pattern. So where did these come from? Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/2 "2001-06-02T02:14:22Z")
This is of no help to the actual question, but I did dig up a site that gives a slightly different version of the signs: Overslept, so tired. If late, get fired. Why the worry? Why the pain? Go back home. Do it again. I think the 2 extra lines really improve the rhythym. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/3 "2001-06-02T02:24:19Z")
Hmm, that looks right. I’ll have to watch out for that on Monday morning. What really clinches it is that picture of the rumpled sheets at the end. Could you post the link, please? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/4 "2001-06-02T02:48:09Z")
Ah yes… [the link](http://www.all-story.com/print.pl?story_id=40). Not as useful as you might desire, since it’s just a reference to the sign within a short story. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Wind\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Autumn\_Wind\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Wind_Chick)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/5 "2001-06-02T10:35:09Z")
I believe there is a plaque at one end of the tunnel that credits that poem - I believe it is entitled “The Subway Rider’s Lament” or something. This doesn’t answer the question of why the MTA put that poem there - did they comission it? Was the poet pushy? Who knows. But your assignment is to look at that plaque (if it exists) and report back to us. Autumn ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/6 "2001-06-06T01:55:28Z")
Autumn, you are correct. It’s small, white, (well, maybe off-white. This _is_ the subway we’re talking about.) on the No. 7 side of the tunnel, just above an inlaid sign pointing to 7th Ave on the left and 8th Ave on the right. According to the sign, the poem is called “Commuter’s Lament, or The Close Shave”, 1991, by Norman Cole. Didn’t get a close enough look at the sign to see if there’s any explanation as to exactly how this guy managed to get his little ditty permanently installed in the subway. I imagine there’s more than a few graffiti artists who are green with envy, and would love to know how to get their masterpieces (such as they are) permanently exhibited down there. ---
**Author:** ![howardsims](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@howardsims](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howardsims)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/7 "2001-06-06T15:36:12Z")
There used to be a series of signs on the Florida Turnpike which read: OK All You Speeders All Together Now “Good Morning, Doctor” ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truly-bizarro-nyc-subway-signs/67284/8 "2001-06-06T15:40:36Z")
Would be more effective if it read— Overslept, so tired. If late, get fired. Why the worry? Why the pain? Go back home. Do it again. . . . BURMA SHAVE