In 1983 I had a boyfriend named John Franza. He had this tape* that a friend of his had made. Never met the friend, can’t remember her name. She was a singer-songwriter, and it was a demo tape, with maybe five songs on it. John, Roberta and I would listen to that tape over and over. We loved it.
For two days I’ve had one of the songs, Don’t Go Down to the Pier Tonight, stuck in my head.
Don’t go down to the pier tonight
There’s a boat sailing out on a mirror of moonlight
I gotta do what’s right
I”m going back to the boys tonight.
I can’t believe I remember that. Unbelievably catchy hook, killer delivery with a powerhouse voice packed with emotion. Her co-writer was a gay guy she’d had a relationship with, and this song was their story (he went “back to the boys”).
There was another song called “Which Window,” which was an unrequited love song. The lonely guy follows his love to her apartment building and sits outside, wondering which window is hers. Which window, which window is hers? is a very difficult line to sing over and over, but she did it.
I have no idea who that woman was, whatever happened to her, if she ever had any success as a musician. But I’ve got to acknowledge the power of songwriting that remains memorable after twenty-four years.
*Cassette tape. We used them for music back then.
Thought she was an ex-girlfriend. Later I will remember the name of the band.
No, NOW!! They were called Get Wet. I’m 99% sure.
The tape had five songs. The other one that was killer was ‘It’s You’.
And when you’ve got me crying again
Trying to remember
It’s You
It’s You
It’s You
Forgive and don’t forget carelessly
That baby it’s you and
It’s Me
It’s Me
It’s Me
Days go by without a kind word to say
The memories start to fade
Useless hurts that only get in the way
Nothing to share but the blame
I think I like one other one very well, and I think I didn’t like Which Window as much as you did.
Down on the Pier still haunts me, and I will be able to come up with all the lyrics at some point, if you like.
You’re right, Get Wet. And after I posted, I thought maybe an ex-girlfriend. Not sure. But I don’t know her name.
I’d love the lyrics to Down to the Pier.
The end of Which Window was really repetitive, but what I remember is how hard the song is to sing, and how she nailed it, with real clarity in the enunciation.
Single!
That was the other killer song. The album was also called Get Wet, and I don’t know if the album only had five songs, or (and I’m pretty sure it’s this), that these were the five best, per John.
Hey boy
Is he coming back
I’ve got a feeling that I’ll never see you again
Boy, you’re looking sad
Can’t help knowing the wind is blowing again, boy, right through your hair
Say when, boy, ’cause you no longer care
And then, boy, I’ll set you back on your own again
Hey boy
It’s such a shame
Can’t help crying for all that trying
But I never dreamed that we could change
Just can’t touch when it takes so much to be kind, boy
And now there’s nothing to say
No time, boy, and no better day
Hurts to stand, boy, but not between you and your way
And for me it’s back to Single
Single
I’m Single, Single again
Back to Single
Single again
(I may have rolled the third verse in as the second. Somewhere I have the lyrics to those three songs; Down on the Pier, Single, and It’s You, written down. Somewhere in some very old notebook.)
I’m pretty sure that the arrangements would hold up today. I’m pretty sure she was amazing. I never knew her name either… and I remember we would occasionally look through used record shops in the village for the album.
Oh… and it’s Down On, not to, the Pier.
(And I said
Don’t go down on the pier
No way, it’ll break your heart, cruising your only life away
Won’t you try and stay, you know there’s always another way)
[…] by Roberta Lipp on March 10th, 2007 My sister wrote about this tape we both used to listen to, by a band called Get Wet that never made […]
I remember the songs well. I was in the Navy and “Don’t Go Down On The Pier” was so appropriate… especially in some of the overseas ports when some of us were told nearly the very same words. A friend had the tape on the ship and I had always remembered the groups name, GET WET, but could never find the music. Too bad, we all loved the music and it seems as though they would/should have gone far. I guess I’ll never hear the songs again, except in my memories.
BGEO, it is amazing to find someone else who knows the songs! Yes, I certainly wish I could hear them again.
The song is actually called “Morton Street”. Get Wet released a self titled album in the 80’s on Pickwick records. Pickwick went out of business and no one picked uptheir inventory. That is, until recently. You can now download the entire album from Itunes. I too have been looking for this album for over 20 years! I downloaded it the other day. The vocals are a little weaker that I remember but the songs are still well written and its good to hear them again.
Holy cow, Mark!
What she said!
So…
Did you download it or what?
Actually not, but it’s a long story. I’m doing it right at this very moment. 🙂
Get Wet was released last year (2008) via iTunes under “Get Wet” under Jazz
Yep, downloaded it. Such a thrill to hear it again!
You are all the best!!! Thank you so much, I have been looking for this song for 25 years.
Thank you Mark for the info on where to but it!