65: I Know Who I Want To Take Me Home

65. "Closing Time" by Semisonic {#11; 3/98} [iTunes? Yes.] {Video: Closing Time.}

Some songs have a certain specific memory attached to them.

When I first moved to Utah, I worked and drove truck out of a warehouse for a large regional grocery store chain. (For the sake of anonymity, I'll refer to it by the generic name of "Smith's.")

I had happily been working for "Smith's" for over eight and a half years when one day management called all of the workers together for a meeting on the shipping dock. The corporate office was going to close down our warehouse, putting almost 200 people out of work.

They slowly phased out our warehouse over a period of six months. A lot of people left that first week. And then, as the six months progressed, a few more people would leave every week until the workforce dwindled down to about 15 of us. It was kind of morbid to keep working there all those months, every week saying goodbye to friends and co-workers. (And yes, the occasional cretin.)

At some point during this period I remember hearing this song being played over the intercom and thinking how fitting it was. "Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

Of course, it helps that this is a very catchy song with lots of memorable lyrics. It is very high on the "sing-along-ability" scale.

"Closing time: Open all the doors and let you out into the world."
"Closing time: One last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer."
"Closing time: You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."
"So gather up your jacket, move it to the exits, I hope you have found a friend."
"I know who I want to take me home."
And, of course: "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

COMING UP NEXT: Is that you, Bruce?