Lenny the Great (from ”Stars of David”)

Long before Star Trek
Long before Spock
I was Lenny the Great
In a living room magic show
The only performer on a blue collar block
In Boston’s West End

My Dad was a barber
My Mom was the boss
They and their parents
Had both sailed across
The icy Atlantic
And into New England
On a dime

I was Lenny the Great
Had a whole slew of tricks
Though Dad said I’d do better
Playing accordion
I performed nightly
With my magic tricks
Using scarves, balls
Coins, and cards

But there was one trick
At a novelty shop
That the clerk guaranteed
Would make every jaw drop
And after six months of saving
He sold it to me
It was mine!

I ran home bag in my hand
I conjured up magic commands
When I opened the package I couldn’t believe
That the clerk at the store had a trick up his sleeve
I could see the hate spilling down to the floor
Pamphlets and pictures and drawings galore
Saying that Jews should be hated and feared
And that was the day that Lenny the Great
Disappeared

Long before Star Trek
Long before Spock
I remember that moment
Like it was yesterday
For Lenny the Great
It came as a shock
You can practice and practice
But like it or not
There are roles you were born to play