Ever since I was a kid growing up in Portland, I’ve loved the bubbler fountains that are all over Portland (and particularly downtown), which, I learned today, are called Benson Bubblers after their creator Simon Benson.  For a city that takes great pride in its large majestic fountains, the perky little bubblers are reminders that we also know how to have a good time.  And even in the age of water conservation -- which is terribly important, don’t get me wrong -- the city has managed to keep the bubblers going because of their ongoing popularity to Portlanders.

This week’s song “The Bubblers Club” is a tribute to the bubblers of Portland, imagining a 1920s/30s-era nightclub centered around everyone’s favorite drinking fountains.  Dance the night away, and wake up refreshed and hydrated in the morning -- glub glub glub!

Incidentally, the “trumpet” solo in this song was almost a gargling solo, but cooler heads prevailed.  Instead, I opted for the shorter, easier, and musically better (if still weird) gargling “wows.”

Lyrics:

If you’re walking around, if you’re feeling down,

Just look for us, ‘cause we’re all over town.

Membership’s free, everyone’s welcome at the Bubblers Club.

We’ll give you two parts hydrogen, and one little oxygen.

Didn’t get enough?  Go ahead and slurp it again.

Your tab’s on us here at the Bubblers Club.

You’ll go glub, glub, and you’ll give in a whirl --

The Bubblers Club: it’s the best place in the whole wide world.

If you’ve been for a jog, if your throat’s got a frog,

If you want a little something to clear away that morning fog:

Give it a taste, it’s flowing fresh at the Bubblers Club.

It’s a potable urban creek, yeah it’s cool and sleek.

It’s one of those things that makes Portland unique.

No other city can match our Bubblers Club.

You’ll go glub, glub, it’s better than caffeine --

The Bubblers Club: it’s the best place that you’ve ever seen.

So come any time -- you won’t spend a dime.

This cool, refreshing water is so sublime.

Portland’s proudest place is the Bubblers Club.