The other day,  I was waiting to meet a friend in Pioneer Square, and (because I was early) I had a chance to sit and wait.  And as I sat, I remembered what fun it is to sit in Pioneer Square and watch Portlanders of all stripes, shapes and sizes go by.  This week’s song, “People Watching In Pioneer Square,” was born in my head at that moment.

Musically speaking, this is only the second song on the One Year of Portland Songs Blog that I have actually put down on sheet music before recording.  The reason is that, going for sort of a “vocal jazz” feel with this one, I wanted to make sure I got the intricate harmonies and chords right.  (The other song was “Pro Baseball In Portland,” which I put on sheet music for the same reason: you can’t improvise barbershop chords.)  Anyway, this one is dissonant and hopefully just a little bit weird.  Just like some of the things you see while people watching in Pioneer Square...

Lyrics:

People watching in Pioneer Square,

So much to see, I stop and stare.

Who is that lady with the orange hair

Talking to herself over there?

People watching in Pioneer Square,

The businessman looks lost, perplexed.

It's possible his life's a mess

But he's so impeccably dressed.

People watching, people watching,

People watching, people watching.

People watching in Pioneer Square,

Some eat their lunch, some laugh, some cry.

Hacky sacks tumble 'neath the clear blue sky.

Do they annoy the passersby?

People watching in Pioneer Square,

The tourists have us on alert.

They look so funny in their matching shirts.

By evening will their feet hurt?

People watching, people watching,

People watching, people watching.

People watching in Pioneer Square,

The bronze man waits for his taxi.

People are bustling, there's so much to see.

I love watching them watching me.