Lyr Req: Go Play in Traffic (Dave Rudolf)

Subject: Looking for a song
From:
Date: 03 Jan 98 - 09:47 PM

Bout twelve years ago I heard this song on NPR and I would really like the words, and music if possible. I have no idea what the name is or who did it, except it was a man. The chorus went something like this: Go play in traffic/Go take candy from a stranger/Light a fire by a ranger. And that's all I remember. Except that it was a song about what his parents used to tell him to do.

Susan Beals

Please reply to [e-mail], because I probably will not check back here in any kind of timely fashion.

Subject: Lyr Req: GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC (Dave Rudolf)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 May 06 - 12:57 AM

Dave Rudolf recorded a song called GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC. It's on his albums "Where Do Legends Go?" 2003; and "Vintage Dave," 2004.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Play in Traffic (Dave Rudolf)
From: GUEST,John
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 09:16 PM

2004? That seems really late. I remember singing that sing with a friend when we were in High School. That was back in 1986.

The chorus went.

Go Play in Traffic!
Go take candy from a stranger,
play with fire by a ranger,
Go play hopscotch on the top of the Sears Tower.

Go play in Traffic
Hop a rail to Minnesota
Be a Monk in North Dakota
Go and see if you can hold your breadth an hour.

I have the lyrics written on a piece of paper with guitar chords somewhere in my attic. I kept all the lyrics and chords for the silly songs we used to play when we were in HS.

[e-mail]

John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Play in Traffic (Dave Rudolf)
From: GUEST,Dave's son
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:00 PM

Dave Rudolf is my dad, and the song is called Go play in Traffic. the CD Vintage is a compilation CD of some of Dave's older songs put onto a CD. Where Do Legends Go is the original album it was on, and it was reprinted in 2003. I can't remember the original release date of the vinyl but I wasn't born yet. I'm pretty sure it was late 70s to early 80s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Play in Traffic (Dave Rudolf)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 11 - 09:15 PM

I remember this from the Dr.Demento Show, circa 1979-1982 or so.

Subject: Lyr Add: GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC (Dave Rudolf)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Nov 11 - 08:15 PM

My transcription from the recording heard at Spotify:


GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC
As sung by Dave Rudolf on "Where Do Legends Go?" (2003)

1. Well, it was slow in comin' but I first found out that day
I came home from school to find my parents moved away.
Well, I finally tracked them down in some obscure little town,
And when I rang the doorbell, mother told me with a frown:

CHORUS: Go play in traffic.
Go take candy from a stranger.
Play with fire by a ranger.
Go play hopscotch on the roof of the Sears Tower.
Go play in traffic.
Hop a rail to Minnesota.
Be a monk in North Dakota.
Go see if you can hold your breath an hour.

2. And all the kids in school, well, they'd laugh right in my face.
Whenever we played baseball, they'd use me as third base,
And they all thought it was good fun when we'd all play hide-and-seek.
Yes, I always was the finder and they'd hide from me for weeks.

And when I'd finally found them, this is what they'd say: CHORUS

3. But now that I am older and my wisdom's grown with age,
I've forgiven all my playmates and my parents' constant rage,
For now I have two kids, who smash and wreck this place,
And as soon as I can catch them, well, I'll tell them to their face: CHORUS


[A concert performance of this song is on Dave Rudolf's album "Vintage Dave" (2004).]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Play in Traffic (Dave Rudolf)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 10:19 AM

It was slow and coming, when I first found out that day. Came home from school to find my parents moved away. I finally tracked them down in some obscure little town, and when I rang the door bell, Mother told me with a frown:

Go play in traffic. Go take candy from a strange, play with fire by a ranger, Go play hopscotch off the roof of the Sears Tower.
Go play in traffic. Hop a rail to Minnisota, be a monk in North Dekota, Go see if you can hold your breath an hour.

All the kids at school, they'd laugh right in my face. Whenever we'd play baseball, they'd use me as third base.... (Can't remember the rest of this verse)


I have grown older. My wisdom's grown with age..... something something something.... my parent's constant rage..... But now I have two kids who smash and reck this place, and whenever I can catch them, I'll tell them to their face

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Go Play in Traffic (Dave Rudolf)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 03:44 PM

You retyped the stanzas Jim posted a while back. They are on this thread just above yours. Thing is, why?