Back in Davis (Peter Dyer)

Subject: Back in Davis (Peter Dyer)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 22 - 11:34 PM

Davis, California, is often the topic of derision. It is home of the agricultural campus of the University of California, and its teams are known as the "Aggies." The best-known feature of the campus is the hog farm (and its accompanying smells).
But Davis is a wonderful community, the most bicycle-friendly community in the United States. Good restaurants, good theater on campus, and lots of music. I can't count how many wonderful musical experiences I've had in Davis.
So here's a song from a local musician, Peter Dyer. It's sung often by those of us who visit the musical haunts of Davis, California - although many of us don't attempt the yodel.

BACK IN DAVIS
(Peter Dyer)

His original song about Davis, copyright 1987

I was stranded in an airport on a cold and dreary night
I was talking with a stranger, hoping for a morning flight
Conversation was soft and low--we were both dead on our feet
He said: "Where are you going--what's it like where you come from
And what will you do if they tell you there simply are no seats?"

I said: "I'll catch a plane and fly,
get on a bus and ride
out to those wide western spaces
Or climb aboard Amtrak,
going clickety clack clack
till I'm unpacking back in Davis
I feel the valley heat,
I see the waving wheat,
I smell a billion red tomatoes
Three water towers rising
in a big blue sky
tell me that I've arrived in Davis.

That's when I know I'm home
back in the sunny heart of California
Then I'll settle down,
me and my Yolo gal
and forty thousand friendly faces
Hey now I'm on my way
because today's the day I'm saying:

'Hey--
I'm back in Davis!'

(Instrumental)

Can't wait to see the boys,
can't wait to make some noise,
down at the old familiar places
Then I'll kick off my shoes
and kick away these blues
because I choose to live in Davis
I've travelled back and forth,
east west and south and north,
all over these United Stat-es
I guess I've been around,
but now I'm homeward bound
because there ain't no town like Davis

That's when I know....

(Yodel)

I'm saying 'Hey--hooray I'm back in Davis!' "