What'cha doing tonight
Have you heard that the world's gone crazy
Young Americans listen when I say
There's people putting us down
I know they're saying that we've gone lazy
To tell you the truth
We've all seen better days
Don't need no fast buck, lame duck, profits for fun
Quick trick plans take the money and run
We need the long term, slow burn, getting it done
And some straight talking, hard working son of a gun
What'cha doing tonight
I got faith in our generation
Let's stick together and futurize our attitudes
I ain't lookin' to fight but I know with determination we can challenge the schemers
Who cheat all the rules
If we take pride, be wise in spotting the fools
Big shots, crackpots bending the rules
A fair shot here for me and for you
Knowing that we can't lose
Then we'll be:
Rocking in Paradise, Rocking the Paradise tonight
Rocking in Paradise, Rocking the Paradise tonight, tonight
Tonight!
Go Sparky, Go
C'mon and take pride, be wise in spotting the fools
Big shots, crackpots bending the rules
A fair shot here for me and for you
Knowing that we can't lose
Then we'll be:
Rocking in Paradise, Rocking the Paradise tonight
Who is Sparky?
Tonight's the night we'll make history, as sure as dogs can fly...is the opening phrase of the Paradise Theater album. But whoever heard of a flying dog? If you look very closely at the back of the album cover showing a closed, neglected Paradise Theater, there is poster advertising "Sparky, The Flying Dog: Appearing through July 7" Sparky is also referenced in Rockin' the Paradise with the line "Go Sparky, Go!"
In Dennis' own words:
To me, Sparky was symbolic of many metaphors for the underdog, no pun intended. For instance, "The Little Train Who Could," "The Tortoise and the Hare," "Dumbo" etc. Those of whom little was expected but much was accomplished. A theme that I have explored many time in my lyrics, you know "Winners are losers who got up and gave it one more try."
I knew the odds against me realizing my dream of being a successful musician were astronomical, but I believed I could fly, just like Sparky! Hell everybody knows dogs and guys like me can't fly, but we did. So Sparky represents that spark in all of us that refuses to take no for an answer. Here's to all the the Sparky's of the world, the ones who have flown and those about to.
PS. When traveling on the road throughout the 80's I stayed under the name of Sparky Allen.