// -->

	The Sign   Johnny slid up to the silver Beamer Quick look to the left, a look to the right Jimmied the door, crossed the wires Stole off into the streetligt night The thrill of the crime The rush of his first time He cruised to the corner of Fifth and Maple That's where he saw the sign, oh And the sign said stop And a voice in his mind said stop It was a voice like a teacher's voice Oh, a preacher's voice Or the voice of his pop He saw the sign and the sign said stop Johnny sat there at the intersection Idling there for a little while After a moment, he nudged the pedal Drove the car for another mile Rounding the bend, where Maple came to an end His mouth grew dry and his palms grew sweaty He saw the sign again, oh again And the sign said stop And a voice in his mind said stop It was a voice like a teacher's voice Oh, a preacher's voice Or the voice of his pop He saw the sign and the sign said stop He swung that Beamer round Like a train jumps a track And he brought it back Because the sign said stop And a voice in his mind said stop It was a voice like a teacher's voice Oh, a preacher's voice Or the voice of his pop He saw the sign and the sign said stop Copyright Jeffrey L. Stillman