The Mission

The Mission -
originally “Mission Viva!“ 1979 E tuning

The basic rhythm of believe it or not similar to The Greatful Dead’s Scarlet Begonias was in my ear, living in the Mission in 78-79 from Dec to May was such a different (from our sleepy seaside Quincy neighborhood ) and vital urban experience for us, so ethnically diverse, every walk or bus ride down Mission Street (so different from its previous heyday with the Tic-Toc Lounge and all the big theaters - was so lively -the people of Hispanic/Asian/Black /White , the shops and restaurants of all kinds, music blaring from them and the low-rider cars …And Delores Street and Park -especially on Sunday but anytime there could be a muscial jam going on . I’d just watch and loved the sound and scene. It was perfect when we recorded it to add that Spanish crowd scene intro and and to have Debbie add her Spanish lyrics Que vya bien!

Follow the drumbeats
Down on Delores.
Out on the hillside-
It’s a Spanish chorus-
Buena Vista,
Buenas Dias
Hey Amigo
Come and sing now-

Viva Sunday.
Hang out, have fun!
‘Til the sunsets,
Manana comes.

Down in the Mission,
Under the palmtrees,
It’s like a circus,
Out in the streets.
Chevvies cruising,
Shoppers choosing,
Senoritas swaying,
And the readios blaring-

California,
Magnifica!
Si Latino,
Viva, Viva!!

Break -

Repeat
California…

(and we have gone back 20 or more times!)