On the Eighth Day, God Created John Pizzarelli....

Travelling down the Turnpike


heading for the shore

A thought just then occurred to me

I never thought before

I've been a lot of places

Seen pictures of the rest

But of all the places I can think of

I like Jersey best.


Betting halls, shopping malls,

good old Rutgers U,

47 shoes stores line Route 22

The Meadowlands, the root beer stands

Main Street Hackensack;

I may leave for a week or two

But I'm always coming back.


The Pinelands and the Vinelands

Seaside Heights Margate

You can have Miami

I love the Garden State

I've been a lot of places

Seen pictures of the rest

But of all the places I can think of

I like Jersey best.


We have horses, Princeton courses,

Gas stations we have scores

Trenton, Hopewell, Lake Hopatcong,

Mantoloking Shores;

Some states have their rock stars,

But Springsteen beats them all --

And our beautiful arena has

Brendan Byrne carved on the wall.


Lots of dineries, oil refineries,

Our highways make you cough,

But Spring Lake Heights and Belmar


Are places to get off.

Drinking spots and used car lots

Make the place just grand,

If you want to pay a visit,

Newark Airport's where you land.


The Pinelands and the Vinelands

Seaside Heights Margate

You can have Miami

I love the Garden State

I've been a lot of places

Seen pictures of the rest

But of all the places I can think of

I like Jersey best.


Philly dogs like Chili dogs

They eat in Cherry Hill

Woodbridge they make Haagen Dazs

I can't get my fill

Saddle River ain't chopped liver

Nor is Lavallette

There are no Jersey strangers,

Just friends we haven't met.


The Jersey Nets went thataway, Piscataway

No more, had another winning season

And next year they'll win more;

Our Giants could go all the way

If they could win just one,

But the parties in the lots

Before the games are really fun.


The Pinelands and the Vinelands

Seaside Heights Margate

You can have Miami

I love the Garden State

I've been a lot of places

Seen pictures of the rest

But of all the places I can think of

I like Jersey best.


Our famous Parkway is the darkway

Home from Manasquan

You'd think for all those quarters

They'd turn the road lights on

And have no pity, Jersey City

Once again will shine,

With Holmdel, Cape May, Highland Park

I like our state just fine.


The Pinelands and the Vinelands

Seaside Heights, Margate

You can have Miami

I love the Garden State

I've seen a lot of places

Seen pictures of the rest

But of all the places

I can think of, I like Jersey Best!
 
...I Like Jersey Best by John Pizzarelli, Paterson
 
These are really funny lyrics to a signature song by John Pizzarelli, balladeer and Broadway star.  He was my mom's favorite, so that's another reason why he's here.  Gotta love a guy with pizza in his name and Piscataway in his song!
 
Keep reading and writing,
 
Maureen