The other day, I happened to be driving up Rt. 68-70 and as I approached the traffic light across from the Post Office, I looked to my left and noticed that someone had spray painted something on the side of a utility box. I had seen it before, in fact, it has been there for many years but is starting to fade.

So when I had a chance later on in the day, I went over to that utility box. The words on the box said:”Welcome to Cheshire, Where Only the Strong Survive.”

I swear I DID NOT spray paint that!! Amazing. So there is someone else who notices that Cheshire is a nice town but it is a town that really tries to protect itself and its image. I believe Cheshire had put up a proverbial “wall” if you will over the years, but recently I have seen it starting to come down.

That saying got me thinking about the old Simon and Garfunkel song: “I Am A Rock–I Am An Island.”

I know you baby boomers remember that song. Basically, Paul Simon said it was about loneliness, but I always interpreted the song as describing someone who was either hurt by love and put up an emotional wall to protect themselves from ever being hurt again. It sort of reminds me of Cheshire with its “wall” of protection.

So, I decided to tweak the lyrics of “I Am A Rock-I Am An Island” by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel to:

“I Am A Rock-I Am An Island-I Am Cheshire.”

I have posted the original song and video by Simon and Garfunkel under the “Featured Video” so you can play the video and read my tweaked lyrics at the same time.

Now listen, don’t get upset, THIS IS SATIRE and I did this only for a laugh. Or did I?

YOU MUST PLAY THE MUSIC VIDEO AND READ THESE LYRICS AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE FULL EFFECT.

I Am A Rock-I Am An Island-I Am Cheshire

Original lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Re-written lyrics by Cindy-Dedicated to that spraypainter.

A winter’s day

In a deep and dark December

I am–Cheshire.

Gazing from my window to Rt. 10 below

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow

I am a rock

I am an island

I am Cheshire.

I’ve built a Police Department

A fortress deep and mighty

So Meriden and Waterbury may not penetrate.

I have no need of free speech, free speech causes pain,

It’s Undergroundtownhall that I disdain.

I am a rock,

I am an island,

I am Cheshire.

Don’t talk of the Police Commission,

But I’ve heard the words before,

It’s sleeping in my memory.

I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died,

If that horrible home invasion never got leaked to the press, I never would have cried.

I am a rock,

I am an island,

I am Cheshire.

I have my Channel 14

And my Cheshire Herald to protect me,

I am shielded in my armor.

Hiding in my Town Council Chambers, safe within my womb,

I touch no one and no one touches me.

I am a rock,

I am an island,

I am Cheshire.

And a rock feels no pain,

And an island never cries.