"Come Unity" is a recording of the Crazy Planet Band from a Newark, DE "Community Day" back in the time when there was a popular local movement to preserve some of the most beloved of Main Street places: The State Theater and The DeLuxe Luncheonette. The Copyright on my old paper copy of the lyrics says Sept 7, 1989. This was the only time this song was ever performed.
I have fond memories of the State Theater from when I was a kid. But also from the era when Dave Bartholomew and Barry Solon introduced more international cinema offerings to the mix, which was fitting for a college town. The Laskaris brothers ran the Deluxe Luncheonette for 50 years. But they never owned the building next door to the State Theater! Many U of D alumni have precious memories of their “hang-out” where a number of them fell in love or met life-long friends. Many "Townie" folk remember the State Theater as the place where they saw their first movie when they were children. Both places are irreplaceable cultural and architectural losses to the town of Newark that will have to live on in our memories only. Whether you were a child growing up in Newark, DE or you were a college student hanging out at "The Greasy Spoon", that part of the landscape was wiped off the map by a man later convicted of defrauding the government and laudering the money into local real estate, and by the U of D planning department. Citizens made a valiant effort, but it was all in vain unless we learned something about our need for “unity” in future struggles for our “community”. These are the lyrics to "Come Unity". Vic
You’ve lived and worked in this ol’ town so many years, it’s true
But mean ol’ Mister Moneyman won’t even meet with you!
You’re part of the community, but you’re not among the few
Where property’s more precious than the whole communal view
Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity!
Memories come flashing back from a little luncheonette
Where we would sit in the booths and chat with everyone we met
The brothers never owned the place, but they worked it fifty years!
Along comes Mister Moneyman and the building disappears!
Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity!
Once there was a theater from nineteen twenty-nine
The stage and the acoustics there were truly something fine!
But we live in the “New World” and it was old and in the way
Besides, if you’ve got no money, then you ain’t got no say
Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity!
So where’s he get so much money from? Can he buy up this whole town?
And plan what he will do with it? And tear whatever down?
Wherever there is character or culture to sustain,
If he gets his greedy hands on it, what values will remain?
Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity!
So celebrate community by speaking heart to heart
And maybe we can learn from this and make another start!
You’re part of the community, and it is part of you
So concentrate on unity; You know it’s overdue!
Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity! (Come unity!) Come unity!
Copyright Sept. 7, 1989 Victor Rene Sadot / BMI / Orbian Love Music
