John’s father Paul was born and raised in Larned, Kansas; smack dab in the
middle of nowhere. There was a little eatery called the "Blue Goose Cafe"
within walking distance of Paul’s childhood home.
The “Tiller and Toiler” mentioned in the lyrics, is still the local paper.
The staff was kind enough to provide these pictures. Thanks to Linda and
everyone at the "Tiller and Toiler" for the photo research.
The Blue Goose is all but a faded memory in Larned.

The Blue Goose Cafe
Margolis, Rosler, Franzel
 
 
The Blue Goose Cafe has a booth by the window
beyond the coat rack and the rotary phone
a young man takes coffee fades into the woodwork
in the golden hours nine o’clock till noon
 
he takes out his "Times" and "The Tiller and Toiler"
a notebook that he tapes some articles in
the lunch rush begins but he’s welcome to stay
late mornings at The Blue Goose Cafe
 
he seems slightly shy as the waitress walks by
though he knows her by name
watching people rush off
he looks kind of lost
but he fits in in some strange way
 
he’ll drink like a fish from a picture postcard
or cradle a book like a small fragile bird
the cover’s a picture of Edward R. Murrow
he looks out the window, his eyes miles away
late mornings at The Blue Goose Cafe
 
         a safe haven here for shedding a tear
         or a small contemplative prayer
         oh to feel lost inside
         yet so alive
         and the world waiting out there
 
here in my office I glance back at this scene
a young man writing in his book of dreams
now I wonder what he’d think of me
thirty years later from across the street
here with my face pressed up against the window pane
staring out at The Blue Goose Cafe
 
this notebook I open is so many years old
the last line I wrote was "these hours are pure gold"
the lunch rush begins but I’m welcome to stay
late mornings at The Blue Goose Café

Arranged & conducted
by John Margolis
Diane Lesser – oboe
Steve Hartman – clarinet
Stewart Rose – French horn
Kim Laskowski – bassoon
Virgil Blackwell – bass clarinet
John Margolis – vocal & piano
Recorded at DHMA,
Joe Sears – Engineer
and Pawnee Rock
Mixed by Tim Leitner