In celebration of the Benicia City Council’s recent unanimous vote to direct staff to pursue the framing of an Industrial Safety Ordinance, Mary Susan Gast has shared her adaptation of the lyrics to the song “Air.” She notes, “In the summer of 1970 I was offered the role of Jeanie in the Detroit production of Hair. I declined, but I’ve always wanted to sing Jeanie’s song from that musical.  Here is my variation from 2018 on Jerome Ragni and Jim Rado’s composition from 1968.”

AIR

Welcome! sulphur dioxide, Hello! hydrogen sulfide,
The air, the air
Is everywhere—

Breathe deep, while you sleep,
Breathe deep.

Bless you, particulate matter,
Oxides of nitrogen scatter
Benzene, benzene
Is in the air—

Breathe deep, while you sleep,
Breathe deep.

Cataclysmic emissions,
Invisible toxic conditions,
Vapor and fume
From a towering plume,
Breathing in that sullen perfume
Sends us to the emergency room.

Welcome! sulphur dioxide,
Hello! hydrogen sulfide,
The air, the air
Is everywhere.

Breathe deep, while you sleep,
Breathe deep,
Deep, deep, deep-da-[cough cough]deep.

Adapted by Mary Susan Gast
from Jerome Ragni and Jim Rado’s “Air”