It sat down at the fountain, under a blazing summer sun.\u00a0 While I set up, a young man asked me if I\u2019d seen the other guy who plays at Bethesda Fountain.\u00a0 I described the cowboy, without calling him that; the young man said that was him.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s usually done by 12:30, then I take over.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The young man sat down next to me.\u00a0 I tuned up while we chatted. \u00a0He was a singer and was thinking of busking. \u00a0“Do you use an amp and recorded accompaniment?” \u00a0He said no. \u00a0I suggested he check out the underpass between the boathouse and the conservatory pond, where people sailed model boats.\u00a0 \u201cThe acoustics are really good.\u201d\u00a0 That seemed to have sold him.\u00a0 He ambled eastward; I stood and played \u201cMaking Love Ukulele Style.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And I played for 30 minutes before a family of 6 walked by.\u00a0 A pudgy little boy of 8 or 9 slowed, stopped, dug a quarter out of his pocket and gave it to me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A bride and groom came by.\u00a0 I immediately stopped playing \u201cDid You Ever See a Dream Walking,\u201d and started \u201cThe Hawaiian Wedding Song.\u201d\u00a0 This is my practice for every wedding party.\u00a0 They took pictures at the fountain near me, after which I asked if they had time for a hula.\u00a0 Unlike all brides and grooms before them, they said yes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A crowd gathered to watch the happy couple dance to \u201cThe Hukilau Song.\u201d\u00a0 Some of them put money in my case, as I later saw; my attention was on the dance, which evolved from a stiff, unconvincing hula to an unrestrained series of spins and dips, ending with a long smooch on the lips.\u00a0 The bride, who carried no money, asked if I\u2019d be there for a while.\u00a0 I told her another 30-40 minutes.\u00a0 They returned the leis and headed toward the boathouse.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t come back.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A man, passing by, dropped a buck.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On the lawn that rises to the east, a large group of kids in white tees had been picnicking.\u00a0 Lunch over, they walked down to the fountain 4 or 5 at a time.\u00a0 A kid came forward and threw a coin into my case, then ran back to where his travel mates were assembling.\u00a0 I expected to find another quarter, but it was a 2 Euro piece, which I replace with 2 singles from my wallet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A photographer captured the second verse of \u201cHonolulu Baby,\u201d lyrics by Mr. Ukulele:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While down at Bethesda Fountain, underneath a hot summer sky,<\/em><\/p>\n I play my ukulele for all the people walking by.<\/em><\/p>\n The lovers feel the rhythm, the little babies clap their hands.<\/em><\/p>\n The vendors do the hula beside their hot dog stands.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For which I got a thumbs-up and a dollar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I’d played for 90 minutes. \u00a0With 7 singles and a quarter in my pocket, I quickly got out of the sun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"