city names

[M. Lynne Murphy]

Two more nicknames I've lived at or about:

Rochester, NY is sometimes Ra-cha-cha

Northampton, MA = Noho to the nouveau Northamptonites and Hamp to the
long-standing locals

There's actually a guy from Agawam, MA who records (or did, in the 80s)
under the name "Raymond and the Circle."  He makes up words to (mostly)
instrumental songs (although he occasionally just sings over the singer on a
song with lyrics, like his rendition of Santana's "Black Magic Woman" as
"Black Magic Marker"--a very nice piece).  Anyhow, he's got a song regarding
the nicknames called "Last Stop: Noho":

(spoken:  Last Stop:  Northampton, the capital of the world!)
Noho, Soho, all around the hole,
Every third or fourth guy you meet is probably on blow.
Prettier than a big city,
Citier than a scout camp.
It's so lovely to stroll upon
The sidewalks of North HAMP!

(One presumes that the Hole is the Quabbin Reservoir, which he also has a
song about, called "Quabbin Arise!", an anthem sung to the theme from _Local
Hero_.)

Lynne, who likes to support the doggerel arts