Tuesday, March 12, 2024

I forgive everyone


I am an old, old man
I live in a hospital bed
I'd rather be in the fatherland
but I'm here instead
now I'm crossing the final river
in a world hard and rough
I used to wish I could live forever
now I feel I've had enough

          but I have one thing to say
          before I see my setting sun
          I have reached the end of my days
          and I forgive everyone

I fought all the fights I found
I never ran afraid
my consequences knew the sound
of choices I have made
three children I have fathered
with my loving wife
I never yearned for anything other
I'm satisfied with my life

          now I have one thing to say
          at this time I can't outrun
          listen before I fade away
          I forgive everyone

          everything I've ever seen
          somehow became a part of me
          everything I've ever known
          has been welcome in my home

all those who have wronged me
I will not think of you now
my heart always belonged free
of the hate that time will allow
but I know before I go
my soul will live forever
I will fly swiftly as the crow
when I cross my final river

          now I have one thing to say
          now that my time is done
          I have no choice, I cannot stay
          and I forgive everyone
          I forgive everyone


Friday, March 8, 2024

my adopted hometown


a cup of good strong coffee
and I'm lost in memory
feeling kind of lonesome
for where I used to be
I was not born and raised there
but I'm always hanging around
in my adopted hometown

sometimes I remember
the faces of old friends
lately in my nightly dreams
I'm seeing them again
I'm counting all my blessings
for the peace that I once found
in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown
          in my adopted hometown
          if I could, I'd settle down
          in my adopted hometown

the sunrise in the country hills
bluebonnets in the wild
musicians everywhere you go
the way the ladies smile
waiting for a moonlit night
just around sundown
in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown
          in my adopted hometown
          if I could, I'd settle down
          in my adopted hometown

I always thought that I would
end up there one day
I cannot fully explain
just why I moved away
I pray someday I will return
to my place of sacred ground
in my adopted hometown

          in my adopted hometown
          in my adopted hometown
          if I could, I'd settle down
          in my adopted hometown


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

don't tell me to calm down


I don't want to calm down
don't tell me to calm down
I'm not gonna calm down
I just want to be angry at you
why do you do what you do
I can't believe what you do
I've thought the whole thing through
and I find no use for you

          don't tell me to calm down
          please just stop hanging around
          peace is nowhere to be found
          don't tell me to calm down

don't be hanging 'round my door
just like the ways you did before
I've got no choice but to ignore
the lump of stupid known as you
who the hell do you think you are
all you leave me with are scars
I'm heading to the local bar
because you do not have a clue

          don't tell me to calm down
          please just stop hanging around
          peace is nowhere to be found
          don't tell me to calm down       

one more thing before I go
that I believe you should know
no more putting up a show
leave while the getting's good
I don't like you being here
let me make this statement clear
it's time for you to disappear
leave like you know you should

          don't tell me to calm down
          please just stop hanging around
          peace is nowhere to be found
          don't tell me to calm down


Monday, March 4, 2024

when I get out of prison


when I get out of prison
I'll tell you what I'll do
eat a burger
chug some wine
and make sweet love to you
make sweet love to you

when I get out of prison
I'll tell you what I'll see
I'll look into your pale brown eyes
and you'll look back at me
you'll look back at me

          I'll do away with yesterdays
          and stare straight ahead
          at the destiny that's yet to be
          from the safety of my bed

when I get out of prison
there'll be no one to answer to
the  only one to share my soul
will be the likes of you
and you know that's true

when I get out of prison
I will not be on trial
I'll be living for the future
and the glory of your smile
the glory of your smile