Aug 2017
The stars burn above the canvas tent, and the rain clouds gather over
The earth is soaked. the water fell into my midnight resting shelter
felt like I was twenty but i was seventy-three, in my youth I’d been a soldier
The federal army had no use for me no more, now i dream of what to do when i get older
I left home many years ago
My wife when asked how’s Johnny she sighs “I don’t know”
every so often arrives a battered and weathered note
and it says my dear I’ve not forgotten you
I’d walks for miles over the desert floors and roads that climb those mountains
Rode ******* through the deserted ravines and straight through all those kids who doubted
One night in July, the sky was bright over the Californian sands
I was tired; fell to my knees and my eyes kissed the land
The vultures were swarming in the heavens above, but below the cotton clouds
Ready to take their pickings but there ain’t much meat on these bones, and my slow breathing, the only sound
In the tiny village i left, years ago, i promised Mary riches and gold
Now as i lay there with the sun piercing through this skin those dreams are growing cold
In the straw roofed house, I once called home, Mary’s cooking dinner, all alone
And every so often arrives a battered and weathered note that reads my dear I’ve not forgotten you
I dream of Mary in her beautiful rags, the house is falling, my son needs a dad, last time I held him he would fit in my arms but then the army came and got me
They took me away from all that I knew, I earnt my money, I played the fool
Women would greet me in each town I stayed
Mary, my heart was faithful, it was my hands that strayed
I don’t ever know if I will see you again, I lay here in the dirt tracks waiting for the rain
I spent all my money in bars and sacred places, women offer beer, dressed in black laces
But I promised way back before I went away, I don’t know how long I’m going but I’ll be back home some day
Pull up with pockets weighted with gold, buy you some nice clothes, fill in the holes
That let the water fall through our roof and roll across your cheeks as you sleep
The fire’s burning, the air is cold, my heart is young but my body is old
The vultures are swarming, the moon hits the skies, the night is on fire, the days sun dies
I lay here waiting to be found, my earthly form imprinted here on the ground
Mary’s at home, unaware, then she hears a sweet whisper in her ear
I said my dear I’ve not forgotten you
The earth is soaked. the water fell into my midnight resting shelter
felt like I was twenty but i was seventy-three, in my youth I’d been a soldier
The federal army had no use for me no more, now i dream of what to do when i get older
I left home many years ago
My wife when asked how’s Johnny she sighs “I don’t know”
every so often arrives a battered and weathered note
and it says my dear I’ve not forgotten you
I’d walks for miles over the desert floors and roads that climb those mountains
Rode ******* through the deserted ravines and straight through all those kids who doubted
One night in July, the sky was bright over the Californian sands
I was tired; fell to my knees and my eyes kissed the land
The vultures were swarming in the heavens above, but below the cotton clouds
Ready to take their pickings but there ain’t much meat on these bones, and my slow breathing, the only sound
In the tiny village i left, years ago, i promised Mary riches and gold
Now as i lay there with the sun piercing through this skin those dreams are growing cold
In the straw roofed house, I once called home, Mary’s cooking dinner, all alone
And every so often arrives a battered and weathered note that reads my dear I’ve not forgotten you
I dream of Mary in her beautiful rags, the house is falling, my son needs a dad, last time I held him he would fit in my arms but then the army came and got me
They took me away from all that I knew, I earnt my money, I played the fool
Women would greet me in each town I stayed
Mary, my heart was faithful, it was my hands that strayed
I don’t ever know if I will see you again, I lay here in the dirt tracks waiting for the rain
I spent all my money in bars and sacred places, women offer beer, dressed in black laces
But I promised way back before I went away, I don’t know how long I’m going but I’ll be back home some day
Pull up with pockets weighted with gold, buy you some nice clothes, fill in the holes
That let the water fall through our roof and roll across your cheeks as you sleep
The fire’s burning, the air is cold, my heart is young but my body is old
The vultures are swarming, the moon hits the skies, the night is on fire, the days sun dies
I lay here waiting to be found, my earthly form imprinted here on the ground
Mary’s at home, unaware, then she hears a sweet whisper in her ear
I said my dear I’ve not forgotten you
