TJW

TJW
(Song lyrics inspired by Tony Joe White)

by Richard Graham

Long ago he’d moved away
Time blew through the fields and trees
Years long gone felt like yesterday
And he fell down to his knees

He clutched an old book, fingers clasped
As the weathered shack creaked in the breeze
Short of breath, he wheezed and gasped
Raising his head, he whispered, “Please”

He smelled the bayou’s whisky musk
A frog croaked not too far off
An owl hooted in the dusk
And he started to shake and cough

Gathering sticks and dried moss
A hand-rolled cigarette burning down
He started a small fire
And stared at it with a frown

Wondering why he felt so bad
Thinking about goodness and sin
He reached for a beer
As his cigarette burned down to skin

Shaking his hand and setting the bottle down
He grabbed his scratched up guitar
Picking and slashing out a song
He sent a tune out to the stars

Slinging the guitar over his back
Throwing the empty bottle away
He walked away from the shadowy shack
And turned the key in his rusty Chevrolet