Pilgrim Street Lament

(by Kevin Brown)



I know that I don't look like much
I can confess
But I seen my share of life and times
I'd bet you couldn't guess
The shelters kinda cold
I know it aint the best
If you got a minute I could tell you somethin'

I might tell you 'bout the time
With two outs in the ninth and two men on
We were playin' where the Reds played
Man I was so young
All my Glory Days
Were in that summer sun
Man I was somethin'

My feet they got the frostbite on a winter night
Man it was cold
I was sleepin' in the back of a Dodge
That I made my home
I just don't know where it was
That things could go so wrong
But I can't cry over that

But, once there was time
When I had all my toes
My feet were fast and fleet
And how my legs could run
And I could hit that ball
clear up into the summer sun
How I can recall

Now I come here when they let me
Just two or three days a week
I do my chores, pray to the Lord
They give me a nice hot meal to eat
Then I lay down where they give me
A place to sleep
And I can dream

That once there was time
When I had all my toes
My feet were fast and fleet
And how my legs could run
And I could hit that ball
clear up into the summer sun
Man I was somethin'

Note: Like to do a special callout to Mitch Albaum who inspired this song. I don't know him ... would love to some day ... but it's his relating of the story of a homeless shelter and one man in particular in Detroit (one out of many other similar stories that could be told) that prompted me to try and relate it with dignity in a song. Hope it succeeded.

Another Failed Believer

(by Kevin Brown)



When I was just a boy
Down at my momma's Church of Christ
The doors they opened wide
And they welcomed you inside
And the voices they were raised
To the sweet Lord by and by
Let us fly Lord
Let us fly

...hear 'em singin'

I feel
My soul rising
Today
I feel
My soul rising
Today
Lord I'm
On my way
Goin' home
Goin' home
I feel
my soul risin'
Today

Well a man can find himself
In dark trouble in a hurry
The booze and pills will make you sick
And the money ... pain and worry
They told me "take the hand of Jesus
Let him lift your earthly burden"
Let us fly Lord
Let us fly

... singin'

Won't be slowed down
By worries
Anymore
Won't be slowed down
By worries
Anymore
Well I'm bound
To Heavens door
Won't be troubled
anymore
No worries
Slow me down
Today

The years have come and gone
I'd like to say I found the answer
I'll tell you true and honest
I'm just a failed Believer
The voices that I hear
Its just the whiskey in the bottle
Got to fly Lord
Got to fly

Yeah, the voices that I hear
It's just the whiskey in the bottle
Got to fly Lord
Got to fly

Note: For some more explanation on this songs early origin check out this posting.