Once Upon A Time In New Orleans

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soul drifter
Senior Member

since 2004-09-08

Posts 711
Colorado

0 posted 2005-03-27 08:31 AM

Once Upon A Time In New Orleans

Once upon a time in New Orleans
I played on the streets for dreams
my golden horn was wailing
when I saw you sailing
right through the late August air
you were whistling and sashayin' without a care
for the sailor boys' eyes walking all over you
you just kept walking straight and true
and I could feel my heart go lame
and I could feel the hot summer rain
beading on my beating heart
blurring the sidewalk art
I've painted in blue notes in minor key
to comfort little ol' me
and my precarious position
as a poor street musician
without a love to call my own
just one night stands, this dog without a bone
barking up the wrong trees
sweat soaking my suits, shaking to the knees
and then I saw you
and then I wanted you
not a bourbon on Bourbon street
not a hooker you'd care to meet
could ever wipe away the traces
of long ago blushed faces
tattooed on my mind
straight jacket and tie, caught in a bind
stuck in my asylum of a room
the neon spelling my doom
printing its headlines behind my eyes
the piano tinkles, the saxophone sighs
and I'm looking for you
up and down the avenue
wondering, where can you be
as the dusk dims the heat
and I'm drowning in mixed drinks
and the bartender plays the shrink
but I'm not in the mood, you see
I'm here, perfecting my brooding
keeping an eye out for her
but the scene becomes a blur
and I'm soon outside
overdosing on my pride
propping myself up on parking meters
duck my sorry self into an adult theatre
it's too dark inside to remember your face
it's too dirty to think about your grace
and I'm soon climbing up to the roof
pulling out my saxophone, giving her proof
that I exist, that I'm not so bad
my telegraph melody driving me mad
so I'm sending it out to you
I'll play till the dawn is growing blue
over the rooftops
shining on sweatdrops
on my golden horn
I'm bleeding and my heart is torn
over somebody I don't even know
but please don't say no
I won't know you till I know you
my heart doesn't always fly so true
but my heart is open for her
and my reservations are secure
at the Empress Hotel
it's not heaven, but it ain't hell
but I know you won't come to me
yeah I know you won't hear my melody
these notes shaking in my hungover nerves
my mind is split by the sun that swerves
over my soaked blue expensive suit
all my points have come up moot
so back the streets I go
it's all I've ever known
playing my horn to passersby
watching you fade from my bloodshot eyes
if you ever want to find me out
you can find this lonesome drunken lout
playing rhapsodies and serenades to the moon
shining over these hopes that have died too soon
out on the neon blue street of dreams
once upon a time in New Orleans

"Poets are all who love, who feel great truths, and tell them; and the truth of truths is love." --Philip James Bailey

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

1 posted 2005-03-27 08:37 AM

soul drifter
That was a wonderful drift, enjoyed the read.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

2 posted 2005-03-27 11:49 AM

wow!
would love to hear this nawlins blues horn

DavePage
Member Elite

since 2003-12-21

Posts 2917

3 posted 2005-03-27 02:36 PM

If you play as good as you write, that will be an evening to remember.

Dave

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

4 posted 2005-03-27 02:37 PM

soul drifter

I agree with Dave....I really enjoyed reading this....I feel music in it.

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

5 posted 2005-06-30 12:30 PM

"and I'm soon outside
overdosing on my pride
propping myself up on parking meters
duck my sorry self into an adult theatre
it's too dark inside to remember your face
it's too dirty to think about your grace"

New Orleans is one of the few places I have not been...and I want to go so badly. Even more now.

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

6 posted 2005-07-01 12:13 PM

Nice...James

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

7 posted 2005-07-01 12:24 PM

"I'm here, perfecting my brooding"

and so many excellent lines to this, it reminded me of a classic Jazz funeral.

Solemn in places, serious, always, especially in the celebration of release.

and tossing dollars into your case...

from one who knows, you did 'dis right, man.

Welcome to N'awlins.

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

8 posted 2005-07-01 12:30 PM

Wow, loved this..
Maree

drove me like a magnet
to the sea

~stevie nicks~

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