(for Townes Van Zandt)
And you smiled a big old smile
Next thing I knew we were sitting on your bed
And I had been there a while
What made you want to come and show me all your love
And lay it out on the line?
You said "Gimme two dimes and a little bit of time
And I think we'll be just fine."
I said, "Faulkner is the man and Mississippi is grand,
But my skin it ain't so white.
Your papa's comin' home and he'll see you're not alone
An' I'll be runnin' just to save my life."
The name she gave was Jessie Taylor
The daughter of a miner
Her ways were free and it seemed to me
The sunshine walked beside her
She was so young and fair
Nineteen and such a lady
She said, "kiss me on the lips just like this"
While the skies turned gray and hazy
She said, "When you comin' back to Tupelo, boy?
When you're gone I'll feel such pain."
Well I wanted every thing but I couldn't ask for that
So I boarded a West-bound train.
Chugging down the tracks to Frisco I guess
Maybe I'll find another girl.
But wanderin' place to place all I see is her face,
My true love from another world
I wound up on land with a suitcase in my hand
Feeling dead like my five senses
Laid my body on the tracks with a message on my back
Crying fare thee well sweet
Princess from Prentiss