Song of an Old Bluesman

I rode bulls and water-skied with Lightning Hopkins

(His women wore pistols around their waists)

I sang “Purple Rain” in an empty bar

Beneath the flash of blue and red lights

I’ve bent notes on a six string guitar

I’ve made the end of a bottleneck cry

I’ve done time in the caverns of my mind

I’ve faced the throne of death

And looked it in the eye

Long ago, I launched a kite into the sky

It was held up by a big wind and tugged at my hand

It ran out of string and I watched it go