Tangletown

Tangletown (lyrics by davie gayle)

half a lifetime or so ago, as i believe
was on the night before all hallow’s eve
jeff and robby set out to the streets just to stir it up
started smashing pumpkins, basic mischief night stuff

they came across a new kid they’d never seen before
he had a couple dozen eggs, and bragged he could even get more
so they hid behind a wall, tossed ‘em at some passing cars
mostly missed, but hit a few, and ran laughing through the dark

till they heard a ghost train whistling in the wind
as the old cemetery on the hill started fogging in
they slid down winding narrow streets that never seemed to end
and in that fog the new kid disappeared around the bend

they tried all night, but couldn’t track him down
running through the streets of tangletown
wondrin’ how they got so turned around
running through the streets of tangletown

the next night came but jeff and robby don’t trick or treat
but all the kids were buzzin’ ‘round the old house at the end of the street
when they got inside there stood an old woman in her shawl
and robby saw a picture of that kid from last night, on the wall

his clothes were weird and out of date like someone in his grandpa’s day
and when the woman heard him talk, she got a strange look on her face
she said, “that’s no kid, that’s my father, jimmy, when he was barely 17
he’s long gone now, but i might know just what you mean

every other now and then, this same time of year
another boy says he’s seen him, and i know my father’s near"
when that picture hit the ground, they were running for the door
a little paler in their faces, they were shaken to the core

they tried all night, but couldn't track him down
running through the streets of tangletown
wondering how they got so turned around
running through the streets of tangletown

tried all night, but they couldn't track him down
running through the streets of tangletown
they swore no sign of jimmy could be found
but I saw him, running through the streets of tangletown

there goes the ghost of jimmy brown
he was running the streets of tangletown