King of the Folksingers

my fingers are cold,
Johnny Cash is dead and gone
the wayfaring stranger
has been away too long
the contrary farmer
is hitchin’ up his mule
there’s been a change of plans
you see – the cavalry’s comin’ through
someone grabbed a hammer
musta been Big John
Skinny Pete is hollerin’
gonna strap his banjo on
Arlo’s in his tipi
playin’ spoons and bones
Dylan’s got the scepter
but Ramblin’ Jack is on the throne
said Kerouac to Ramblin’ Jack
i’ve got something for you to hear
come up to my place tonight
for some cocaine and beer
he had a long piece of paper
rolled up somethin’ like a scroll
sit down Jack
you’re the first to hear
this thing called ON THE ROAD
somewhere out in England
Jack’s playin’ in the street
Mick stood there a watchin’
tappin both his feet
Jack jumped on his vespa
with no direction hone
Mick got the boys and started a band
they called The Rolling Stones
here comes little Bobby
he’s got a big head
how the hell else could he
sing those things he said?
he got it all from woody
underneath the Christmas trÕ
Jack was playin’ Santa Claus
and Bobby he believed
Jerry Je° was talkin’
said i got a brand new song
it almost plays itself, he said
people just sing along
you be the first to record it Jack
maybe you won’t have to ramble
Jack just smiled and Jerry Je° played
Mr. Bojangles
Jack was at a table
sittin’ with Tom Waits
some origami figures
some whiskey and a cake
they were talkin’ bout their voices
how they’d get sometimes sore and cracked
tea with lemon, said old Tom
tea with lemon, Jack
somewhere near the ocean
in a little house that’s red
Jack is drawing pictures
of sailboats in his head
one day he will launch that ship
and sail o° into the sun
and on the beach will stand everyone he’s touched
by doin the things he’s done