Fiddle’n Around

I play a dark wood double base an old man gave to me

Says an old man gave it to him when he was wild and free

He'd  come  by to hear me play at Theo's juke joint by the river

Folks had told him I had a rhythm that made those ladies quiver

At Theo's you could eat and drink and dance your cares away

Though some came there just for the music to listen to us play

And on those nights with moonlight  just right

Its beams like stones skipping across the river     

It's a reason to live

             For you find love to give

                             To another needier than the giver

The old man  listened to me play a while, downed his drink and stepped

He brought her back

                              Said her name was Grace

                                                    As he walked away he wept

I opened the case she seemed alive

As she jumped into my arms

I wrapped them both around her

                                              And pulled her in real tight

She poured her song into my soul

          Each note its own delight

I played on

like one possessed      

 she walked

               then strutted

                          then danced

The folks in Sam's old juke joint got caught up in my trance

I played until the sun came up lighting the floor afire

My boys hung in there with me though they knew I'd never tire.

I've given her my best years in exchange for the joy of her song

Thought the whole truth really is I've simply played along

So now I'm out here looking for a young man to take my place

To spend his life as a player always saying Grace.  

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