9. Grief

Coming and Going Blues
for Daniel George Marks, 1957–1988

I been blue all day

I been blue all day

I been thinking ’bout my man

He done come and gone away

He done took up sick

Sick done took up him

Sickness fell down like a storm

Weatherman said It sure looks grim

I watched it take up hold

I watched it take up hold

Wheezing like a tire hit a nail

His skin was hot but now it’s cold

Marks showed up on his face

Marks showed up on his face

They showed a map of hurt and pain

I hope he’s in a painless place

At the end I took his hand

At the end I took his hand

I said If you wanna leave

Then you know I’ll understand

He wasn’t here too long

He wasn’t here too long

When he was here he was my life

Now he’s gone he is my song

I remember our first kiss

Yes, I remember that first kiss

Words fail me to describe it

But that kiss I’m gonna miss

That man was like a castle

And he given me the key

I lived inside his walls

Now he lives inside of me

I’m a-coming home

I’m a-coming home

I’m a-coming home

I’m a-going home

I been blue all day

I been blue all day

Love is gone away, boys

Come and dig my grave