The Clamors

I shuffle out for a cigarette
Why pretend to sleep
Bless a stove light & radio
For the vigil that I keep

Son you never gave me a reason
To sigh or to despair
Never came home drunk or even late
Still I'm deep in smoke and prayer

Cause I know you can hear the clamors
Deep inside, a frightful sound
Just like your mama can hear them
Lord what am I passing down

David left by the time you hit thirteen
We might a dodged a bullet there
He would've kept you from your canvas
Would've made you cut your hair

But I let you take out the Buick
To meet your friends, the wraiths and clowns
And I took out that second mortgage
So you could leave this brick wall town

And maybe leave behind the clamors
Such a gray, defeated sound
Like the pull of one more Winston
I hope I didn't pass it down

Oh bring some noise
Oh lift your sounds
Oh raise your voice
Go drown 'em out

Oh bring some noise
Oh lift your sounds
My serious boy
Go drown 'em out

By the city of the burnt river
Something beat down fills the air
Our lungs keep sucking it inside
Makes a body suspect and scared

But you walk in just before curfew
And tell me how the rag tags are
By the glow of the buzzing stove light
I muss your hair and thank the stars