Roadie

It was right here in this leaf-covered house by the glow
A hundred summers ago
I wrote down the very first verse
On the cracks of the pretty sidewalks
My guitar was still ice-cold

You wouldn't want to know me
You wouldn't want to show me

There was you and me and the 14 beautiful souls
sharing the beds and the meals with the other 7 next door
And as the time travel away
I was still the same dull delicate bard
in a sea of tears to explore

I was never bold, I was never whole
Dear God, don't take me to heaven if there's no rock and roll

I came all the way to tell you I'm still alive
A tortured roadie at the age of 25
All your thirsty sailors have sucked my blood
And you've just watched me nosedive

You wouldn't want to reach me
You wouldn't want to teach me

You let me see death and birth
Pain and mirth, the joy of wealth
and the struggle to survive
I've seen enough for the final verse to fly around
To stick behind and to finally arrive

Those holy germs have left a big hole in my soul
Dear God, don't take me to heaven if there's no rock and roll

Sons & daughters, people of mine
Here's my everlasting rhyme
I'm going now but I'll see you under different skies so get by

I'm ready to go
I'm ready to go
I'm ready to go
Dear God, don't take me to heaven if there's no rock and roll
I'm ready to go
Dear God, don't take me to heaven if there's no rock and roll
I'm ready to go
Dear God, don't take me to heaven if there's no rock and roll
I'm ready to go
Dear God, don't take me to heaven if there's no rock and roll

I'm ready to go...

Boy: "Ala, are we there yet?"
Man: "I don't know, maybe we should sing it one more time."
Boy: "Okay."
Together: "Dear God, don't take me to heaven
If there's no rock and roll."