James Dean, Jim Beam and King James

[good4somethingbum]

James Dean, Jim Beam and King JamesWe had a few minutes left, till that flick came onDad said he hadn’t seen it, since before he met MomSaw it with his best friend, at the Bijou downtownLucky Strikes and leather jackets, bourbon in their Royal CrownThat night they raced each other, down old Airport RoadJust like that big screen rebel, cool was their only codeBut his friend rolled his Chevy, and died in my dad’s armsHis fun’ral had a diff’rent code, when the preacher read the PsalmsIt was James Dean, Jim Beam and King JamesThat tugged at a young heart that would not be tamedthey took their toll as they struggled for his soulJames Dean, Jim Beam and King JamesDad wiped a tear and took a sip, from his styrofoam cupTold me about the redhead, he met at an old sockhopShe thought he was a rebel, cos his punch was spikedThought they’d jump in his hotrod, and run ev’ry red lightBut he drove out on Airport, pulled over and parkedAnd the more punch he drank, the more he poured out his heartIt was James Dean, Jim Beam and King JamesThat tugged at a young heart that was slowly tamedthey took their toll as they struggled for his soulJames Dean, Jim Beam and King JamesWell, now that Mama had long passed onHe told me about that race and the reverend’s PsalmsAnd nurses didn’t know I’d sneack him bourbon inOr some Jimmy Dean sausages now and thenAs we watched Rebel Without a CauseI still felt his sense of lossI knew he hadn’t forgiven himself yetSo next time I forgot the bourbonand left a bible by his bedcos it was James Dean, Jim Beam and King JamesBut soon all that remained was King James…©2007 Robert George