The Barman's Lullaby - Soul Blues Icon
The barman's rag is tired and worn
Just like the story I've told
Since the day that my love was torn
And my heart turned black and cold
The neon sign is buzzing loud
A broken ugly sound
For the last of a lonely crowd
On this sad and holy ground
I asked for whiskey, needing strong
To burn away the pain
He said,"Son, you ain't been here that long
To feel this kind of rain"
He wiped the glass and looked at me
With an understanding sigh
And all I heard was the lonely plea
In the barman's lullaby
He said,"Another man just left
Who loved a woman true
And now his spirit is bereft
Just like the likes of you"
The barman's lullaby
A story of the blues
A song for every lonely guy
Who had a love to lose
He told me about the man who cried
Into his glass of gin
For a love that promised but then lied
And let the sorrow in
He told me about the couple who
Used to laugh and drink all night
Before a sickness came on through
And took away their light
He said,"Son, your story ain't so new
It's just a different tune
A different kind of 'I love you'
Beneath a different moon"
He wiped the glass and looked at me
With an understanding sigh
And all I heard was the lonely plea
In the barman's lullaby
He said,"Another man just left
Who loved a woman true
And now his spirit is bereft
Just like the likes of you"
The barman's lullaby
A story of the blues
A song for every lonely guy
Who had a love to lose
So I drank my whiskey down and strong
And listened to his words
And I realized I'm not alone
Like one of a million birds
Who flew too close to a sunny sky
And fell with broken wings
Just listening to the lullaby
A lonely sorrow rings
Yeah, the barman's lullaby
It's all I need tonight
Just a little more
Of that lonely light