There’s been a death on the outskirts of town where our road meets the north rail and the Jones’ place burned down. An old man we all knew. Well, at least knew his name. He had a heart attack or something and he fell by the tracks of the train. He had a flask in his jacket read the paper by our steps, a purple heart from the great war and an arrowhead he’d kept a pipe and a pouch of some cheap captain’s black. Just out for a stroll. He never quite made it back. There’s been a death in the middle of our town where the main street meets the south rail another body was found. An old woman we all knew. In love she bore the same name as the veteran who fell by the tracks of the train. They found her dead in her kitchen read the paper by our walk. She held a dried bachelor button old as a grandfather clock. Her love was an old man though she met him so young. They say love’s a cruel master when your love’s time is done. Smiling old man in dirty jeans in the garden, and this dignified lady, she’d shake her head then she’d scold him. But she’d laugh when he’d tease her and say “William! Hold could you!?” Then she’d hold him. She never let him go. Yeah, there was a love once on the outskirts of our town.
credits
from J. Chris Smith and Belfaster,
released October 19, 2022
Chris – Vox + Acoustic Guitar
Scott Phillips - Accordion
Mixed by Chris at Shot Who? Shack