Drunk in Barstow,
waiting for a waitress,
who gets off at 2:00 a.m.
The crap game cleaned me,
two bums on the pool table,
snoring like a train
Drunk in Barstow,
third time this month,
I just never seem to learn
The waitress said,
“My boyfriend’s gone,
truck’s on the road to Bern”
Drunk in Barstow,
on borrowed time,
the repo man at hand
I swear tomorrow
I’ll get it right,
tonight—any way I can
(Barstow California: July, 1991)
A Mormon in Salt Lake City
Was white as the snow and pretty
Bit it was her luck
To meet a young buck
More skilled in the nitty-gritty
So God gave her a second chance
But Satan still ruled her pants
The buck left a seed
She had an half-breed
And gossips went wild with their rants
The Relief Society vexed
The Bishops poured over their texts
Her sin was born
To public scorn
If not crushed, then who would be next?
"Heavenly Father" knew the way
The breed's mother would have no say
The breed must go
Out in the snow
Only its God could save the day
God left the breed in the snow
For half-breeds have no place to go
A family tree
Is no guarantee
One won't get ye olde heave-ho
Half-breeds are born without leaven
They can not rise up to heaven
Any crap game
Is their domain
They live for 7-11
An half-breed's snow-angel struggle
Is not an attempt to juggle
The racist hype
Nor hate-filled gripe
Its a final plea for a snuggle.
The second house this year to go under in Atlantic City.
This is a scenario that does not look too pretty.
A once venerable establishment will soon be history.
The future of gaming is now obscured with doubt.
In the big crap game of business, they have just sevened-out.
We will be bidding farewell to the esteemed Showboat.
They have tooted their last horn with a sour note.
After August 31, that will be all she wrote.
from a local news story
These days are a challenge, it's no wonder
With this whole world all asunder.
Twas better when I was younger
Unaware of war and plunder.
Or making money to survive each day
Never was this hard, I surely say
Lost it all in a very sad way
I'm obsolete, I no longer play.
I won't give up, I'm not a loser.
I drink too much, I am a boozer.
My thoughts keep coming, I'm not a snoozer.
Please don't judge me, be my accuser.
Am I the only one whose life has become
A daily grind, with fear and then some?
Why can't I find the faith to be at one
To believe life will change, once again be fun.
I need to work for life to have meaning.
To strengthen my resolve, to be redeeming.
Where is the job that I am needing?
Don't want to beg or needless pleading.
I open my heart, my mind, and soul
In the positive vein, I'll reach my goal
Like a crap game, I'm on a roll.
Got out of this rut, out of this hole.
You were a hot shooter for a while.
Your point making earned me a pile.
However, you just sevened-out.
To me, there is no doubt.
With a new partner, I am coming out.
I have no more love for you.
Your love for me was untrue.
You did things that were not nice.
Now it’s time to pass the dice.
All your bets are gone from the table.
Another shooter is ready, willing, and able.
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