Damian

Damian died at twenty-eight
At a friend's on Super Bowl Sunday
His mama died back in his teens
Her passing is still a horrific dream
Damian was as quiet as can be
And after his mama died he got quieter and quieter
And after his great-grandma passed on Thanksgiving
I think he lost his will to keep living

At least that's my opinion
But I'm not a mind reader, I'm a musician
Who don't hold no dominion in Ohio
Hell, I didn't even attend Damian's memorial

Damian had diabetes
And I put it like this, he didn't eat greenies
He was known for being evasive and sneaky
He was known for taking off and disappearing for days
He never shared his inner-most thoughts
In his eyes I could see he was anxious and lost
And I'm told that he was into some other things
That I dare not say for his grandma would be mad at me

His grandmother is my favorite cousin
She gets me and I get her
We don't have to speak to understand each other
We shine like the shine, we're like sister and brother

Next door there's a party going on
While I'm down in the bunker writing songs
It's been a long time since I've been invited
To a party, I guess I'm getting older and less exciting
But it's okay, I'm glad they don't come knocking
They're drunk and on top of it they're playing Jack Johnson
As I age, I prefer sitting home and watching
True crime series and the news and boxing

And tonight when I get home
I'm gonna get under my covers and turn my electric blanket on
And read about Jack Dempsey's
Life and times in the 1920s
About Hollywood and Prohibition
His long-famous bouts and subsumed exhibitions
His rise from poverty to lots of money
His win over Willard, his loss to Tunney

And I'll say a prayer for my aunt Carolyn
And I'll say a prayer for my favorite cousin
I'll say a prayer for my mom and dad
I'll say a prayer for my girlfriend and her cat
I'll say a prayer for my sisters and my friends
I'll say a prayer for young Damian