Cortelia Clark

(album: Looking For The Sunshine - 1983)

I was just a boy the year the Blue Bird Special came through hereon
Its first run South to New Orleans
A blind old man and I, we came to Guthrie just to see the train
He was black and I was green

"Tell me what you see," said he. "Is the engine black or red, son?
That's the loudest thing I've ever seen"
Then he picked his guitar up and sat on the fender of a truck
Then his eyes lit up as he begin to sing

I remember when that old man's dreams were chained
To a depot down in Guthrie and a Blue Bird Special train

Then he picked his guitar up and shuffled down the walk
To the cars of town wound 'round the building at his feet
Looking mighty proud, that old man, with his battered hat in his hand
Lord, he sang a song that made me weep
Yes, he made me weep

I read it in a week-old paper
No one made it for his death or even lay a flower at his feet
He was just a blind old beggar
He was sad, but, Lord, I'll wager he won't beg for nothing on his street
You will find him, Lord, this morning
He'll be stepping from your door
Can you save a street in glory for Cortelia Clark?

'Cause I was just a boy the week the Blue Bird Special came through hereon
Its first run South to New Orleans
A blind old man and I, we came to Guthrie just to see the train
He was black and was I green