READ
Summer 2002
Captain Bill
by Albie
"I never really knew what it was all about
until I heard Billy Harrigan bellowing my name from the stage of a dingy
nightclub downtown, swearing up and down that he was going to cut my
throat and have sex with my still-warm trachea. Then, when the performance
was over, he came up, gave me a big, sloppy kiss and told me he loved
me."
- unknown Albany musician, 1991
sing it like you mean it.
And I remember your hawk's gaze
And the unfolding stars outside my folks place
Took my own guitar and stole me
Trainwrecked me
Sing it like you mean it.
Throwing fish in a market
Going on about your kids, your wife, your gigs, Ma's madness
Your suitcase full of clippings and tapes
Sing it like you mean it.
Cuffed yourself to the rail at the QE2
And told ALL the fuckers to come and take their shot
Sing it like you mean it
Seeing your wife for the first time,
bullying laundry sacks into a pickup where the mountains rise
sing it like you mean it , for the wisdom given
sing it like you mean it, for your generosity
sing it like you mean it, for the shadow you threw
sing it like you mean it, for the space you leave
sing it like you mean it.
(Deepest condolences to the family and friends of Billy Harrigan, an amazing and under-appreciated local musician, who I had the pleasure of working with in, of all places, a grocery store. Rest well and dream deep, Captain Bill.)
Albie, June '02.