Ernie's Walk

© By Anonymous


He was writing a song
Down by the river
By Ernie's walk where the cactuses grow
The flower bed still shows the spot.

The river's just a trickle, staining the cement
That's where it was,
They were sitting in the shade
Never would've guessed
That's where it would end

My phone rang out, I fumbled real fast
Caller unknown ' I wonder what's up
Hello . LAPD ' huh
This's gotta be wrong, there's no way
Cigarettes, a couple of beers, empty wallets,
A broken guitar
I couldn't keep listening ' was that a gunshot
Or just an explosion'deep in my brain

Something about money, a carful against two
A shotgun and pistol
Nothing they could do
No sign of a struggle, they gave up the cash
Made a run down by Kester towards the 101
The bushes, overpass
Valley Pres Emergency'hurry

The whiteness was blinding, or was it the fear
My eyes weren't reacting the way that they should
I couldn't focus, the jeans looked familiar
I'd got him that shirt, but it looks kind of wrong
Leaves in his hair, been trying to hide
The car circled back and...

This is no hospital' he wont be ok!
It's those damn spots on the t-shirt
They'll never come out, and neither will he
Yeah, I know him, I mumbled his name
Wait a sec, I might be wrong, it can't
I dunno, how, But'
He's younger than me, I gave him a ride
To play by the river, then pick him up later
And, the other guy? Upstairs in a coma
He might have a chance

Driving by the river, the flowers on its bank
A cross among cactus, that's the only trace
Easy going, cool, A guy who'd
Share his last smoke, split the last beer or
Spend his last dollar to buy you a meal.
Jammin' by the river, a safe enough place
Now it's all ruined, a broken guitar
A picture in the paper, that's all he got.
He's gone. Gone. Gone. I can't get away.

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