Empathy

Jimmie Brown was poor white trash, on that they all agreed.

Product of a broken home and growing up in need.

Trouble came to Jimmie and it followed his life through.

People said he’d end up bad; how right they never knew.

But everybody had to say he loved his old dog Bo.

Nothing short of kindness did that critter ever know.

A change would come to Jimmie’s face, a softness seldom seen,

When no one else was watching and he’d pet his dog and dream.

Cal Jones was an honest cop, the Sheriff of the town.

He grew up black and strong and proud; he wouldn’t be put down.

The hard knocks life had given him he seemed to take in stride.

He worked his way up to the top, a job he did with pride.

A fairer man you could not find. He knew life’s ups and downs

Could cause a man to turn to crime, but still be turned around.

He’d give a man a chance to change, another second turn,

Then bust him with regrets if he just couldn’t seem to learn.

Chorus:

Freedom is an honor won, a bounty daily earned.

Coming from within no matter how your life gets turned.

A dignity inside us all that fights to raise its head

Against the trials of life until we win or til we’re dead.

A man can see another knowing how he got that way

And know, but for the grace of god that path there he might stray.

But knowing things is not the same as letting things go by

When push has come to shove and it’s somebody’s time to die.

Cal knew Jim’s description from the woman as she wept.

He covered up her husband and into his car he leapt.

That morning Jimmie’d left the jail and swore he’d not return.

Cal said you just do that or your last chance you’ll have burned.

Chorus:

Cal caught up with Jimmie soon, he wasn’t all that smart.

Cashing checks a dead man wrote inside the local mart.

Out into the parking lot the two of them did run.

With fifteen feet between ‘em then, they both reached for a gun.

Jimmie said, "I’m sorry Cal. You know I had it rough.

I never got an even break. You know that sure enough."

Cal said, Jim, "I’m sorry too. But now it’s time to go."

And as he fired he said to Jim, "I’ll take good care of Bo."

Chorus:

   How about going from this somewhat somber lesson in life to a purely happy song about a wonderfully curly headed lady? May I introduce the "Dandelion Brunette"?