"BALLAD OF AN AMERICAN FOLKSINGER"

 © 2012 Oliver John-Rodgers (OJR) 

I was born in Virginia

To a good young man

And I learned how to walk

Holdin’ mama’s hand

I was proud to be an American

Boy, I was proud to live on stolen land

Well I grew and found God

Then music found me

And the lyrics rang louder

Than the words of my priest

So I put all my faith

In the melody

And I moved to the city to find

My harmony

Oh, where could it be?

Where could it be?

My harmony

I spent me some time

Holed up in the stacks

I ran away to college

And I didn’t look back

But I never got the difference 

Between this and that

So I was back on my feet

Before the tasseled cap

Oh, where could it be?

Where could it be?

My harmony

So now I work hard

To put some food in my mouth

But this big-city livin’

It got me pinin’ for the South

I think I’ll pack it up

When this lease runs out

And I’ll board a plane for Texas

With my head in the clouds

‘Cause it’s hard to have a home

When you’re runnin’ all around

I just wanna live it all

I don’t wanna ever settle down

I’ll ride my thumb and sing a song

In every single town

Even if the gods of radio

Don’t ever play my sound

Oh, where could it be?

Where could it be?

My harmony