The Keys

We hauled him off the trailer

Our first summer day in the lone star state

She drove me hot and humid

Sweaty palms I held on to the sidearm

Placed him carefully down on the floorboards

With a helping hand I played every song I knew

And told her that I’d love her

Even if she’d choose the keys over me

I’d still be there lifting them

High as the heavens she feared

Two years later with a gang of Texas boys

We were hauling him up the ramp again

California! I was coming home

With the beast of eighty eight black and whites

Oh the keys! Dead to me

They’re still here

I’m lifting them

High as the heavens she fears

Just this morning

The repairer brought his tuner

And his toolbox

But every instrument overshadowed

By the dark toneless keys of my heart

And the bones we’ll pick apart

'Til they’re gone out of our lives

And we won't cry anymore