Eggshells
I climbed the great wall
I spoke in tongues
I slept in palaces
Slept in slums
I broke a promise
I cracked an egg
I slapped the bones
Of my hand to my head
Why wouldn’t you?
I dressed in cashmere
I sang a dirge
I drank an ocean
‘Cause I got the urge
I lit the fires
That signalled the fleet
To bring the heads
Of the dogs to my feet
Well wouldn’t you too?
I chased the sirens
Around the earth
I traded their love
For my right of birth
I succoured the incubus
Scuttled the ships
I drank fine whisky
From Medusa’s lips
And who cared, who knew?
I wrote you letters
I sent you things
The Shroud of Turin
And an angel’s wing
I dredged the canals
I fished the lakes
I put the head of John the Baptist
On your plate
It was something to do
I redecorated
I painted the walls
I wrote a poem about
Twenty seven mirror balls
I swashed the buckles
And swabbed the decks
I hung Saint Christopher
Round my drunken neck
And what did you do?
I raised a navy
Of pirates and dregs
I sang sea shanties
And jigged wooden legs
I stormed the castles
I stayed up late
I fired flaming arrows
At the inner gate
But where were you?
I got arrested
And charged with fate
I slammed into freedom
And took the cake
I ate it too
Who follows the rules?
They brought me to answer
Before peers and fools
And people like you
I lied to the jury
I sang like a bird
I got seven years
For crimes of the absurd
I sat in my cell
My own private hell
Wishing you nothing but
Wishing you, well
You were here too
February 2012 Derek Wilson
We Did Interesting Things With Pianos 
This is a tough poem for sure – would be a great song… reminds me of Dylan sneering “Once upon a time you dressed so fine You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you ?”
Again, another wicked offering that stays with me…
Thanks; like Dylan used to do, like I’ve done a few times, and with much more ease about it after reading Chronicles Vol 1, I took a song I thought was amazing and started writing my own lyrics to it. Although they didn’t quite turn out like you can actually sing them to that song, that’s how I did this one. I do want to put music to it. It was one of our reference tracks. The Grinderman one…
yeah wow. neat for sure. i’ll have to try that technique… though I struggle a little once I know the tune to certain words – might be time to get over that block and keep reinventing – it worked on the last album for Silver and Lightbulb and Giant, all of which are kinda like singing new words over old tunes.
Can’t wait to hear the song…
Interestingly, the first time I recall doing that was hearing “White Room” and in response wrote a poem called “Tired Starlings” which followed the lyric form.