Spirit on the Highway

(To Billie Eilish)

Get a free ride, get some free hugs,

everything that pays is free.

And he pays untill the highway,

but the street you take’s for fee.

Crazy Cowboys and policemen

pass your car and look inside.

Everybody there is asking,

„Babe, can I get a free ride?“

And you show the finger to them,

and they fall into the night,

maybe they have met the same guy,

advertising a free ride.

And you’re driving through the desert,

and there’s snow, that’s coming down,

and the Pyramides you see there,

make you shiver, make you frown.

And you see a little Motel,

and you hear the mission bells,

and a voice cries out for Mother,

and you know, you don’t feel well.

And there’s blood on every  highway,

to New Haven, to L.A.,

and you park the car and listen

to the humming motorway.

And you feel the friend within you

And a free ride is for free,

and the enemies are passing,

you are covered, they don’t see.

But it’s neither the policeman,

nor the cowboy, nor Norman,

it is no man you have seen yet,

he will do the best he can.

(References to „Bellyache“ „Hotel California“, „Isis“ „Mama said“, „L.A. Woman“, „Queen of the highway“, „Roadhouse Blues“, „The Road to hell, Part One and two“,  „Psycho“, „Jeepers Creepers“. Don‘t listen to Hillsong melodies, when you can get the sermon on the mount, never lose your fuckin‘ rebellious crazyness, and amongst all the people who use cars, never underestimate the one who‘s walking. Even James Hetfield might tell a story of driving on a highway, seeing the light through dark sunglasses, listening to a voice, saying: „James, use country guitars and Psycho-references“ and pass your best friends with your car, who are walking near the road and waving into your window, but you don‘t see them, for you think, they might be the Policeman out of „Psycho“ and you don’t get, that  YOU’RE  wearing his sunglasses.)

© by Patrick Rabe, November, 13th 2020