A Work in Progress

After much experience, I know that when words or phrases pop into my head that I'd best not ignore them.   Jot them down immediately!

I recently "lost" a touching, empathetic, and beautifully written essay that I composed while lying awake between 2 and 5 AM.   Get up and write it down, I thought.  I didn't.  The next day, it was ashes.

So, a few nights ago, when more words insisted on attention, I did write them down.  And more.   They were insisting on being a Country/Western song about a trucker.

Now, where did that come from?   I'd just finished reading a book called "Long Haul" by Frank Figliuzzi, retired acting director of the FBI.  Figliuzzi contends that there are serial killers who are long haul truckers and he makes a convincing point, all while learning about the prostitutes and truckers along our highways.

Anyway, "I chose the right time to be there and the right place for love" demanded my attention.   Little by little, I jotted down couplets and verses until the shape of a story took place,  

The original words became the refrain and morphed into "I chose the wrong time to be there and the wrong place for love."   That, too, is subject to change.

It's a story about a trucker who meets a gal in a tavern and eventually is mugged.   Simple

Well, I posted the lyrics on Facebook for fun, declaring this will be be a Top Ten hit in no time.  Those lyrics were pretty rough.

But my brilliant nephew got into the fun by letting AI have a go at creating a Country/Western tune:

   

That's a rough version and does not contain the updated lyrics below.   Since then, I have rewritten some lyrics and inserted a refrain, but you 'll get the idea.

Today's iteration of the lyrics:

The Wrong Place to Love 

Or Tavern Shadows

 

 

 

A load of coil that wouldn’t stay strapped

Had me timed out near LA,

So I parked my rig with the other trucks

Too early to hit the hay

 

Now I don’t mind a cold one

Though I ain’t a drinking man

But a thousand miles with a flatbed

Makes  for a long  dry day

 

I walked into a tavern

Across from the Flying J

Asked the barkeep for a beer on tap

Perfect way to end the day.

 

I don’t look for trouble

But I don’t run when it comes

I chose the wrong time to be there

The wrong place for love.

 

 

A couple of guys shooting eight ball

At fifty bucks a game

Too rich for me and anyway,

I work too hard for my pay.

 

Didn’t look up when someone 

Chose a barstool two away

Just kept staring into foam and bubbles

Trying to wash away the day

 

Didn’t look up til a velvet voice 

Said “Mister, got a light?”

Saw the barkeep shake his head at me

From the corner of my eye.

 

 

 

 

I don’t look for trouble

But I don’t run when it comes

I chose the wrong time to be there,e

The wrong place for love.

 

 

 

I looked into her dark eyes

And right away I knew

She worked the guys at the truck stop 

Over at the Flying J.

 

“I know what you’re thinking

But it really isn’t that way.

My job’s  inside as a cashier,

Honest work for honest pay.

 

“I finished my shift and was leaving

But a trucker followed me

Now I’m waiting in this tavern

Until he goes away. “

 

I don’t look for trouble

But I don’t run when it comes

I chose the wrong time to be there,

The wrong place for love.

 

 

 

I bought her a drink, we talked a while

The barkeep shook his head,

But I was feeling frisky

And was liking what I saw.

 

I said I’d be obliged

To escort her to her car.

We finished our drinks, paid the tab,

And started out the door.

 

 

Pool stick guy had some rough words 

As he followed us out the door.

I spun around and hit him

“You don’ talk to a lady that way!”

 

I don’t look for trouble

But I don’t run when it comes

I chose the wrong time to be there,

The wrong place for love.

 

 

 

Next thing I knew, when I came to,

I was lying on the ground.

Picked myself up and walked back in

Noticed my wallet was gone.

 

 

“Tried to warn you, “ the barkeep said

And tossed me a wet bar towel.

“She comes in most every night

Always leaves with a different man.”

 

I don’t look for trouble

But I don’t run when it comes

I chose the wrong time to be there,

The wrong place for love.

 

 

 

 As I said, it's a work in progress.   Still trying to get the 4/3, 4/3 meter right.