Jack and Jill

from Songs For Fred by Jay Williams

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about

Everyone has lost someone precious. When it happens to a child, a whole life gets rerouted. My sister and I grew up in foster homes. They say we kids are strong, adaptable. But how can you measure the damage? By what lost might-have-beens? Hazy memory works like immune cells to rush in and blot out the pain, but vague disturbing images remain, deep wounds that demand attention if they are ever to heal. This song is about the moment those waves crash, and send you reeling. It's dedicated to my most beloved sister, Lynn, and my other foster siblings: Matt, Hadassah, Raven, Craig & Michelle. And Kathy Goode. We've all had things get taken, way too soon.

lyrics

There’s a boy on the porch, his sister’s right beside
And the panic in their eyes is much too hard to hide
And they stand and they watch as their world is hauled away
And the man from the state, turns around to say
Your mother only needs a little rest,
but the foster home will do it’s very best

And Jack and Jill, you better make a wish
Learn how to be nimble and be quick
You never know when that cow will jump the moon
We’ve all had things get taken way too soon

A little girl in her new dress, clutches her bouquet
And she wonders why they ask, who will give her mom away
And she’s thinking of the face of the man who bears the ring
But the one that he’ll replace, she can’t recall a thing
How many more blank years must she lose
If another grownup doesn’t mean I do

There’s a son stands by a grave of a man who died too young
And his head is full of songs, that now will not get sung
All the words that never came, while the old man was alive
Will harden into pain, and lie trapped behind his eyes
He always figured one day they’d be friends
But he never thought the choice was up to him

And Jack and Jill be careful what you wish
You may get too nimble and too quick
You never know when that cow will jump the moon
We’ve all had things get taken way too soon

credits

from Songs For Fred, released September 23, 2014
Photo: Matt, me, Hadassah, and Lynn. Circa 1968.

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Jay Williams Bainbridge Island, Washington

Grew up in L.A., next door to Rodney King. Foster kid, on welfare, muttsville. Heard John Prine at the Roxy when I was 16, changed my life. Stumbled into KROQ in the 1980s, got my 15 mins of fame. Moved to the Northwest, found community, then lost them when compassion became their justification for fascism. I'm over humans. These songs feel like phantom limbs. Cats are my gurus now. ... more

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