Episode #136 "Stay Before You Go"

For years I’ve just left him sittin’ there.

Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 136. This one’s available to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.

This is a fresh “Roughneck Grace” essay, never before printed nor recorded. In this one, Mike shares how he and his friend Evan wrote a new song they’ll be debuting at two live shows this week. A “scratch” vocal (in this case an unedited take recorded directly into a phone) is attached to the end of the piece so you can hear how the song turned out…so far. (Lyrics at the bottom of this email.) NOTE: Due to a gremlin in the file conversion, the piano might sound ill. I assure you the piano is fine.

Tonight’s show is sold out, but if you’re going to be in or around Minneapolis this Saturday night (December 10), tickets and info on how to see Mike, Evan, and Mike’s band the Long Beds (including a live performance of the new one—with the piano sounding great) are right here.

Open mic night (mid-morning) at the little red chair.

Little red chair in the aftermath.

Session notes, early lyrics.

Me and Evan, backstage. Desperadoes waiting for a nap.

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You can find all of Mike’s books, recordings, and live events at SneezingCow.com. Thank you from Mike, and thank you from the Sneezing Cow crew. See y’down the road.

STAY BEFORE YOU GO

Purple teddy bear
In a little red chair
For years I’ve just left him sittin’ there

Coffee’s gone cold
Our one for the road
I know I gotta let you go

CHORUS
We raised you up to fly
I feel you pulling for the sky
But oh, the undertow
Stay before you go

I kept you from harm
In the crook of one arm
I cradled your head in my hand

Now you stand tall
At the edge of it all
And I am just your old man

CHORUS/BRIDGE/CHORUS