Little Sun, by Charlie Parr (2024)

1.

Don’t you wonder where Annie wentAfter the third time they picked her upNo one here has seen her sinceAnd I’ve got an apartment full of her stuffIt feels like yesterday since we saw her face And her dimples popping out of her smileDoes anyone else here miss her laughDidn’t think she’d be gone all this whileChorusIt’s a late night it’s an early in the morning themeYou don’t know if you’re awake or else you’re asleepBy the time the sun catches you alone in your roomYou’re all tangled up in all those bad dreamsLast time I saw Annie she looked so goodRiding downtown on the trainShe was the loudest person in the neighborhoodWhat I wouldn’t give to hear her holler againTell me when you’re ready and I’ll start the carAnd help you get into your coatWe can take the long way it ain’t that farAnd we’ll be home before you know itChorusAnnie dear, can you hear my voiceDo you recognize my faceWe’ve been sitting here for so many yearsYou wouldn’t believe how much I’ve aged

2.

I can see the city in FebruaryI remember Little Sun’s wailSliding in the slush on the avenueTo get to the Times HotelThe music it plays everywhereDid you hear better when you were youngThe tones are getting quietCome back home, Little SunThe last time we got togetherAnd our ears were wearing outAnd preoccupied by financeAnd unable to hear the shoutOf a hundred-year-old melodyThe rattling of worn-out reedsIt’s a matter for perceptionThe music we choose to hearThe music it plays everywhereWas it better when we were youngOr have we lost our focusWe need you here, Little SunThe music it plays everywhereEven when we’re old and undoneWe just have to listen louderIt’s time to come home, Little Sun

3.

Look, there’s a shooting starIt’s a wave in the seaMoving close to where we standAnd breaking on the shoreI can’t feel the sandBeneath my feet where it landedAnd pushed its way into the earthRazing our sandcastle to the groundThe receding plumes of ashLike water ripple through the skyAnd bring chaos to the radio wavesDeafening our informationI remove my shoesTo accept the cool OctoberWater as it rushes back to the lakeAnd pools in the sky aboveWe turned away from the blinding lightTo look at one anotherBut the reflection off the waterWas preoccupying your eyesI remove my shoesTo accept the cool OctoberWater as it rushes back to the lakeAnd pools in the sky above

4.

There’s a woman next door out on her porchWith a boombox blasting at full forceAnd she dances real slow in her woolly socks And slides on the wooden floor through the dustChorus(Says / singing) When I’m dancingThis is how I danceI let the music move meThis way and thatIf you have a danceI can appreciate thatBut when I’m dancingThis is how I danceThere’s a bar downtown where they play the bluesOn a tiny stage in a corner boothWhere I can close my eyes and feel the grooveAnd you can dance even if you don’t moveChorusI got a friend who can’t play a single noteBut the music gets right down into their soulThey hear it play no matter where they goYou’d hear it too if you’d just listen nowChorusI’m alone now and that’s alrightI’ve done what I’ve done and it feels just fineI can dance these memories all in my mindAnd I can take a turn in my own timeChorus

5.

I’m driving somewhere out on a highway in New Mexico and I’m tired and not in a hurry and I stopped to watch the sunset and I fell asleep and woke up in time to watch the same sun rising. That was it.I seen the sunsetFor the longest whileAt the edge of my sight It burned in pale fireBut when the sun was gone—the fire burned onAnd when the sky wasFinally darkAnd the air was quiet And holyBut when the sun was gone—the fire burned onI could be anywhereThe only sound isMy scraping footsteps On the surface of the worldBut when the sun was gone—the fire burned onThe ground grew beneath meI could feel itThrough the soles of my shoes It was clinging to my skinBut when the sun was gone—the fire burned onI fell and surrenderedOn damp fallen leavesI stared through the branches To the sun—climbingBut when the sun was gone—the fire burned on

6.

I can feel my energy getting dimmerThis generator won’t quite light up the roadMy engine only fires on 5 cylindersStraining to pull up this heavy loadAbout 20 watts is what’s neededI’m generating about 7 on a good dayEverybody’s just gonna have to be patientCuz I really don’t need to come outside anywayAnd I guess it’s always been that wayMy room is situated in the cornerI can see three directions from my chairIt’s a box canyon apartment in the cityAnd no one can sneak up on me thereAnd I guess it’s always been that wayThere’s no need for you to be lonely I’m just sitting around here all dayYou can stop by when you wannaAnd sit down with your violin and playI took a long walk this morningJust to get outside and take the airOctober reminds me of my childhoodKicking leaves and starting fires everywhereAnd I guess it’s always been that wayI tried to walk the way the birds flyCutting over all of the neighbors’ lawnsClimbing fences? at my age?Yeah, but I’m just an old man when the cops are calledAnd I guess it’s always been that wayNow 20 watts is what’s requiredAnd I think I might be up to 10I’m gonna sit on the stoop and watch the trafficAnd I might never get up againAnd I guess it’s always been that way

7.

How can you say he’s gone astrayThe days find him aloneAlways miles from anywhereNever finding his way homeHow can you say he’s always dirtyWell, he’s got nowhere to washEveryone avoids himNo matter what the costTo his damaged egoTo his worn-out shoesThin clothes against the coldThin hearts against his ownLet the rope out easyBring everyone on boardMend the broken heartsTake on their heavy loadsHe hears about your religionAll about his sinful waysAll about the god who loves himBut will punish him anywaysBut he already knows the lake of fireHe swims in it every dayHe’s beaten down with neglectAnd burned with hypocrisyHow can you say there’s a strayIn the middle of your townHe can feel the anger in your eyesWhere empathy should be foundI hear he’s lost his familyOr they let him wander awayCan anyone speak on his behalfOr has someone rigged the gameLet the rope out easyBring everyone on boardMend the broken heartsTake on their heavy loads

8.

I did my bestBut I came up shortShe asked me what time it wasI answered “just about four”She said “you going out”I said “I don’t know”She looked disgustedBut that’s just the way it goes ChorusIt feels like I’m moving awfully slow these daysSo don’t bother to wait just go on your wayAnd I’ll catch up or either stay behindDon’t let my plans worry your mindMy ambition is suitedTo a non-industrial epochMy desire to succeedIs based on a subjective metricMy career goals are a little patch of sunOr maybe that little bit of shadeChorusPass me on the freewayWhat do I care about thatMy car is slowBut it’s good on gasI’ll get to where I’m goingOr maybe change my mindAnd make a detourWhatever happens gonna be fine ChorusI did my bestBut I came up shortShe asked me what time it wasI answered “just about four”She said “you going out”I said “I don’t know”She looked disgustedBut that’s just the way it goes