[Witty]

The Blues of The Immortal Soul

The smoke swirls through the air with a rhythmic elegance
Mystic, nebulous...mysterious...almost cryptic, delicate
With an intrinsic eminence, a right to belong
Creating an atmosphere you simply can't write in a song
As I stand behind it almost lifeless, just vibing along
My voice sings in dulcet tones, but my mind is withdrawn
As I sing the final note and hide behind the applause
I try to respond, I try to be Mr. Humble and Mr. Polite
Instead..I exit stage, and stumble in to the night
As I wander..I wonder if there's a light, a glimpse or a sight
That might put and end to this miserable plight
My limitless fight, my eternal woe
When is it my turn to go? Let me fade to black...
...but before I do that, let me take you back.

Born in 1620 in a slave ship
My mother died while giving birth
To me, she's just an ethereal image, faceless
Floating in the heavens, while I'm confined within the dirt
Fellow slaves were given the task of dragging me up
Making me strong, so I could make my master a buck
They would beat us, broke us...we were defeated, hopeless
And yet we stood on our feet and sang just to keep us focused
We were feeding our souls though our stomachs were growling
And the peace that arose was something astounding
God gave me a voice...so I sang while praising his grace
I sang while I was shackled, and I sang the day I escaped.

I ran for days, this and that-a-way, in a baffled haze
Bedraggled, crazed with an addled brain
Saddled with anguish, pain...a vast malaise
Until one day...I just stopped...I sat and prayed
I begged God for help, as I lay sore on the pavement
And as I cried, he came to me in the form of a Raven
He asked me my wishes, why do I plea for grace?
I said "All my life I've been placed in grievous states
I've watched demons deceive us, and heathens hate
All I want is to sing, to share my voice with the nation
And take over the hate in a joyous invasion"
His answer was straight, and he stated it clearly
"Your voice will carry the weight of the weary"
He continued to warn that with art comes a price
There was no secret clause, it was honest, concise
The Raven is my guardian which he leaves to me
And only when it flies away will I cease to be.

So forward I burst with hope in my mind
My soul in the sky, frozen in time
I packed the bars, I owned the stages
My laughing heart was so contagious
At the start my throne was stainless
I attacked the dark, disposed of greyness
The ladies swooned, the fellas cheered
Each latest tune was well revered
I sang through war and peace, day after day
I saw everyone I love aging, and fading away
As time crawled on, and I sang with the best
I began to live every day in anguish, depressed
I'm isolated, I sing in the dark, seen but concealed
Living in fear in case my secret's revealed
I love bringing joy to the hearts of the people
But I've seen the whole world, the darkness, the evil
It tires me so, I hope soon the Highest will beckon
Open the door to my peace, invite me to heaven
I never thought I'd see the day I'd be choosing to die
But it doesn't matter what I want...
...this Raven refuses to fly.