Sam Is Gone
Sam Is Gone
A rough demo of a song about the murder of Sam Cooke.
A rough demo of a song about the murder of Sam Cooke. (So rough I've taken it down. Check back in June 2024.)
I guess the birds are singing
In the telephone wires
I guess the bells are ringing
From the clapboard spires
I guess the kitchen is open
And the radio is on
And the radio is saying:
Sam is gone
I don't know much about heaven, sir
Or any life to come
I don't know what gets forgiven in this world
And what goes round and round and round
I don't know much about many things
And some of them are wrong
But if you're telling me anything
Don't tell me Sam is gone.
Not Guilty, the jury said
Not Guilty, the press
He's just the usual black man
With the usual hole in his chest
But I hear the people singing
Sing him to rest
They're singing Cupid, You Send Me
Singing Bring it on Home
Twisting the Night Away
And A Change is Gonna Come
They're singing Farewell My Darling
That's It, I Quit, I'm Movin' On
And What a Wonderful World This Could Be
And it could be, but Sam is gone
Not guilty the management
Not guilty the press
He's just the usual black man in this place
With the usual hole in his chest
But I hear the people singing
Sing him to rest
I guess the birds are sleeping now
I guess the bells are done
I guess the clouds in the Illinois sky
Have thrown a blanket around the moon
And the old ones who have seen it all
Tell the young ones life goes on
But it won't be the same
And it won't feel the same
And it won't sound the same
Now Sam is gone.