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2-track demo...kinda old.
One of my personal favorites outta this collection...
I wrote it in Athens, Ga. Fall of 2007.
Written after reading Desolation Angels and Tretessa, this song focuses on Kerouac's deep love for his friend William S. Burroughs (Old Bull). Burroughs, a heroin addict and "Beat Generation" writer, lived many years as an ex-patriot in Mexico City.

lyrics

(I REMEMBER) ALL THE JUNKIES AND EXILES
Words/lyrics: bill mallonee

No longer strong...the sap it slows down
when you don...your late autumn smile
phantoms die on rooftops...of Mexico City
I remember...the junkies and exiles

and they die in the hush...
of sun-drenched cathedrals
and they die in the barbed-wire...
of failures and upheavals
and they die at the gateposts...
of their children’s tongues
on sweat sheeted beds...
disowned

chorus:
a prayer to gentle Jesus...tequila at the bar
so you to remember to forget...who you really are
Old Bull with his needles...checking out in style
I remember...the junkies and exiles

so you burned every bridge...
and stole more than a kiss
broke a heart a long the way...
to say all this
just to stand on a soap-box...
and pretend it was a throne
till that old soapbox...
became your home

you learned to pray alone...
with just the tears of a child
‘cause God?
Well, He might show His face...with that late Autumn smile
too many highways...
too many kicks
all for something like that...
but nothing not like this

credits

from Hearts Crossing the Center Line​/​WPA 21 (Songs inspired by the writings of Jack Kerouac) 2011, track released January 11, 2011
Bill Mallonee: vocals, guitars, harmonica

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about

Bill Mallonee

Bill Mallonee is an Americana artist w/ 80 plus albums over a 30 year career. Voted by Paste Music Magazine #65 in their "Top 100 Living Songwriters" poll. He was the
founding member of Vigilantes of Love. He has worked with Mark Heard, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, & Peter Buck from REM.
His most recent work, "Lead On, Kindly Light" is a 23song double Cd released Feb 2020.
... more

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