Michael’s Song
from The Flood
Up in the midwest in cold Minnesota
Eighteen years from here if you go by the roads
Lived a man from Columbus, Ohio
He’s been my father since a long time ago, he said
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you son of mine
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you till the day I die
And I remember days and days and days spent in Harmony
Christmas days spent in white Oak Park
All those brown bags of a dollar’s worth of candy
I saw more from Rapp’s seat than Rapp ever saw, he said
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you son of mine
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you till the day I die
I haven’t seen you much since I was twelve years old
I don’t suppose I’ll see you much on the rest of the road
And you should know that I miss you often
I miss your lap as much as you miss your mother’s, and
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you son of mine
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you till the day I die
I wonder if you picture me as Synge’s “Riders To The Sea”
Sometimes you wonder if I’ll come out alive
Well, up jumped dingo he was grinning like whatever
I may stray far but I’ll be back by five, he said
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you son of mine
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you son of mine
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you son of mine
I’ll stay behind you, I’ll stay behind you
I’ll stay behind you till the day I die