Carpenter, Mary Chapin - John Doe No. 24 Lyrics
I was standing on the sidewalk in 1945
In Jacksonville, Illinois
When asked what my name was there came no reply
They said I was a deaf and sightless half-wit boy
But Louis was my name, though I could not say it
My spirit was wild, so I let the river take it
On a barge and a prayer upstream
Well they searched for a mother and they searched for a father
And they searched till they searched no more
The doctors put to rest their scientific tests
And they named me "John Doe No. 24"
And they all shook their heads in pity
For a world so silent and dark
Well there's no doubt that life's a mystery
And it was my heart's own perfume when the crepe jasmine bloomed
On Rue Morgue Avenue
Though I couldn't hear the bells of the streetcars coming
By toeing the track I knew
And if I were an old man returning
With my satchel and porkpie hat
I'd hit every jazz joint on Bourbon
And I'd hit everyone on Basin after that
The years kept passing as they passed me around
From one state ward to another
Like I was an orphan shoe from the lost and found
Always missing the other
And they gave me a harp last Christmas
And all the nurses took a dance
But lately I've been growing listless
I've been dreaming again of the past
I'm wandering down to the banks of the great Big Muddy
Where the shotgun houses stand
I am seven years old and I feel my dad
Reach out for my hand
While I drew breath no one missed me
So they won't on the day that I cease
Put a sprig of crepe jasmine with me
To remind me of New Orleans
I was standing on the sidewalk in 1945
In Jacksonville, Illinois
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Children, Go Where I Send Thee
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Bright Morning Star
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Why Shouldn't We
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Here I Am
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Closer And Closer Apart
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - On With The Song
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Leaving Song
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Houston
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Your Life Story
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - On And On It Goes
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Once In Royal David's City
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Hot Buttered Rum
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Christmas Carol
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Bells Are Ringing
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Thanksgiving Song
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - The Longest Night Of The Year
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Candlelight Carol
- Carpenter, Mary Chapin - Christmas Time In The City
Rand Lyrics
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