The Man who Lived Alone - Tribute to Johnny Cash

There was a man, not so long ago. His name was Johnny Cash. He could put feelings into words and music, and tune his songs to the hearts of millions. And though his heyday is long past, I remember him, in all his greatness, in all his glory, and I remember all the sorrows of his life. I miss you, JC. Always will.




There was a man, long ago,
Who loved no one, woman or man,
And turned down all, the proposals,
And said, I'll live alone, for I can.

There came many beauties, one by one,
Tried to charm him, Oh how they tried,
And they left then, when their charm was done,
And left, and in shame they cried.




Yes the man, was really me,
I turned them down, with no pity,
I lived alone all by myself,
I lived alone in this city.


The man never shook, in his resolve,
For he knew that love brings,
Sorrow, and pain, and above,
All it never leads to those two rings.

The man, he lived alone,
In health and when he was ill,
Friends took care of him,
And he paid his health bill,



Yes the man, was really me,
I thanked them, and was glad,
For their care, their concern,
Such great friends I had.



Till one day, he grew weak,
Till one day, he slipped,
Till one day, he met a girl,
They went out and they kissed.

They fell in love, oh they fell,
And there was so much to say
There was so much, to tell,
They talked their nights away,


Yes the man, was really me,
I loved that woman so true,
There was nothing I wouldn't say,
There was nothing I wouldn't do.



But though this story should have ended,
In that happy, happy way,
Their love broke, it never mended,
And the man was alone from that day.

And the man, who was once strong,
Was not that strong anymore,
He tried to carry on, get along,
But he couldn't, not anymore,



Yes the man, was really me,
I loved and lost, never loved again,
And my woman, moved on to another,
And I stayed a broken, broken man.



His friends, they all tried,
To cheer him up, to laugh again,
But he never smiled, never cried,
He was one of those, hard, harsh men,

Beauty excited him no more,
He never played his guitar from then,
He would sit looking at his door,
But he never wished for love again.



Yes the man, is really me,
I care not for anything,
I'll just live my, years in peace,
Whatever my life might bring.

If - A Tribute to Kipling

For those who have read If, by Kipling, and who have been moved by the poem. I am nowhere as great at Rudyard, and probably never will be. But here is my piece, I hope he would have found it worthwhile:

If you can bear to lose all you ever had,
And learn to take it all in stride,
If you can see all your sacrifices go bad,
And never lose an ounce of your pride,

If you can learn to walk again after you fall,
And learn to live for weeks as a cripple,
If you can see life ahead, after you've lost it all,
And soothe the suface of your pond after every ripple,

If you can lose your friends to misunderstandings,
And forgive them their words said in fury,
Or stand to see your brother on the gallows, hanging,
And still not be angry with those who sat on the jury.

If you can lose all you ever built and cared for,
And see it trampled on by those you loved the most,
If you can tread lightly on their feelings, or,
When faced with vengeance, forgive them for what you lost,

If you can listen and learn from the monks who preach,
Forgive those who trespass against us,
If you can listen and learn from those who teach,
Love, for hate will only kill you thus.

If you can take all your pain and anger and sorrow,
And learn to keep it walled up in your heart,
Though you need help, you never ever borrow,
My friend, you will have made the best possible start.