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Empathy
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The ghost of Marty Robbins looked over my shoulder as I wrote this one.
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An interesting trio (me, myself & I) collaborated one night after tiring of previous attempts to find backing harmonists.
"I am Everyman, and the things inside of me are in everyman. They just vary in degree. I'm a poet, I'm a pauper, I'm a preacher, I'm a king. I am Everyman and a part of everything." Kentucky Dave '93
Song Info
Genre
Country • Alternative Country
Charts
#6,480 today Peak #191
#1,069 in subgenre Peak #28
Author
David Alan Trabue
Rights
David Alan Trabue
Uploaded
January 27, 2007
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.4 MB • 128 kbps • 4:46
Story behind the song
Ever feel that you could understand what got a social misfit to his point in life, even as you had to drop the hammer on him?
Lyrics
Empathy Jimmie Brown was poor white trash, on that they all agreed. Product of a broken home and growing up in need. Trouble came to Jimmie and it followed his life through. People said he’d end up bad; how right they never knew. But everybody had to say he loved his old dog Bo. Nothing short of kindness did that critter ever know. A change would come to Jimmie’s face, a softness seldom seen, When no one else was watching and he’d pet his dog and dream. Cal Jones was an honest cop, the Sheriff of the town. He grew up black and strong and proud; he wouldn’t be put down. The hard knocks life had given him he seemed to take in stride. He worked his way up to the top, a job he did with pride. A fairer man you could not find. He knew life’s ups and downs Could cause a man to turn to crime, but still be turned around. He’d give a man a chance to change, another second turn, Then bust him with regrets if he just couldn’t seem to learn. Chorus: Freedom is an honor won, a bounty daily earned. Coming from within no matter how your life gets turned. A dignity inside us all that fights to raise its head Against the trials of life until we win or til we’re dead. A man can see another knowing how he got that way And know, but for the grace of god that path there he might stray. But knowing things is not the same as letting things go by When push has come to shove and it’s somebody’s time to die. Cal knew Jim’s description from the woman as she wept. He covered up her husband and into his car he leapt. That morning Jimmie’d left the jail and swore he’d not return. Cal said you just do that or your last chance you’ll have burned. Chorus: Cal caught up with Jimmie soon, he wasn’t all that smart. Cashing checks a dead man wrote inside the local mart. Out into the parking lot the two of them did run. With fifteen feet between ‘em then, they both reached for a gun. Jimmie said, “I’m sorry Cal. You know I had it rough. I never got an even break. You know that sure enough.” Cal said, Jim, “I’m sorry too. But now it’s time to go.” And as he fired he said to Jim, “I’ll take good care of Bo.” Chorus:
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