Song for Mr. Bird Tree Man(aka the other Man in Black)

I am a fan of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, Sr. You may not think this odd seeing as how I grew up in Texas and was singing Kenny Rogers' LUCILLE around the house at an early age. If I remember right, I spent a day home sick from school listening to a local country station. However, the Cash/Williams, Sr. admiration is a different story entirely.

When I was teaching English in Japan('93-'95), one of my students was a Buddhist priest, who loved country music. I think he was a student for just one or two terms(at most six months). During that time, our conversational English included discussions about the above mentioned crooners. I distinctly remember one lesson where we used the lyrics of A Boy Named Sue(sung by Cash, lyrics by Shel Silverstein(sp?) to learn a little bit of English. He also was interested in the old Hank Williams, Sr. song about Living Water. I ended up playing another song for him I had written in the early 90s about Living Water(based on the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well). Anyhow, as a gift Mr. Bird Tree Man(this is a rough translation of his name's meaning) gave me a tape recording of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, Sr. albums that he owned. Thus, the following appears on this blog some 15 years later...

Song for Mr. Bird Tree Man(aka another man in black)

It’s been a long time, Mr. Bird Tree Man

Since I have seen your face

With your flowing robes and your shaved head

And your slowly moving pace

My penchant for Hank, Sr.’s from a tape I got from you

I wouldn’t believe this story ‘cept for I know that it’s true

Oh, man in black,

I crossed my path with you for just a while

And thinking back on you

Causes my heart to smile

Oh, man in black

If you are thirsty, I pray that you will

Drink of the living water,

Drink it ‘til you’ve had your fill

Of course there’s Johnny Cash as well,

You introduced me to

I never will forget when we discussed A Boy Named Sue

It is indeed a mystery that brought you through my path

And thinking of you Bird Tree Man,

I have to stop and laugh.

Oh, man in black,

I crossed my path with you for just a while

And thinking back on you

Causes my heart to smile

Oh, man in black

If you are thirsty, I pray that you will

Drink of the living water,

Drink it ‘til you’ve had your fill