Things To Do Before I'm Gone

Things To Do Before I'm Gone



I made a list, not too long,
Of things to do before I’m gone.
I‘d like to figure out, God willin’
Writings of the great Bob Dylan.
To understand, before I die,
“I got the pork chops, she got the pie.”

I'll offer my soul for ransom,
To strum just like Robert Johnson.
Before hellhounds run me to ground,
I want to get those blues licks down.
Let me compose a mighty line,
Like Johnson’s "... red light was my mind."

I’ll drown in bluesy notes I feel,
Slide guitar, bottles, knives and steel.
John Lee Hooker is so thrillin’
When he plays that “Boogie Chillen”.
Give me Blind Willie and Tampa Red,
Elmore, Muddy, Mississippi Fred.

Add to this list, ramblin’ on,
"Texas Tornado", Stevie Ray Vaughan.
He played in his sleep, while dreaming,
“Crossfire” and ”The Sky is Crying”.
Now in heaven, god of guitar,
"Stevie, take me to where you are.”

They make it sound so damned easy;
Notes are tripping, rhythms breezy,
Strings are bending, fingers sliding,
Hypnotizing, mesmerizing.
It takes me to a higher plain;
Never want to come back again.

Here on earth I trip and stumble.
Fingers clumsy, mind's a jumble.
Try to play the harp but falter.
Wish I could wail like Little Walter.
I hope to find, before I'm dead,
Words to this song playing in my head.

Before this list gets too long,
What are the words to that Dylan song?
I’ve even got the title wrong.
Love the tune, want to sing along.
Something about "...tough sons of bitches",
And "... army from the orphanages".

Want to help the poor, the needy;
Be generous, not too greedy.
Before I get carried away,
I've got a lot of games to play,
People to do and things to see;
After all, this is about me.

Perhaps everything won’t get done;
Too little time, too much gone wrong.
Try not to set my sights too high.
I want some things before I die.
I want to get this list complete.
I’m wracking my brain, losing sleep.