The Absence of Wavelength and Sight

Under A Staining Purple Raining Sky

Fret

Fret and survive, a Sign Of The Times
Long after 1999, and I know
times had changed. But,
still wanted to be your lover…

I wrote you to life, stylized,
lyricized, how you’d Strut like Sheena
In those days of Raspberry Berets
Like a Little Red Corvette, but meaner

You made me delirious, belt it out,
Let’s Go Crazy, before I began to fret
When all I dreamed, wasn’t yet
that you say, “romanticized” like lies.

Never wanted to steal you from another
Wasn’t going to be a part-time lover

Deep down, our liquid cooled.
Kept drowning in color of the skies
Decisions made, tears we cried
In purple rain,
a voice pours out like smoke
in helpless refrain —

Velvet vocals yet reverb, wail
When Doves Cry, and my words
for you never found the right note.

Away, pulled up collar, rage
could only hear me holler.
So, when I got into Beverley Hills
I knew it was gonna be alright.

Took flight, after the seized pick
from that six-string fret, froze.
Seized by my own denial,
held that note, held it,
held that note that screams
You know, nothing is dreams?

A tablature spoke just the same.
Everything played like your name.
I loved you more than any other,
when that rain returned again.

Still, holding that note, holding,
hoping it would bring you home.
Held long, but no love revival.
A wonder, enduring survival.

Ticking, time broke
a heart clock’s works, red stained,
thick, with my wry smirks.
You know the kind, and the chords —
well, they just would echo, echo.
Purple bled until
the final pick returned.

Brown on black, movement nears
about my grave. Your face appears.
Regret with fret, it held me down
Lost you, who I was, wearing a frown

Unfeeling, sucker punched by life
Never could Darling Niki be my wife.


56 line, rhyme-some free verse
4.30.25

Not going for rhyme at first, decided to give this quick, lopsided something
a lyrical quality, as yet refined, which I could take further.
A little double play on fret, yet not fully realized.
Same girl, different approach, same story. Overplayed, romanticized



https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/tom-petty-and-others-tell-the-story-behind-...

Great story about above performance and an unsolved mystery.


Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called "life"
Electric word, life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here to tell you there's something else
The afterworld
A world of never ending happiness
You can always see the sun, day or night
Let's go crazy (woo)
Let's go crazy
Let's go crazy
Let's go crazy
If you don't like
The world you're living in
Take a look around
At least you got friends
You see I called my old lady
For a friendly word
She picked up the phone
Dropped it on the floor
Ah, ah is all I heard
Are we gonna let the elevator bring us down?
Oh no, lets go
Let's go crazy
Let's get nuts
Let's look for the purple banana
Until they put us in the truck, let's go
Oh yeah, yeah ,yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, there it is
Yeah, yeah, no, no (oh yeah)
All excited (all excited)
Don't know why (I don't know why)
Maybe it's 'cause
We're all gonna die
When we do
What's it all for? (What's it all for?)
Better live now
Before the Grim Reaper comes knocking on your door
Tell me, are we gonna let the elevator bring us down?
Oh no, let's go
Let's go crazy (let's go crazy)
Let's get nuts (let's get nuts)
Let's look for the purple banana
Until they put us in the truck, let's go
C'mon, baby
Let's get nuts
Yeah
Oh (Crazy)
Are we gonna let the elevator bring us down?
Oh no, let's go
Let's go crazy (let's go crazy)
Let's get nuts (let's get nuts)
Let's look for the purple banana (let's look)
Until they put us in the truck, let's go ('til they put us in the truck)
Let's go
Dr. Everything'll be alright
Make everything go wrong
Oh
Yeah yeah, let's go

RIP, my inspiration