Possum's Lament

from Front Porch Songs by Robert Lindsay Nathan

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about

This song is a story about a high school friend who owned a track of land in Bandera County, Texas. He told me at one time that there were at least two other songs that pertained to this, including Robert Earle Keen's "Fellin' Good Again" which has a verse about the couple that he bought the property from. Then there was a song that the Dixie Chicks pulled his and his wife's name out of the Bandera phone book.

But then again, as my song implies, he could tell some tall tales....

lyrics

Possun’s Lament
Copyright Robert Lindsay Nathan

Well, they could tell tales
And hers was so sweet
But his was much taller
It’s why they happened to meet.

They both lived together
And their stories were told.
But the sweetness was leather
And the book cover mold.

And the train cars were stacked
Around thirty years deep
When at maximum speed
They ran off in a creek.

So let it be said
And let it be told
The story of Possum
And the land that he sold.

He searched through the wreckage
For something to keep
Across half of Texas
Was a mighty fine heap

He found that his partner
Was not what she seemed.
Her fine linen cloths
Were hidden by her jeans.

Chorus

So he picked up the pieces
In an effort to keep her
He cut through the crap
And he tried to dig deeper

Held a gun to the head
Of all that they had
The memories were better off
Dyin’ or dead.

Chorus

Break

Well, they could tell tales
And hers was so sweet
But his was much taller
It’s why they happened to meet.

It finished all in Tarpley
Near Hondo Creek
Where the tales they all endead
Now they nevermore speak.

Chorus

credits

from Front Porch Songs, released December 3, 2017
Music and lyrics by Robert Lindsay Nathan
Lead vocals and steel string acoustic guitar by Robert Lindsay Nathan
Drums. bass, piano, mandolin, lead acoustic guitar, and harmonies by Mark Hallman

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about

Robert Lindsay Nathan Canyon Lake, Texas

Robert Lindsay (Bama) Nathan was born in New Orleans on September 24, 1952. He was raised in Muscle Shoals Alabama and formally educated in Texas (Gig 'em Aggies). He has been writing songs since the early 1970's and has circled the globe playing them.

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