Years ago and long before the Catechism was published, while I was a struggling artist living in Mid-City New Orleans, my buddy and housemate Paul Heimann and I got frustrated over the dearth of Mardi Gras songs which celebrated the fact that Mardi Gras actually ends. The party stops.
So we wrote this one and copyrighted it.
Here is a picture of me taken by the Times Picayune while I was at OLL, long after my ultimate conversion and ordination
This song was written a lifetime ago.
But we still love it.
ASH WEDNESDAY BLUES
vs. 1
Can’t you tell, I’m crying inside,
Can’t you see the tears in my eyes?
My pockets are all empty, my clothes are all torn,
I’m tattered from yesterday’s Mardi Gras storm. (chorus)
vs. 2
C’mon Mr. Trashman, sweep me away.
All reason for life, died yesterday.
Got no place to go, got nothing to do,
Since I said good b’ye to that last
Mardi Gras Krewe.
Chorus:
Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust,
Got to do what I know I must
Got to lie down and take a snooze
Before I wake up to those
Ash Wednesday Blues.
~~~Bridge~~~
Everyone’s packed up
and left downtown
No one left
to boogie on down *
What am I
Suposed
to do? …
vs. 3
Oh well, I’ll just pick myself up.
Dust myself off and grab a cup.
Cause I know next year’s comin’ around.
I’m going back to that
Mardi Gras town.
Chorus
*so written in the 80’s, but a great song!