Moon over Memphis

I go down by the river.

Where we used to stroll on a Sunday afternoon.

I can see you like a vision standing by me,

As your long hair plays in the breeze.

I wonder if you think of me,

And of all the promises we made so long ago.

When you see the moon rising over Memphis ‘member me,

‘member all the times we had.

And if you’re ever sad or downhearted,

‘member me I promise I’m ‘memberin’ you.

When I walk the streets of Memphis,

I hear the blues being played every where.

Your voice seems to come to me,

As I set where we used to rendezvous.

While I play my lonesome guitar,

I sing to myself my blue song of you.

When you see the moon, rising over Memphis, ‘member me.

‘member all the times we had.

And if you’re ever sad or downhearted,

‘member me I promise I’m ‘memberin’ you.

I don’t drink anything but sweet tea.

I want to keep your memory bright and clear.

I love to hurt with every blue song.

I still love you dear always will.

Every time I see God’s moon.

It’s a sign from above it’s time to ‘member you.

When you see the moon rising over Memphis ‘member me.

‘member all the times we had.

And if you’re ever sad or downhearted,

‘member me I promise I’m ‘memberin’ you.

A. L. Shipman Jr. 12-13-2004 

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Memphis, I Still Love You

There’s a place, that I know,

Where all the, Blues Men go.

It’s a town that can be cruel.

It’s a place, makes a fool.

But when it’s said and done,

She’s still a lot of fun.

Like a girl, I once knew,

Yes I still, love her too.

Memphis I still love you.

Memphis, my love is true.

Memphis, I need your touch.

Memphis, miss you so much.

Memphis, what can I do,

To make you love me too?

Memphis I still love you.

Memphis, my love, my love will do, anything for you.

Met me at rendezvous.

That’s where, our love was new.

I will, always be true.

I’ll never make you blue.

Come on, girl take my hand.

I long, to be your man.

Memphis I still love you.

Memphis, my love, my love will do, anything for you.

Memphis I still love you.

Memphis, my love this true.

Memphis, I can’t let go.

Your eyes they haunt me so.

I long, to hear you say.

Come on back here to stay.

Memphis I still love you.

Memphis, my love, my love will do, anything for you.

Memphis I still, love you.

A. L. Shipman Jr.    4-15-2005 

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All Those Nights in Memphis

All those nights in Memphis.

Can’t forget that girl.

All those nights in Memphis.

She gave my world a whirl.

She broke my heart.

Worried my mind.

Destroyed my dream.

But she was so kind,

To me in Memphis.

All those nights in Memphis.

Still dream of Memphis. In Memphis Tennessee.

All those nights in Memphis.

She seemed so satisfied.

All those nights in Memphis.

Down by the river side.

I knew I’d found my,

Favorite shores,

By the Mississippi,

At Memphis’ doors.

The doors of Memphis.

All those nights in Memphis.

Still dream of Memphis. In Memphis Tennessee.

All those nights in Memphis.

She said, “I love you true.”

All those nights in Memphis.

I said, “I love you too.”

She built me up.

Let me down.

Made me smile,

And I still can’t frown,

When I think of Memphis.

All those nights in Memphis.

Still dream of Memphis. In Memphis Tennessee.

Still miss you Memphis. In Memphis Tennessee.

 

A. L. Shipman Jr.       5-15-2006

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Memphis Dreams

I worked in cotton fields while I was growing up

On every side of Earl Arkansas.

Loved to watch those trains fly by through the fields.

When I asked where they went, Dad said, “They’re Memphis bound.”

Memphis dreams in the sunshine.

Memphis dreams on a rainy day.

Memphis dreams every time I hear a freight train run.

Memphis dreams every day of my life.

I finally got a job on a railroad train.

Little Rock to Memphis was where I got to run.

Some would complain. But not me, noway.

I knew what lay ahead when my work was done.

.

Memphis dreams in the sunshine.

Memphis dreams on a rainy day.

Memphis dreams every time I hear a freight train run.

Memphis dreams every day of my life.

I’m retired now; live on Crowley’s Ridge.

Close enough to hear those engines pull the hill.

I don’t miss working on them old freight trains.

I just miss all the ways Memphis made me feel.

Memphis dreams in the sunshine.

Memphis dreams on a rainy day.

Memphis dreams every time I hear a freight train run.

Memphis dreams every day of my life.

Memphis dreams till the last day of my life.

Memphis dreams.

Memphis dreams

Memphis dreams every day of my life.

Memphis dreams.

A. L. Shipman Jr.   4-20-2005

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Mr. C's Drama Queen

All the guys had gathered over at the girls’ dorm.

I guess we thought we would take it by storm.

It was the first day of college at that little school.

She walked out in a way that said, “I’m nobody’s fool.”

There was talk about classes and the teachers not to get.

She sat under a big pine tree as the boys had a fit.

When asked about her classes. She said, “Drama’s for me.

I’m here to learn and study drama under Mr. C.

He is known to be the best that there is.

I’ve taken all the classes that are his.”

One exactly like her none of us had ever seen.

So she became known as “Mr. C’s Drama Queen.”

Some called her Vivacious. Some Voluptuous.

She’d make you say sweet words. Then make you want to cuss.

Never was her character revealed in her face.

Sometimes she was leather. Sometimes she was lace.

She moved across the stage with such poise and grace.

Filled your eyes with her beauty. Made every heart race.

If you wanted perfection, that is what you’d have seen,

If you had been watching “Mr. C’s Drama Queen.”

Mr. C’s classes filled. Every boy tried out for his plays.

I couldn’t believe I got the part. I could learn more of her ways.

I felt intimidated, but I felt smart.

Studied hard to learn my lines right from the start.

Loved all of the rehearsals, especially hers and mine.

Then at dress rehearsal we finally came to that line.

It was our kissing scene. Her kiss would be so fine.

She moved into my arms. It seemed she was mine.

My heart went wild as we kissed right on cue.

How could I keep her? What could I do?

To remain in her world of wonders I had never seen

And keep on kissing “Mr. C’s Drama Queen.”

Some called her Vivacious. Some Voluptuous.

She’d make you say sweet words. Then make you want to cuss.

Never was her character revealed in her face.

Sometimes she was leather. Sometimes she was lace.

She moved across the stage with such poise and grace.

Filled your eyes with her beauty. Made every heart race.

If you wanted perfection, that is what you’d have seen

If you had been watching “Mr. C’s Drama Queen.”

  

When the last day of classes came for that year.

I was sad for she had never called me “Dear.”

We heard she was going to New York for acting school.

I was shocked but I did not play “The Fool.”

We were all depressed when she left us far behind.

Sometimes life is good. Sometimes unkind.

Everyone missed her so we put up a little sign

Out underneath that big old pine.

It’s written in blue on a background of white,

With golden edges. It is quite a sight.

 “Gone but never forgotten. She was kind. She was mean.

She was an actress. Mr. C’s Drama Queen.”

Some called her Vivacious. Some Voluptuous.

She’d make you say sweet words. Then make you want to cuss.

Never was her character revealed in her face.

Sometimes she was leather. Sometimes she was lace.

She moved across the stage with such poise and grace.

Filled your eyes with her beauty. Made every heart race.

If you wanted perfection, that is what you’d have seen

If you had been watching “Mr. C’s Drama Queen.”

A. L. Shipman Jr.    8-28-2009

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Why?

The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

Love and beauty can be found

in the woods all around.

Young birds hatch in the spring.

Some die young. Some live to sing.

Much happiness they may bring

To sad people as they sing.

But many songs will not be heard

from those who die as a young bird.

Here on earth we live and die.

Loved ones ask the Question, “Why?”

The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

Young squirrels sit on the ground

Eating nuts they have found.

Some sit high in tall trees,

Chattering, barking in the breeze.

But some fall as predators pray.

To hawk or eagle, who can say?

Man may come with a gun

to hunt squirrels with his son.

Here on earth we live and die.

Loved ones ask the Question, “Why?”

The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

Far away upon a hill

rabbits are hopping, some are still.

Mother rabbits, their young protect,

For old enough they are not yet.

But comes a fox to the field.

For him to live a rabbit is killed.

Mother mourns the loss of her young one.

To protect now, there are none.

Here on earth we live and die.

Loved ones ask the question, “Why?”

 The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

A lonely buck appears to stand

on the mountain tall and grand.

But look closely, you may find,

A doe and fawn close behind.

Their enemies love to boast.

Stillness protects them the most.

But alas, some are found.

Their blood spilled upon the ground.

Here on earth we live and die.

Loved ones ask the question, “Why?”

The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

A large bird in the sky,

Flies gracefully, flies so high.

When it comes down to land,

Ugly it is, eating death on the sand.

For it must clean away the dead.

That is its job of dread.

It is shunned by everyone,

But lovely it is high in the sun.

Here on earth we live and die.

Loved ones ask the question, “Why?”

The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

A baby is conceived. Life has begun.

Becoming a cute girl or handsome son.

Time flies by oh too fast.

Parents wish their youth would last.

But children grow to be adults.

Then protection becomes insults.

Death will come to everyone.

We live. We love, then it is done.

An accident, you might suspect,

Or foolishness in retrospect.

Be it foolishness or accident.

‘Tis very sad, their life is spent.

“Oh no not him!” A parent cries.

“Make him live, let me die.

The realities will remain.

Cry and mourn they stay the same.

Young or old death may strike.

Though we struggle and we fight.

For all on earth that lives, dies.

Away from here somewhere it flies.

Do we simply cease to exist?

Or are we given Holy assist?

You believe, as you will.

In the Lord, believe I still.

For,

The moon rises. The moon falls.

Grass grows green. Trees grow tall.

Here on earth we live and die.

Still,

Loved ones ask the question,

“Why?”

A. L. Shipman Jr.    1981

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Not Even The Case

Lived out in the country, as I grew up.

Milked cows, baled hay, drove a pickup truck.

Had to bush hog in the summer, when it was hot.

Then work on the Case, ‘cause it tore up a lot.

Got to lookin’ far away, at big city lights.

So I jumped on a plane, and took off in flight.

Said, “I won’t, really miss the old home place.

Not the house, not the barn, not even the Case.

The only things I’ll miss, as I go through life's race,

Is dear old Dad, and Mom’s smiling face.

Dear old Dad and Mom’s smiling face.”

Well I landed far, away, from home.

Discovered, it cost, a lot to roam.

So I got me a job, as a skyscraper man

The boss said, “Will you work?”

Said, “I’ll work all I can.”

Straight time was good. Over time was great.

Went to work early, and got off late.

Said, “I don’t, really miss the old home place.

Not the house. Not the barn. Not even the Case.

The only things I miss, as I go through life’s race,

Is dear old Dad, and Mom’s smiling face.

Dear old Dad, And Mom’s smiling face.”

Went, back there, just the other day.

And I did not see one bale of hay.

The other kids had sold off, the old home place,

It was subdivided. Had fallen from grace.

But I knew in my heart, my old saying was true,

There never had been one thing that I could do.

No I don’t, really miss, the old home place.

Not the house. Not the barn. Not even the Case.

The only things I miss, as I go through life’s race,

Is dear old Dad, and Mom’s smiling face.

Dear old Dad, And Mom’s smiling face.

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