What's the Matter with Ainsley
He Just Ain't the Same (lyrics to a song for peace)
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(This is a song I wrote after 9/11 and the Iraq war. Inspired by
’s ”very short story,” Pachyderm, which includes moving images of war’s effects on individuals, I decided to share this song with you today. Watch your inbox this weekend for a lighter essay on F. W. Woolworth and feeling old!)What’s the Matter with Ainsley
What’s the matter with Ainsley
He just ain’t the same
He’s been walking down Main Street
Conversing with the rain
Coffee stains all down his shirt
He’s got leaves in his hair
He gestures and articulates
But no one else is there
What’s the matter with Ainsley
His eyes are cold and gray
The war took him away from us
And sent him back this way
Ainsley was a friend of mind
We partied most every night
Now all his friends are invisible
Since the war he ain’t been right
Dumb ditty ditty, dumb dumb ditty ditty
Dumb dumb ditty dumb day
Take a man, put a gun in his hand
He’ll never be the same
Dumb ditty ditty, dumb dumb ditty ditty
Dumb dumb ditty dumb day
You call him a hero, he’s just a pawn
In your game, and that’s a shame
He used to work at the lumber yard
Packing loads to go
He was quiet, he was friendly
He was a good man to know
He’d never sell you a two-by-ten
If a two-by-eight was best
That’s the kinda man Ainsley was
Till this Middle Eastern mess
I don’t know much ‘bout world affairs
You say we should be there
All I know is fighting never
Solved nothing, nowhere
We teach our kids to talk things out
Then send them off to war
It’s hypocrites who run this show
Let’s not take it any more
Let’s end war
Dumb ditty ditty, dumb dumb ditty ditty
Dumb dumb ditty dumb day
Take a man, put a gun in his hand
He’ll never be the same
Dumb ditty ditty, dumb dumb ditty ditty
Dumb dumb ditty dumb day
You call him a hero, he’s just a pawn
In your game, and that’s a shame
Heartful lyric Don. Keep singing and writing.
I remember you singing this song at open mic. Love to hear it again.