"Van Dyke Brown" lyrics

When I was courted by the loved and reckless
I made my case to the highest names
But they drowned me out in hallelujahs
All deaf, all deaf with praise

Just where you think I would, I found my circus
In the dim light of a west-town bar
Shouting benedictions out to feed our fire
"Amen, amen, what men we are"

And as the oak and the smoke rings paint you
In a glow of Van Dyke Brown
To see you dance so free, I can't heart nothing
"Hey boys, hey boys, man down"

You said I suit you like a farmer's armor
And fields that call his mind away
And how you heal from an orphan's sorrow
As rains wash away the grey
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama

'Cause I was lost like a politician
Caught up in a game of tug of war
When I found my feet slipping, found myself wishing
I knew what it was that I ever stood for

But then you cool and I'm just my mother
Try to reshape me and I'm just my father
And all of the songs I learned
Before I forgot them

Now when the day comes that I am lowered
In a case of Van Dyke Brown
Wanna hear my circus shouting out in benediction
Wanna hear them singing, all deaf with praise
Wanna see you dancing in the glow of sundown
All around, all around
So free, so free
All around my grave
All around my grave
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama
Ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama ma-mama mama