This song is dedicated to the memory of Jesse Morris. I only met Jesse through his YouTube videos and stories told to me about him by friends and family members.
He was a busker in San Francisco's BART underground. His voice had an uncanny likeness to Johnny Cash, that combined with his appearance earned him the sobriquet of Punk Rock Johnny Cash.
Jesse suffered from bipolar disorder and depression. He did not not survive his second suicide attempt.
I don't know if he ever realized how much his presence and music meant to the commuters who heard him every day. There were many stories and comments written about him in the Bay Area papers after his death.
Music lives on long after the artist. Jesse's songs most definitely do.
You can listen to Jesse's original music here on Bandcamp - look up Jesse Morris and the Man Cougars.
I encourage you to watch video clips of him on YouTube.
RIP Jesse.
If you, or someone you love suffers from depression or mental illness, help is available:
Suicide Prevention Hotline
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Sean Costello Fund for Bipolar Research -http://www.seancostellofund.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org
PUNK ROCK JOHNY CASH - by Karen Lovely.
Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
The first time I saw you standing there
Punk Rock Johnny Cash with orange hair
Playin' in the subway for nickels and dimes
"Sunday morning coming down", you were high
Trading jokes with anyone who'd catch your eye
A few'd stop and listen, most walked by
Singing for beer and cigarettes, you mostly gave away
Making just enough to keep on playing
If I told you how I loved to hear you sing that song
If I said how much it meant, would you still play on
I can hear you sing that song
Your death made all the papers in the Bay
"Punk Rock Johnny took his life today"
The dark in your heart was there in every verse
Broken on the altar of your own words
If I told you how I loved to hear you sing that song
If I said how much it meant well would you still play on
The world can hurt and friends desert
but you always seemed so strong
you claimed your crown in the underground
Punk Rock King of Song
I can hear you sing that song
I still hear you sing that song
I'm still holding..............on