Where You Been - Carrie Newcomer

He was driving into Chicago in a borrowed El Camino

On a hazeless day in springtime, I think it was the Cinco De Mayo

Maybe it was St Paddy’s or the Gay Pride parade

But I’ve never seen nobody light up the street that way

Brother where you been?

Hold on if you can

Just do your best then say, «Amen»

Called in sick for the weekend, drinking St Paulies in Wisconsin

I was fishing with my buddies, was a Sunday afternoon

There beneath the halo of an Old Milwaukee sign

He said, «There's big ones in the shallows, and I see 'em all the time»

Brother where you been?

Hold on if you can

Just do your best then say, «Amen»

I stopped in the Seven-Eleven, I was buying an Aquafina

He was wearing knock-off sneakers.

I was nursing a hangover

He said, «You're worth a whole alot more baby than you’ve ever dared to dream

of»

Like he knew the secret sketchy places I’d been looking for love

Sister where you been?

Hold on if you can

Just do your best then say, «Amen»

A tall skinny guy in dread locks said that they’re giving' out free bagels and

lox

I took the kids and all my plastic bags and walked the seven blocks

There were joggers and commuters, skate board kids and Goths

There were drunks and dogs and meter maids in that downtown vacant lot

He said, «The universe is unfolding, the center still is holding

There’s enough if we just share it, now y’all, don’t forget to pass the basket»

Blessed are the good hearted, the poets and the dreamers

And all us crazy holy hungry ones who still believe in something better

Brother, where you been?

Hold on if you can

Just do your best then say, «Amen»

I saw Jesus talking shop, with Buddha at Starbucks

I saw Gaea and Ganesh, doing double Dutch in the park

Mohammad was throwing popcorn to the pigeons and the sparrows

And all us crazy holy hungry ones still believe in something better

Brother, where you been?

Hold on if you can

Just do your best then say, «Amen»

Sister, where you been?

Hold on if you can

Just do your best then say, «Amen»

Say «Amen»

Say «Amen»