Chickasaw Mountain

by Leslie Fish

High up on the mountain of Chickasaw they say
There's one patch of darkness that never yeilds to day
Deep are it's shadows, old as the mountain,
Something is waiting in there
Call on Her if you dare!

Seek no level of God or Devil
She's something older by far
Call Her Lady of the Morning Star

She offers two bargains; the price is deep and dark
One takes your life and the other leaves a mark
If there's a third one, I've never heard one
Choose for yourself what's the key
Nothing She gives is free

Name your goal; She won't ask your soul
She might even give you Her own
- And maybe you'd be better off alone!

My old fellow rebel, I know what deal he made
The power rang through every song he wrote and played
Made him the best of his generation
Sang till the end of the war
And not a moment more.

Then it left him, the power bereft him
Left only one fate to see
Hanging on his sister's apple tree

Forgive my old buddy who soon forgot my name
I chose not to follow his 7 years of fame
He took the high road; I take the low road
Sing second place but sing long
and have always one more song

Take your stars and give me my scars
I'd rather sing long and live free
So, take this cup the hell away from me!

Whoever has wisdom can guess what lies unsaid
The cost of the gift to the living and the dead
Still if you feel you'll gain from the deal
You'll play with the old Morning Star
No need to travel far

Don't just count on Chickasaw Mountain
If there's a deal meant for you
Any wild place on earth will do!