Story Behind The Song

Read Troilus and Cressida and Hero and Leander. The two kind of came together on my banjo. Asia Minor somehow became the North Carolina Appalachians.

Song Description

Protagonist narrates his conflicting thoughts on the dangerous way home from from an illicit tryst.

Lyrics

Troilus

slippry bank
muddy river
a water snake
I slither
round wet rocks
now I wind me
'fore morning sun
shall find me
it's icy daybreak cold and I'm half-frozen
no sometimes it's not the life I might have chosen

face like china
white as paper
but her promises
are vapors
in wetlands
of her dark eyes
unbalanced
quickly capsize
and it's forbidden yet she knows I won't refuse her
and it may be in part the challenge makes me choose her

o this river's old
what tales could be told
o this river's cold
chills me to my soul
o this river's old
her stories can't be sold
o this river's cold
it's my love makes me bold

and reaching home
how the wind blows
lock the door
dark the windows
from the sun--
she's my daylight
and sullen morning
my night
you may judge me poorly, I don't mind it
opinions' small--worth is where you find it.
I outrun them dogs, I'm safe and free and healthy
last night I held spun gold, I'm rich if I'm not wealthy