Song Description

The singer describes a powerful performance of a piano player/singer that he encountered many years before. He found it unforgetable, and thus sings of it.

Lyrics

?PIANO IN THE SKY?

PROLOGUE

It was late one night many years ago
I was drivin' my big Mack truck.
I saw a sign up ahead. I drove closer and read
All you can eat for a buck.
I went in to chow down and from the corner came the sound
Of a piano that put me in a trance.
He was just plain folk, as tough as an oak,
And my how his fingers could dance.
Then he started to sing 'bout his life, I guess,
And how he had made it such a mess.
He was makin' an apology from what I could tell.
His life, like mine, had seen a little hell.
So I'll sing it as he sang it
His brave, bitter fight
So you can have a bit of sympathy
For another man's plight.

VERSE 1

I touch my piano and everybody smiles.
My old fingers have played for many miles.
I knew Storyville, Kid Ory and old Satch.
I always played like an angel but I never had no scratch.

CHORUS

I'm a proud piano player.
Lord I'm ready to die.
I've had a beautiful life, now I'm tired.
Come take me to that
PIANO IN THE SKY.

VERSE 2

I'd sit at the piano and practice night and day.
So I could play at Big Lil's and help pay the family's way.
I did a lot of things a young boy shouldn't do.
My momma said, ?Now son it's all gonna catch up with you?.

CHORUS

VERSE 3

I met my Bessie in a back room at Big Lil's.
She was the prettiest baby in all of Storyville.
The politician's came and laid their money down.
But later my Bessie and me would go to town.

CHORUS

VERSE 4 & 5

I love those Ragtime tunes with all my soul.
'Cause I was taught by the man who was known as Jelly Roll.
I played for kings and queens all over this world.
And when the lights went out there was always a pretty girl.

Now I ain't rich and maybe this will explain.
You see the devil filled my veins with hell and gave my momma pain.
My piano was my life, I can't deny.
So I guess I let a few important things go by.

CHORUS

EPILOGUE

I looked right at him as I waved goodbye.
I had a lump in my throat. He had a tear in his eye.
I walked out the door and I've never been the same.
And funny thing is, I never knew his name.

I've thought a lot about him since that amazin' night.
'Specially before bed as I shut out the light.
I look out my window, a way on up high.
And I say a little prayer to his
PIANO IN THE SKY.