Song Description

Based on a true story. A man who had been a child prodigy violinist accidently caused his home to burn down, killing his young daughter. He spent years in a semi-psychotic state wandering the country, ocassionally finding manual day work.

Lyrics

JAGGED FLAMES

Summer was a memory
A cold wind was blowin' tumbleweed
Down a lonely blacktop Texas road
A Greyhound bus came into view
This time it stopped instead of goin' on through
Someone got off - his desolation showed
A worn out knapsack on his back - his eyes were far away
Around his neck a locket on a faded silver chain
I'm looking for some work to tide me over
Through the next few days
Somewhere to sleep
Leftovers to eat
Then I'll be on my way

He didn't say
Jagged flames were burnin' his brain
Thick black smoke and lung searin' pain
A little girl screamin' - callin' his name
Endless horror - grief and blame
Twelve years tryin' to run away
Twelve years livin' in that day
Twelve years tryin' to run away
Twelve years livin' in that day

Let me show you the Wagon Wheel motel
They're always looking for help - they don't pay very well
You know that locket's real pretty - I can't find one like that any place
He said she left it at school that day
She would have been seventeen last May
He let out a sob and then he started to shake
His story tore my heart apart
I didn't know what to say
Then he told me how she loved the violin
He was teaching her how to play
I said I don't know - but if there's a God
She's somewhere up there with him
And I'd be real proud to honor her
I always wanted to learn violin

Jagged flames were burnin' his brain
Thick black smoke and lung searin' pain
A little girl screamin' - callin' his name
Endless horror - grief and blame
Twelve years tryin' to run away
Twelve years livin' in that day
Twelve years tryin' to run away
Twelve years livin' in that day