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A song about the death of Edgar Allen Poe

lyrics

Baltimore
purpose/zollo

Through the shimmer of the river, you can see the lights of harlem
And the ghosts among the salt piles along the FDR
You can hear the heavy footsteps of the overworked and weary
Once upon a midnight dreary he was standing where you are

He wandered through Manhattan searching for his true beloved
Even though her worldly burden long lay buried in the earth
He sacrificed his scruples in an attempt to resurrect her
In the fundamental rhythm of death and birth

CHORUS:
Edgar Allen Poe lived his last days in the Bronx
He lived his last days in the Bronx But he died in Baltimore
He died in Baltimore, in Baltimore

And in a raging fever, He was sure he saw her spirit
Among the ghosts and phantoms forever between trains
Her face was pale and hollow, but her eyes lit up in flashes
And the snow flakes on her lashes fell upon on her harbor chains

And he heard the holy music in the bells of New York city
Where the loneliness and pity took him to the tavern floor
And in a frail whisper he said tell me pilgrim shadow
Why do we aim for Eldorado just to die in Baltimore?

CHORUS:
Edgar Allen Poe lived his last days in the Bronx
He lived his last days in the Bronx But he died in Baltimore
He died in Baltimore, in Baltimore

They found him in a coma, his clothes had all been stolen
Replaced by black alpaca and ragged gabardine
All the people in the tavern, they swore that he left sober
Even though it was in October, only days from Halloween

No one ever did discover the seeds of his destruction
Whether alcohol or opium, typhus, or TB
Or maybe he got shanghaied on some street obscure and lonely
Haunted by dark angels only, down to the sounding sea

CHORUS:
Edgar Allen Poe lived his last days in the Bronx
He lived his last days in the Bronx But he died in Baltimore
He died in Baltimore, in Baltimore

credits

from Still The Birds (2016), released May 6, 2016
Acoustic bass - Roscoe Beck (Leonard Cohen)
Drums and percussion - Eric Darken (Jimmy buffet)
Electric Guitar - Daran DeShazo
Keyboard, accordion - Joel Guzman (Paul Simon)
Harmony vocals - Bettysoo, Jonathan Byrd

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about

Darryl Purpose Portland, Oregon

Darryl went to Las Vegas at 19 and became a professional blackjack player, which he still calls the 'only real job I've ever had'. He is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Since 1996, he has toured extensively and released 8 albums of original music.
Darryl's last two albums spent weeks at #1 on the RMR radio charts. Next Time Around and Still The Birds
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