You were a boy from California
who fell in love with a girl
She hailed from these Ozark hills
We were wary travelers searching for the greater good
and time, it stood, still
And we talked for hours
over whiskey sours
about Jesus and our families
You had your heritage
but you could not see
how it fit with the white man’s Christianity
I took your arm
as our breath lingered in the air
And you begged and you begged
for me to come upstairs
You told me that you liked
the way that I spoke
And the time it came
and went like smoke
We stood that cold night
on the edge of eastern seas
Made me wonder if we ever could be
I told you of the trees
how they’d be turning green
and you told me of the seagulls and the big city
All that matters, you whispered
as you pulled me in
is to love and to love freely
And we talked for hours
over whiskey sours
about Jesus and our families
You had your heritage
but said you could not see
how it fit with the white man’s Christianity
You told me you liked
the way that I spoke
And the time it came
and it went like smoke
I took your arm
as our breath lingered in the air
You begged and you begged
for me to come upstairs
We stood that cold night
on the edge of eastern seas
Made me wonder if we could ever be
Come with me
you whispered softly
But I only let you walk me to my door
Your dark skin
close to my red lips
That evening in Baltimore
