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The Blind Bartender

from No. 6 by The Coal Porters

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lyrics

Now the greatest soul I ever did see
Was one old man who couldn't see me
No light or dark defined his view
But behind a bar he knew what to do
And what to do was mixing drinks
And pouring beers by a battered sink
And though the orders stayed the same
It was from their voice that he knew their name
For no face he saw or would ever see
He was born that way and was a friend to me

One Tuesday eve in West L.A.
It was getting dark and this guy wouldn't pay
He grabbed this nurse, he smashed a chair
From behind the bar a hand whipped thru the air
Then a low voice growled "friend you'd better beware"
"Or my friend Jack is gonna part your hair"
So the guy paid up and raced out the door
While me and two punks laughed our way to the floor
"Hey Carlo", we asked "how'd you know where to swing?"
"A blind wasp," he said, "still has its sting"

Now the very last time I saw my old friend
I was drinking alone for I had come to an end
It was me and him and a silent TV
And he asked for real what did I want to be?
So I told him out loud "I'm a singer, you see
My songs will feed the poor and set all men free"
Not from a barstool they will go on, get outta this place
Go out and make us proud! Go save the human race
Don't throw your life away don't you live in fear
Yeah, me, I gotta say I'm trapped in here

For I can see him now still holdin' court
Greeting old friends talking about sports
Listening to men slowly breaking in two
Sayin' "c'mon pal, I've got faith in you"
Sayin' "never give in & your dreams will come true
If I had the chance that's what I would do"

Twenty years on I drove back to the bar
Feelin' real good in a dirty new car
Would my friend be there? Would he know me at all?
Would he care that I'd come? Should I stop and call?
The name had changed you could smell split beer
Behind the bar stood a kid with a sneer
"Never heard of the man, never heard of that place,
how could he work here without seeing a face?"
Because he saw into souls like he saw into mine
Because he gave us his love when he gave us his time

For I can see him now so very proud of his bar
Greeting old friends asking how they are
Listening to men who were breaking in two
Sayin' "c'mon pal, I've got faith in you"
Sayin' "never give in & your dreams will come true
If I had the chance that's what I would do"

Yes, I'm older now got a wife and two kids
Don't drink anymore but what if I did
I'd whisper his name and raise a quiet toast
The best man in God's bar now serves the Holy Ghost
I'd pray the Lord would let him see me now
As I walk with my kids as I've taken a vow
Never wrote the song which freed ll mankind
But I tried to write it with the presence of mind
Of an old kind man who never had his sight
But who set me straight and who I thank each night

credits

from No. 6, released September 24, 2015
Written by Sid Griffin
© Sid Griffin
Published by Coal Train Tunes/Bug Music Ltd

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The Coal Porters London, UK

The Coal Porters claim to be the world’s first “alt-bluegrass” act, demonstrating the power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies.

They have taken this sound around the world being featured on NPR’s Morning Edition in the USA and having recorded a live session for Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2. ... more

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