Radio Sky

The end of one year and the beginning of another always puts me in an introspective and creative mood. Today, I find myself quoting the lyrics of a favourite song with a sentiment about death and gravestones.

“Radio Sky”

(by the “Warped 45s” from their debut CD 10 Day Poem for Saskatchewan.)
(Listen to the song here.)

Let my headstone be my favourite jukebox

Loaded with the songs of my friends

Tuck the sheets of rain tight under my collar

At the headwaters of a hubcap stream

Rest my head beneath the rusted needle

Rustic hymnals and the warped 45s

Blessed be the barrel-house piano

Beating in the dying light of a radio sky

Let my bones be the porous marrow

Of the hayloft sparrow and the chevron geese

Set me free to the tricks of the trade-winds

On the note that the song ends sounding revile

Rest my head beneath the rusted needle

Rustic hymnals and the warped 45s

Blessed be the barrel-house piano

Beating in the dying light of a radio sky

When the mist ‘round the moon is a howling perfume

Push B24 and sway barefoot on my grave

Rest my head beneath the rusted needle

Rustic hymnals and the warped 45s

Blessed be the barrel-house piano

Beating in the dying light of a radio sky

Oh, dang the radio sky

Oh, dang the radio

Oh, dang the radio sky

Oh, damn

Let my headstone be my favourite jukebox

Loaded with the songs of my friends.

Hmmm, has anyone ever done that; put up a headstone that plays music? What music would I put in such a headstone? What music would you place in there? I am afraid that it would have to be my favourite music and I’d simply pray you would enjoy my selections. I could not do otherwise. . . I suppose I would put my entire CD and iTunes collection on the device and leave the legal details to my estate. Certainly, I would put the entire Key of Zed portfolio in there, highlighted, promoted, and prioritized.

Would you “push B24 and sway barefoot on my grave?”