Copyright 1984  Dale Read

             
Meysenberg

You've heard of a cowboy who died in the saddle 
And you know he had his boots on
You've heard of a soldier who died in battle 
Firing one last shot from his gun
Have you heard of a florist who died in his flower shop 
Proud of each thing he had done?

Gentle John Meysenberg, free as a mocking bird, 
Skating to work in the sun
Wouldn't you know it'd be his way to go,
You can't tell him it just isn't done
Come into the store, plants and flowers and more
And a poster of King Kong.

When he was young they tried to give him a gun
But John said "no" to the war
They were passing out bombs in a place called Nam
And they couldn't say what it was for
But wars are unhealthy for flowers and children
And John wouldn't hear any more

Stephanie Cyrus has a birthday in April
She's gonna be eight years old
Her grownup best friend said he'd be at her party
...
But four days before a robber entered the store
And John Meysenberg said "no"

Patti don't you cry for me
I knew one day they would get me
Everybody chooses how to die
Patti don't you cry for me 
I had to be who I had to be 
I'd still be there but I would not live a lie
For as you live, so shall you die

Patti Squeo is a child of Woodstock 
With a passion for Rock-and-Roll
John was a dreamer and a bull-headed schemer
With a passion for truth in his soul
He gave her a star, she taught him guitar, 
And their passions made them whole


The love Patti lost was a sixties flower-child
Fully grown into a man
He never sold out, he never gave in
He just grew up the way he began
On my day to die, I hope that I am as proud 
Of myself as I am of him

'Cause you never know just when you'll go
You surely know you're gonna go
But everybody chooses how to die
Never say you can't live free
You'll be as free as you choose to be
And as you live, so shall you die

And everybody chooses how to live
Everybody chooses what to give
Everybody chooses how to die

Gentle John Meysenberg, free as a mocking-bird, 
Skating to work in the sun.