El Cid

(Verse One)
It was spring, first week of May
A wind-swept, drizzling day
I decided to stay inside
Turned on the daytime news

Same murder story, still no one accused
So I surfed channels in my mind
To the best memories I could find—
Reruns of me and Jim

(Chorus)
I would pitch, Jim would catch
And together we learned how to swim
We’d do cannonballs for a big ole splash
And play Horse in a dank, dark gym

Turned boxes into forts, sheets into tents
Then won all wars of pretend
Jim played El Cid; me, Billy the Kid
And we were best friends . . .til’ the end

(Verse Two)
The evening young, the drizzle past
I decided to visit you
Lost in thought long miles went fast
By midnight the trip was through

Stared into space atop your resting place
And wondered what would have been
I reminisced, laughed, sighed, and cried
Bowed my head, asked why guys like Jim
Are more likely to lose than win?

(Bridge)
I still see his up-to-somethun’ smile
Hear the madcap tales of a spunky child
Mostly I recall that small kid stood tall
Through thick and thin, my loyal friend Jim

(Chorus)
I would pitch, Jim would catch
And together we learned how to swim
We’d do cannonballs for a big ole splash
And play Horse in a dank, dark gym

(Outro)
Turned boxes into forts, sheets into tents
Then won all wars of pretend
Jim played El Cid; me, Billy the Kid
Blissful memories that never fade
As I clutch his catcher’s mitt at his grave
Longing to throw my curveball again
. . . To my best friend Jim