Roger Alan Wade
The Last Request of Elijah Rose
Junkies, punks, and Jezebels
Stagger and sashay
Up and down the boulevard
Through them joints and alleyways
And outside the Crazy Chicken Lounge
Blood-red neon glows
Angelina asked Switchblade Charlie, "Have ya'n seen Elijah Rose?"
"I ain't seen him Angie,"
Switchblade Charlie said
"But he best get out of this town, he's in over his pretty head
He's been dancing with the devil
Stepping on the wrong toes
You just save yourself some sorrow
Forget Elijah Rose"
Angеlina's lips spoke not a word
She walked into thе Chicken Lounge
Found a table by the bandstand
Set her tender young body down
Alone there in the violence, amid the dreadlocks and ducktails and afros
She listened to Downtown Johnny's guitar, and dreamed of Elijah Rose
And like the calm before the storm
There was danger all around
Downtown Johnny felt it comin'
He laid his magic guitar down
And all the old-timers swear, the cheap whiskey froze
As with a smile on his face and a price on his head
In walked Elijah Rose
He walked straight to Angelina
And kissed her warm red lips
He bought the house a round of drinks
And gave the waitresses their tips
Then he kindly asked Downtown Johnny, to play anything Angelina chose
As Angelina stood up to dance with her wild Elijah Rose
And they laughed and danced as lovers
'Til there rang a jealous shot
Elijah Rose just crumbled
Angelina screamed, "Oh God"
And with his last breath he found
The strength to propose
Angelina swore, "Yes I'll be your soulmate, forever, Elijah Rose"
Now junkies, punks, and Jezebels
They stagger and sashay
Up and down the boulevard
Through the joints and alleyways
And outside the Crazy Chicken Lounge
In ragged widow's clothes
She's carrying his baby
And dancing with a lamppost
She's carrying his unborn child
And dancing with his ghost
Angelina's softly humming
The last request of Elijah Rose