2 of 12 - Track two God's Gonna Cut You Down

[KB.]

The next song after this one is "Like the 309"

God's Gonna Cut You Down

Patrick looked out across the city as midnight was fast approaching. The clouds were starting to cover the moon in a long black veil straight from a Johnny Cash song. The time for him to start his nightly ride was coming as fast as a summer storm. Time to start the running, he had been doing it for a long time; he supposed he would get cut down sooner or later, but it wasn’t going to be tonite. Patrick heard thunder off in the distance, and saw lightening flash to the South; the rain would be a comfortable friend; it would follow behind him and wash his tracks and his sins away.

He had lied to his woman like he did every night; had told her he was going to work. He was, but not in the way she thought. The bell tower of the old church across the dirty street made its announcement; midnight. Patrick stomped on the starter of his low to the ground Harley soft tail, and smiled as it started with a roar. He could feel the speed of the beast under him, it would be a gamble to ride it this night; but he was never afraid to place a wager.

Patrick rambled his way down the street; he held the throttle back as he turned up an alley and headed east towards an old friend’s house. The lights were off but he felt like he was being watched from the dark portal of the side window. He sighed and turned back to the north and headed to make his rounds.

He thought about his woman back in their little place in the middle of the city. He really should stop what he was doing while he was ahead. The midnight moon called to him like a siren though. He felt a need to do this thing he did, and he would have to fight hard to stop. Patrick heard a cop car coming from behind him, sirens again but these calling out a warning rather than a dangerous welcome. He pulled over into a side alley and shut the Harley off for a moment. He was at his first stop of the night. He let the wail of the law pass him by and he looked at the door in front of him. He had a debt to collect, and even though he had no idea who he was collecting it for; he did know that he would be able to keep a part of the payment for himself. That was what paid the bills, and kept his family fed. It kept the heat on in the winter and the air cool in the summer. It kept his iron horse fed, and his vices alive.

Patrick listened for voices or the sound of a television coming from inside the door. He heard nothing. He decided not to knock and instead just broke the door down like it was made of matches and popsicle sticks; pipe cleaners and Elmer’s glue. As the debris settled he looked inside and saw the man he had come to see; he was dead and it was quite obvious why. There was a hole in his head the size of a Kennedy half dollar. Patrick heard a train whistle blow in the distance. There was an electric fan blowing on the perforated head of the man; Patrick walked in and saw the chicken on the stove and the corn on the counter. It was still warm. The blood was everywhere; it covered the room like a painter’s drop cloth. He closed the man’s eyes and looked over at the note on an old wooden box that was being used to hold the fan in place.

Patrick opened the letter and read a few lines, folded it back up and put it in his pocket. The letter was addressed to him, and he wondered what in the hell had gotten so bad that this man had done what he did. Patrick grabbed the gun, and took the money that was neatly piled on the counter. He looked around to see if anyone was close by and saw not even a street light flicker. The night had gotten much darker in the last few hours. He had no idea how long he had been here, but the clock said 3:09. The train blew its whistle again and Patrick made his way back to his bike. Things had not ended like he had expected tonite, but he was done. He had to get somewhere quiet and away from the sirens, trains, and letters.

KB

[KB.]

FYI - the names of the songs are the titles to the stories, and I'll list the following song in the intro.

[RedGlitter]

He let the wail of the law pass him by

I like the way this sounds. It has a good catch to it.

I also appreciate the Long Black Veil reference as that's one of my favorite songs.

[KB.]

RedGlitter;650839 wrote: He let the wail of the law pass him by

I like the way this sounds. It has a good catch to it.

I also appreciate the Long Black Veil reference as that's one of my favorite songs.


That was done as a personal allusion for another friend. It is a damn good song. I thought you would like that line, that was why I wrote it like I did.

[RedGlitter]

Thank you! I'm flattered!

Long Black Veil...Bill Monroe's version. That's the one I go with. Check that out sometime if you think of it.

Yes, the wail of the law is real catchy. I like it.

[KB.]

almostfamous;652223 wrote:



this is a neat version i thought


Disregard the last PM; this works fine. Anyone interested enough will find it no matter.



I can sing that one. Let me be up for a day or two, have smoked a pack or three of cheap cigarettes, and I'll tear it up. He ain't singing so much as talking with a beat for that song.