The ballard of j drummer

In year one-nine-nine-six-o-one (the last numeral was
upside down), Johnny Drummer came to the outskirts of
town.

People came out and shouted at him. Some people came
out and shouted at him, "Say, show us your
sticks." Then they went back to their computer
tricks.

He'd hit a town with no life, to begin, where they
forgot the facts. Two sticks make up a cross. Why is
it always this way? Why do they always have to say,
"Hey, Johnny, get out of the way."

He looked in the mirror and said, "I am not
him." He stood outside a bar and raised the nerve
to go in. The window hosted at least 45 men. Wondered
which one was waiting for him. And the boy at the
machine meant him no harm, but to him the boy was
staring again at him. The rhythm over in his head
again.