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Franklin D. Scruff

from A Covid Collection by Gabriel Thaine

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lyrics

Well, let me tell you a little story about Franklin D. Scruff
Times were pretty hard, life was rough
He threw it all away for a shot at some shiny stuff
Say a prayer for Franklin D. Scruff

Are you still alone? Can you feel
All the scars you’ve sown inside me?
Tell me will you wait and see
All the things you said I'd be?

Frankie’s mama didn’t like him as much as she did his older brother
She’d often quote the bible, said let us love one to another
But though she prayed and though he cried, nothing ever was enough
She had no love for Franklin D. Scruff

Tell me will you wait and see
All the things you said I'd be?

Well, he got pushed around, he got kicked in the teeth
It taught him to lie, it taught him to cheat
Learning all the worst ways to survive
But even Frankie would have to admit
Long after dark when he was ready to quit
He was just doggone tired of being alive

Sometimes he’d walk by the jewelry store
Late at night, instead of pacing the floor
He’d stand there for hours just staring inside
At the pretty jewels that reminded him
Of all the things denied to him
And sometimes when no one was looking, Frankie cried

Well, maybe for mischief and maybe for fun
But Frankie went and got himself a gun
He’d stand there, pistol in hand, hour upon hour
He didn’t know yet what to do with it
All he knew was how he felt with it
Holding that revolver gave him a feeling of power

He walked right down to that jewelry store
He made up his mind, kicked open the door
He pointed his gun right in that poor clerk’s face
He said give me the loot, said give me the stuff
No time to be hero, don’t try to be tough
If you don’t do what I say, I start shooting up the place

Well, Frankie had never used a revolver before
It came from the street; he didn’t buy it in a store
So, no one had taken the time just to explain
How a hair-trigger in shaky hands
Can so quickly change your plans
And just what a speeding bullet will do to a man’s brain

Well, they hauled him away, they locked him up
They appointed a lawyer, took him to the judge
They gave him his five minutes to explain
He looked that judge right in the eye
He opened his mouth and told his last lie
He said, “I meant to kill that clerk and I'd do it again!”

Frankie never knew just why he said it
All he knew was, he didn’t regret it
Soon he was staring down the barrels waiting for release
Without a tear or single sob
On his way to Hell via firing squad
For the first time he could remember... Frankie felt at peace

Well, let me tell you a little story about Franklin D. Scruff
Times were pretty hard, life was rough
He threw it all away for a shot at some shiny stuff
Say a prayer for Franklin D. Scruff

credits

from A Covid Collection, released April 23, 2022

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Gabriel Thaine Lethbridge, Alberta

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, photographer, storyteller

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