Mary Chapin Carpenter - John doe no 24

I was ^Estanding on the sidewalk in 1^B945 In Jackson^Eville, Illinois^B When ^Easked what my name was there ^Bcame no reply They said I was a ^Edeaf and sightless half wit boy^B But Louis was my name^E, though I could not say it^B I was born and raised ^Ein New Orleans^B My spirit was wild^E, so I let the river take it^B On a barge and a prayer ^Eupstream^B Well, they ^Esearched for a mother And they ^Esearched for a father And they searched till they ^Bsearched no more The ^Edoctors put to rest their scientific tests And they named me 'John Doe No. 24^B' And they ^Eall shook their heads in ^Bpitty For a world ^Eso silent and ^Bdark Well, there's no doubt that life's a myster^Ey But so too^B is the human heart And it was my heart's ^Eown perfume When the crepe ^Bjasmine bloomed on ^Esaint Morgue Avenue^B Though I ^Ecouldn't hear the bells Of the streetcars ^Bcoming by toeing the track ^EI knew ^B And if I^E were an old man ^Breturning ^EWith my satchel and porkpie ^Bhat ^EI'd hit every jazz joint on ^BBourbon And I'd ^Ehit everyone on Basin ^Bafter that

The years kept ^Epassing as they passed me around From one state ^Bward to another Like I ^Ewas an orphan shoe from the lost and fo^Bund Alw^Eays missing the other^B And they ^Bgave me a harp last Christmas ^EAnd all the nurses took a dance^B But lately ^EI've been growing listless^B I've been ^Edreaming again of the past^B I'm wandering ^Edown to the banks Of the great Big Muddy^B where the shotgun hou^Eses stand^B I am seven years ^Eold and I feel my ^Bdad Reach out f^Eor my hand^B While I drew breath ^Eno one missed me^B So they won't on the ^Eday that I cease^{B E}Put a sprig of crepe ja^Bsmine with me To r^Eemind me of New Or^Bleans

^EI was standing on the sidewalk in 1^B945 In Jackson^Eville, Illinois^B