THE BLACK SWANS - Portsmouth, Ohio

THE BLACK SWANS - "PORTSMOUTH, OHIO"
Written by Jerry DeCicca (Understanding Land Music, 2012/ASCAP)
From the forthcoming album "Occasion For Song" (Misra Records; July 31, 2012)

"Occasion For Song" deals with the death of Black Swans founding member & violinist Noel Sayre.
Noel died in a swimming accident in Portsmouth, Ohio - July, 2008.
The swimming pool is featured on the album's cover.

LYRICS:
Each hour when the whistle blew
All the little kids hopped out of the pool
Wet bare feet slapping on concrete

It was the grown-ups' time
To take a dip before the summer sun slipped
But at 5 o'clock only one man jumped in

A few mothers heard a splash
But nobody heard a gasp
While in line at the concession stand

As the teenager lifeguards went on break
Flirting by the green metal gate
Nobody saw God close his eyes

And nobody's suppose to die
Three days before the 4th of July
Especially while the sun's still in the sky
He played a mean violin
In the orchestra in Huntington
And somewhere else he played in some weird band

Three days a week, he'd gut fish
At Jewel City Seafood Market
Down the street from Spaghetti Jim's

He taught more guitar than violin
Metallica and Donovan
To some hesher kids and their moms

He'd come over here to see a girl
He met while filling in on second chair
They'd hold hands by the flood wall

Before too long, he got to know her kids
Then he tried to learn to swim
Because when you're in love, you just jump in

And nobody's suppose to die
Three days before the 4th of July
Especially while the sun's still in the sky
He played a mean violin
In the orchestra in Huntington
And somewhere else he played in some weird band

He hung on for few
Bloated and blue in the I.C.U.
People prayed and paced and ate

Then came time to pull the cord
That kept him going on life support
They took turns saying goodbye to someone who was gone

The papers were signed on the 3rd
Even though he hadn't said a word
Since jumping off the diving board

The next day there were fireworks
Chicken salad and American flag t-shirts
Everyone said, "It's a shame about that boy."

And nobody's suppose to die
Three days before the 4th of July
Especially while the sun's still in the sky
He played a mean violin
In the orchestra in Huntington
And somewhere else he played in some weird band