Under the Red Sky

Under the Red Sky is a fairy tale and a poem.

Under the Red Sky

by TJ Hawk

There was a little boy and there was a little girl
And they lived in an alley under the red sky.

Mom said with a sob, “I have no job”
So a girl named Grace had no place for her head

Dad said with a sigh, “I can’t get by”
So a boy named Ray had no way to get fed

There was an old man and he lived in the moon,
One summer's day he came passing by.

The man in the moon left around noon
Presenting the girl with a pearl of great worth

The man from the sky knew how to fly
Yet Ray ran away to go play in the earth

Someday little girl, everything for you is gonna be new
Someday little girl you'll have a diamond as big as your shoe

Grace encountered pain out in the rain
Unable to hope or to cope with her fate

Yet she found her knight in the moonlight
Dancing on joy with the boy until late

Let the wind blow low, let the wind blow high.
One day the little boy and the little girl were both baked in a pie.

Gangsters with a knife stabbed out her life
And bashed in Ray’s head, left him dead in the night

The spirit of Grace forsook this place
Yet she found her health and new wealth in the light

Let the bird sing, let the bird fly,
One day the man in the moon went home and the river went dry.

Life without a well is sad as hell
When the man of worth leaves the earth for the sky

So let wonder-wild dwell in each child
Or the awe of art will depart from the eye


Note:

The verses in bold italics are taken from Dylan's song Under the Red Sky.

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Under the Red Sky

Under the Red Sky is also the title of the album, released in 1990. Click for complete lyrics. Dylan and others were disappointed with the sales of this album, released a year after the successful and acclaimed Oh Mercy.

Many of the songs are types of fairy tales. Two of the best songs, Born In Time and God Knows, were originally recorded at the Oh Mercy sessions. Besides these two songs and Under the Red Sky, the zingy song Handy Dandy became a favorite of many people.


Copyright © 2009 TJ Hawk Stories. All Rights Reserved.

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