Krishna, Colombus and Me

There we sat drinking our coffee
In our little local inn
Contemplating our own lifestyles
And the different ways to win
At dice. Or something like that
I can’t remember everything
All I saw was Krishna yawning
When Colombus began to sing

But I joined him, strong and hearty
Could it be another way?
Singing madly, singing badly
I wish I’d brought strings to play
Doesn't matter, I enjoyed it
It’s the way that life should be
Arm in arm and 3-part singing
Krishna, Colombus and me.

Then he stopped, in mid-sentence
‘I won’t sing now anymore’
Krishna left ‘What’s the matter?’
Colombus answered, “I’m not sure”
‘I think I know...’ I said softly
‘Our song isn’t quite the same
And he warned me, just last evening
He won’t adapt to the new game’

Yes we missed him, cos we’d liked him
But Colombus still came round
We drank coffee and we gossiped
And we rolled dice on the ground
Then one day he started singing
Just the way it used to be
Arm in arm, and 2-part singing
My friend, Colombus and me

Then he stopped, his voice was breaking
‘No more singing, it won’t do
All my life I've been raised that way
Not this way, the same as you’
‘I don’t mind!’ I started shouting
‘Come on back, don’t leave me here!’
Do you know I started shaking
Feeling loneliness and fear

Then alone I started singing
But the words just stuck and broke
And the tune was hard and bitter
‘Where are all the other folk?’
But Krishna sang. I heard him singing
All alone, way over there
Colombus too sings cold and dreadful
Songs, no one comes near

1980