Rick Landers

Lyrics

Genius
© Rick Landers 2020

My friends said I was a genius
They admired my working still
The way it looked like a V8 motor
No bumper, car or grille

I made it out of things I’d found
On the side of Hickory road
Jettisoned clamps and thrown out parts
To brew white lightning loads

My friends’ last word was genius
My friends admired my swill
They wouldn’t stop with just one cup
I guess they’d had their fill

We cut some logs and lit a few
Beneath my metal beast
To heat liquid concoctions
Frank threw in a bag of yeast

They drank and drank
And guzzled more
It hit them from behind
One yelled out, “I can’t see!”
The other two lost their minds

My friends’ last word was genius
My friends admired my swill
They wouldn’t stop with just one cup
I guess they’d had their fill

We cut some logs and lit a few
Beneath that trestle bridge
I crawled legs sprawled on up the hill
To the top of Choctaw Ridge

My friends yelled, “You’re a genius!”
As I settled into that fame
I swear I saw Great Caesar’s ghost
Three dead part of my game

My friends’ last word was genius
Last wills they gladly signed
I smiled as we parted ways
I thanked them for being kind

My friends’ last word was genius
My friends came dressed to kill
They wouldn’t stop with just one cup
I’m glad they had their fill