Radiation Song

Kareem was getting me fitted for my radiation
He pulled the mask down over my head
As they clamped me in with the nuts and the bolts
I thought I’d never move again

He said “Hey Mr. Voight,
I know it ain’t an easy ride, I need a good 10 minutes now
On a bed with you in it
But if it makes you feel good inside”

Tell me just what you want here
Give me a song that will just please your ear
Then another one to just get you through
And ease your tortured soul back home

So I said to Kareem, I said “Hey Kareem,
You are my new best friend, you’ve got to be kidding me
You mean I can just whisper a song, a singer’s name
And you’ll play the song for free?”
I said alright, Lets test this out, get you working overtime

“Kareem, every time you strap me in, do me a favor
Just play me a little John Prine”

He said anything you want here
Give me a song that will just please your ear
Then another one to just get you through
And ease your tortured soul back home

Well that was that
From then on in, I was out on Lake Marie
Where blood looks like shadows
On a black and white TV
And the speed of the sound of loneliness
Is the glory of true love
And if the song was half way over
When they rolled me back, I gave a shove

Kareem, give me five more minutes of radiation
Please don’t take me out of here, just let me stay
I was in the middle of a John Prine levitation
To end it now would be a sin
I need my five more minutes of radiation
I need John’s Glory of True Love
(love you John)
I need by JP meditation
Just thinking about you John
We all could use your message from above