Song for Red

I remember the phone call my father received, literally at 3:00 AM one weekday morning. I was quite young, but the incident registered strongly with me because my father, unexpectedly, didn't lose his temper at the caller for waking him up. He spoke into the phone quietly and for a long time. When he sadly replaced the receiver, he refused to answer my questions. Years later, my mother told me he went to see his old friend, as he had been asked. Shortly after the hospital visit, he attended his friend's funeral, where only three other people were there: the minister, the man's wife and my father.

Refrain:

Call me to see if I'm still living

Call me to see if I'm still here

I've been booked on a long jouney

The destination, I don't know where

A man I know lets alcohol rule everything he does

He can't work or have a conversation unless he has a buzz

He called one night at three AM to empty out his soul

He prayed God would give him back the life that liquor stole

Refrain

My friend was in an accident and fighting for his life

I went to his bedside to sit vigil with his wife

When the evening hours were over, I was told to go

He called me to lean over, then he whispered quiet and low

Refrain