(Intro: Acoustic guitar picking, slow and steady. A soft, lonely synth pad in the background.) (Verse 1) I still remember clearly, Jim The stories told to me About the rugged life outdoors And farmers’ misery Of bringing in the harvest haul The weather dry and hot The bodies bent to pitchforks there Sweating on the spot The grain was ripe and gathered in The farmer’s wish came true They told me that this paradise Was made for men like you (Chorus) (Music swells slightly - Bass guitar enters) Here I let you go, Jim From here on you must roam Through falling down and rising up From here on you must roam (Interlude) [Short, mournful Saxophone phrase: low notes, rising then falling] (Verse 2) They showed me how the people, Jim Had conquered soil and sand Where they grew the heavy grapes And brewed the barley brand The meadow full of golden hay To feed the calf so young And he who scorns the roasted meat Has lost his mother tongue Here mankind has truly won Enriched the poor terrain Here man has reached his highest goal Through labor and through pain (Chorus) (Drums kick in - steady beat) Here I let you go, Jim From here on you must roam Through falling down and rising up From here on you must roam (Bridge / Verse 3) (Music pulls back slightly, focusing on the vocal intensity) All this they told to me back then Jim And I have seen it too Although I earned no laurels there For what I had to do I sang the song of destiny Of farmhand and of boor The cooing of the farmer’s girl The glances of the whore The beauty of the morning light The city waking spent I sang about it all, you know But never made a cent (Chorus) (Full band - More energy) Here I let you go, Jim From here on you must roam Through falling down and rising up From here on you must roam [Saxophone Solo - 8 bars. Bluesy, emotional, and gritty. Start low and climb to a high wail before the next verse] (Verse 4) (Rhythmic and driving) So go and mix the mortar well Pile stones to build a wall Forge anchors for the ceiling, Jim Build doors inside the hall I give you nothing for the road But praise for youthful days The power in your arms and hands A song of virtue’s ways The loving of a woman, Jim The harvest of her womb The winning of the daily days To chase away the gloom (Outro) (Music reaches peak intensity, then begins to fade on the last repetition) Here I let you go, Jim From here on you must roam Through falling down and rising up From here on you must roam [Saxophone plays counter-melody, weaving around the vocals, high and expressive] From here on you must roam... [Saxophone trill fading into a long sustained note] From here on you must roam... (Fade to silence)
