Arlie Conner: Music

Louisiana Boy

When I was just a boy about fourteen
I bought my first guitar at the base exchange
Louisiana was such a cool scene
with hippies and rednecks- it was pretty strange

My family was tough to be a part of
My father was a drinker, flew a fighter jet
His discipline was strong- he couldn’t show love
He kept it bottled up, like a Vietnam vet

Chorus:
Gotta get out- gotta get my own place
Gotta get out and set my own pace
Gotta get lost- so I can find my way
This Louisiana boy is gonna have his day

When I was just a boy about sixteen
I grew my hair so long, it nearly touched my knees
My dad who had a crewcut didn’t say much
But I knew from his expression that he wasn’t pleased

My mother got me started on piano
She hoped one day I’d learn to play the clarinet
I tried it once or twice, I couldn’t say no
Until I saw the Beatles on the TV set

I listened to that racket in my headphone
My sunburst electric was never amplified
I dabbled in the basement, made a fuzz tone
The saddest day of all when Jimi Hendrix died

And then I heard about the Easy Rider
He showed me a side of life I hadn’t seen
You know it felt like I was nowhere
I had to get out of the house, and do my thing-

Arlie Conner © 2005