Shawn Phillips Ballad Of Casey Deiss Lyrics

T'was a man of youthful features
T'was a boy of sorrowful eyes
Watching out by looking inward
Tall and stately and full of life

In his life, he spoke but rarely
In his mind he cried for light
Painting perceptions trying to capture
That which he saw in his questioning strife

Once in Lisbon, twice in London
Travelling around for all of his time
Looking for and finding a goddess
He took Diana to be his wife

Of the children, they'd begotten
Two had died without knowing life
And the third I know not whereof But if she lives, she will yet be kind

Casey had a mark of simple value
He had a star between his eyes
In his hands he held an axe blade
The Greek symbol of thunder and fire

On a night when the heavens were crying
He went out and took his blade
Chopping wood to warm his heartside
The lightning came and my brother died

Bring him no wine from faraway vineyards
Tell him no tales of the canyon's might
But wish him peace and eternal wisdom
For he has died and he died by light