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photo by Jason Reiser

Dave Carter
August 13, 1952 - July 19, 2002

Lancelot

© 1997 Dave Carter / Dave Carter Music (BMI)

Lancelot rode on a swayback mare
he won in a card game up north somewhere
he was bottom-out lonesome, he was too tired to care,
keepin one step ahead of the rain

well, he blew into Broken Bow late last year,
talkin up the vision of his lost Guinevere
but he couldn't tell a grail from a glass of beer
so he settled for Lady Elaine

singin "yodelayhee, i ain't no untarnished Galahad
down from Arcadia like a dream in your head
but gentle lady lend me the true heart i never had
and i'll wash the years from your bed
with all the salt tears i have shed," Lancelot said

well, mornin came sleepy and mornin came slow
and the mirror revealed a face she didn't know
and the last autumn robin was packin to go
as another year slipped by the way

so she rose and she dressed and she pushed back the night
she put up her hair by the dawn's early light
and the man in her bed was an eagle in flight
and a crooked old crow in the hay

singin "yodelayhee, i ain't no untarnished Galahad
down from Arcadia like a dream in your head
but gentle lady lend me the true heart i never had
and i'll stain the lavenders red,
with all of the good blood i've shed," Lancelot said

now bugles blow golden and banners fly blue
but these days the castle's just drywall and glue
and tiltin at windmills is the best you can do
with the black knight of time on your lawn

so i wouldn't know if he left or he stayed,
prospered or starved by the promise he made
or maybe he straggled or maybe he strayed
and the bright world went barrellin on

singin "yodelayhee, i ain't no untarnished Galahad,
down from Arcadia like a dream in your head
but gentle lady lend me the pure heart i never had,
and i'll bring you roses and bread
and we'll fashion gold out of lead,
with all the illusions we shed," Lancelot said

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