ballpoint pens archive

lyrics

will you follow me around,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you comfort me when I’m down,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you share with me your crown,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you live with me in my town,
oh my lord, my lord?

when the world is fallin’ around you,
will you watch over me?
really think that I’m needing you now

will you follow me around,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you comfort me when I’m down,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you share with me your crown,
oh my lord, my lord?
can I come live with you in your town,
oh my lord, my lord?

when the world is goin’ crazy,
will you swear to watch over me?
well, this shit is certainly crazy

will you follow me around,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you comfort me when I’m down,
oh my lord, my lord?

will you follow me around,
oh my lord, my lord?
will you comfort me when I’m down,
oh my lord, my lord?

There is a Daniel Johnston-like naiveté to “my lord” that doesn’t totally fit with what it was like to actually hang out with Ross. He was confident, dangerous, smart, sarcastic, cool. And most definitely not at all a religious person. So when I first heard it, I assumed it was a joke. Which on some level it probably is. But it’s hard not to hear it now as a prayer.

His original version is a wonderfully sparse acoustic demo with layered vocals. But I thought it deserved a full arrangement, complete with church organ.