Safe in the shadows of the street

Dec 9, 2016 | Welcome Column

It’s the Christmas season. A giving time. A time of year when many of us look beyond our own needs and perhaps become more acutely aware of the needs of others.
I have a lot of homeless friends. Folks who I’ve met walking the bike trail around my neighborhood. Broken people, people with, perhaps some bad habits, addictions, bad luck or whatever.  I’m the son of a preacher, one who cared deeply for broken people, and I guess having watched his life, I’ve inherited a small piece of his heart. I’ve always found the bluegrass community to be formed by a lot of good hearted people, who have cared for our own when they’ve gone through a hard patch. I just thought I’d share a recent song I wrote that touches on this subject.  Perhaps it might help us to think about reaching out beyond ourselves and helping someone who really needs help.  I ain’t preaching, folks…just thinking.

There’s not a day that goes on by me
That she ever leaves my mind
Could we have been more understanding
Could we have been more kind
And I watch though my car window
Every time I take a drive
Praying that I’ll see her
Hoping she’s alive

Is she warm
Did she find a dry place to sleep
Did she find a few empty bottles
To buy a few bites to eat
My sweet child
I pray the lord her soul will keep
Safe there in the shadows of the street

know that her cloths are dirty
And her hair is a tangled mess
I appreciate that christian lady
That offered to wash her dress
And I’m sure that she’s looking somewhere
Behind those empty eyes
And oh dear God in heaven
Please keep the girl alive

and I believe in redemption
And a hundreds second chances
I believe in salvation
No matter how fast the devil dances
And I’m looking for a miracle
And I’m looking for a miracle

Is she warm
Did she find a dry place to sleep
Did she find a few empty bottles
To buy a few bites to eat
My sweet child
I pray the lord her soul will keep
Safe there in the shadows of the street
. Cliff Compton

It’s the Christmas season. A giving time. A time of year when many of us look beyond our own needs and perhaps become more acutely aware of the needs of others.
I have a lot of homeless friends. Folks who I’ve met walking the bike trail around my neighborhood. Broken people, people with, perhaps some bad habits, addictions, bad luck or whatever.  I’m the son of a preacher, one who cared deeply for broken people, and I guess having watched his life, I’ve inherited a small piece of his heart. I’ve always found the bluegrass community to be formed by a lot of good hearted people, who have cared for our own when they’ve gone through a hard patch. I just thought I’d share a recent song I wrote that touches on this subject.  Perhaps it might help us to think about reaching out beyond ourselves and helping someone who really needs help.  I ain’t preaching, folks…just thinking.

There’s not a day that goes on by me
That she ever leaves my mind
Could we have been more understanding
Could we have been more kind
And I watch though my car window
Every time I take a drive
Praying that I’ll see her
Hoping she’s alive

Is she warm
Did she find a dry place to sleep
Did she find a few empty bottles
To buy a few bites to eat
My sweet child
I pray the lord her soul will keep
Safe there in the shadows of the street

know that her cloths are dirty
And her hair is a tangled mess
I appreciate that christian lady
That offered to wash her dress
And I’m sure that she’s looking somewhere
Behind those empty eyes
And oh dear God in heaven
Please keep the girl alive

and I believe in redemption
And a hundreds second chances
I believe in salvation
No matter how fast the devil dances
And I’m looking for a miracle
And I’m looking for a miracle

Is she warm
Did she find a dry place to sleep
Did she find a few empty bottles
To buy a few bites to eat
My sweet child
I pray the lord her soul will keep
Safe there in the shadows of the street

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