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Exit 178 (Scott Ainslie)

from The Feral Crow by Scott Ainslie

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about

I found a motorcyclist in the middle of the highway at 3:00 a.m. one rainy night near this exit off I-85 in Durham NC. His bike was 100 yards down the road lying on its side, headlight shining off into the darkness. Some songs are written to protect us from what we've seen.

lyrics

Exit 178 (Scott Ainslie)

I found you burying your face, like a boy who cries:
Ragdoll legs and broken arms, one shoe off and one shoe on.
Rain trickles inside the collar: Yellow slicker, 3:00 a.m.
Silent, skewed and thickening—-I touch your shadow with my hand.

And just outside the cast of the headlights,
Off the back of retinas rich with blood
Comes a reflection—barely seen,
Wild eyes turn from the road.

I still see the trailer weaving. I still see the misty lights.
High above the hillcrest dancing, brakelights smear a charcoal sky.
And tonight a stranger empties your pockets:
a toothbrush, comb, six dollars and change.

Lying alone on the pavement, your T-shirt soaked with a darkening rain
And just outside the cast of the headlights,
Off the back of retinas rich with blood
Comes a reflection—barely seen,

Wild eyes turn from the road.
Semis, like guardian angels, on the overpass tonight,
Standing on a shining highway, in the beautiful circling lights.
Dawn comes with its back to me—a dervish spinning crazily.

The wounded night still bleeds—something in my memory:
I used to fear the unknown eyes that held me in their hollow light.
Somehow they would always find me—Did they come for you tonight?
And just outside the cast of the headlights,

Off the back of retinas rich with blood
Comes a reflection—barely seen,
Wild eyes turn from the road.
Semis, like guardian angels, on the overpass tonight,

Standing on a shining highway in the beautiful circling lights.
Somehow they would always find me,
will they come for me tonight?

credits

from The Feral Crow, track released September 22, 2004
Scott Ainslie, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Scott Petito, Bass
Jerry Marotta, Drums/Percussion
Marc Shulman, Electric Guitars
Peter Vitalone, Piano
Leslie Ritter & Beth Reineke, Harmony Vocals

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Scott Ainslie Brattleboro, Vermont

A long history with older black blues and gospel players in the mid-South marks Ainslie's work deeply. He transcribed all of Robert Johnson's recorded songs for "Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads" (Hal Leonard, 1992) and has a teaching DVD on Johnson's music. A fine songwriter with a social conscience and a belief in the power of music to move and inspire, Ainslie's voice is a great force for good! ... more

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