Ballad Of Casey Deiss Lyrics - Shawn Phillips

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