A Leroy Morning
Music and Lyrics © 2023 By James Albert White

We’d say goodnite and he’d complain
And I would kiss his face
Then he would purr and eat a little
And calmly take his place
And in the morning we’d awake
I’d ask how are you now?
And he would look at me with happiness
And just say “Brow”

I’d walk into the kitchen, make my coffee
My favorite chair
And he’d settle in my lap
Just the two of us sitting there
And we….were so quietly happy
It was just another Leroy morning

The years they came, one by one
And then the years they passed
This whole world is temporary
Nothing’s built to last
He looked like he was healthy
Like he was doing fine
But betrayal ever silent
Was inside to undermine

It came upon us by surprise
It came so suddenly
I looked at him in desperation
And he looked back at me
And I held him in my helplessness
And agony and shame
I called upon my God for mercy
But he forgot my name
I held my baby as he died
And I buried him as I cried
Screaming from the emptiness inside
And so began my Leroy mourning.

I know that he would say to me
Don’t speak of me with tears
Focus on the good times
And all the happy years
‘Cause I can’t bear to see you cry
Daddy I loved you so
I’m alive forever in your heart
And I will never go

Now I say goodnite and hear him purr
In the empty space
And in the morning I kiss the air
And pretend that it’s his face
I walk into the kitchen
Make my coffee, favorite chair
And I smile for his memory
But cry that he’s not there
And I laugh…and I cry
And I laugh…and I cry

And I laugh and I laugh and I laugh and I laugh
And I cry and I cry and I cry and I cry
And I laugh and I laugh and I laugh and I laugh
And I cry and I cry and I cry and I cry
And I laugh and I laugh and I cry and I cry
Forever every day till the day I die
I will laugh I will laugh, I will cry I will cry
Forever every day till the day I die
I will laugh and I will cry
Forever every day
Until I die….

It will always be a Leroy morning