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
And he would purr and eat a little and calmly take his place
And in the morning we’d awake and 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 and then in 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
And I looked at him in desperaton and he looked back at me
And I held him in my helplessness and agony and shame
And called upon my God for mercy, but he forgot my name
And 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 tmes and all the happy years
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
And 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