Written in 1998 while traveling through Egypt, this lonely song is an homage and sequel to Gregg Allman's “Sweet Melissa”. This recording was meant as a demo for a guitarist to learn his part, but once again J found himself liking the raw, unpolished quality of the recording and put it on the album.
lyrics
Still at the crossroads
Holding together the pieces of his soul
That ol' gypsy just can't seem get on a roll
He's known so many people, so many different towns
He's bummed a few nickels, he's bought a few rounds
He's been up and down and up and down and all around
But he's never found...
Melissa Melissa
He's traveled with the freight on a train
Letting the winds blow him nowhere and nowhere and back again
He's shuffled quickly past his pain
He's stood at the ocean with his arms reaching wide
Let himself be washed away with the tide
But that man-child deep inside
That boy, he still cries:
Melissa Melissa
And there he is sitting on some hill at each day's done
He's alone there, setting with the sun
Then ol' night comes and treats him like a long lost friend
Picks him up and gets him on his feet again
So the next day when he wakes up he can just
roll on yes, he rolls on yes, he rolls on... gypsy
Forever at the crossroads
With no certain way to go
How long he'll have to wait there, he's not to know
Seems he'll be there 'til his dying day
Just bring him a rocking chair, let him wile his life away
Still he'll watch for her to come walking by some day
He'll keep hoping when she does she'll stay
Yes, he'll keep waiting on Melissa
Melissa
He's still waiting on Melissa
credits
from Another Hunt,
released December 7, 2008
J Roth > guitar, mandolin, vocals
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