Broken Parakeet Blues by Ike Reilly Broken Parakeet Blues : Intro - D A G D A D East of the village and west of the trees G Up on the high ground where the soldiers would stand D Cooling themselves in the sulfurous breeze A G It seemed like something to lose D The houses were filled with flattering hosts G In tight shirts and compliments for soldiers and ghosts D Up on the high ground blowing their loads D G For the cowgirls left back home D How can you say there’s nothing to lose A Singing your broken parakeet blues G On the side of the highway lighting the fuse D A Black like the crows from the cattlecar fumes D Yeah, up on the highway near 29 Palms A I saw busloads of soldiers rolling along G And people like crows on the side of the road D A Waving goodbye to lovers and sons D The soldiers were boys, there were brown ones and fat ones A White ones and cool ones and camouflaged black ones G Sweet ones and cruel ones but I didn’t see D A Anybody I thought had money like me D Some were sleeping, some dreaming, some quietly weeping A Out of 29 Palms the buses kept creeping G Right through the desert and out to the shore D A 29 Palms won’t see ’em no more D How can you say there’s nothing to lose A Singing your broken parakeet blues G On the side of the highway lighting the fuse D A Black like the crows from the cattlecar fumes D How can you just wave farewell to them A Knowing what you know and where you have been G On the side of the highway lighting the fuse D A Singing your broken parakeet blues D A D How can you say there’s nothing to lose D A G D A D East of the village and west of the trees G Up on the high ground where the soldiers would stand D Cooling themselves in the sulfurous breeze A G We all crowed those parakeet blues www.TAB6.com