Charlie Parker (Feat. Steve Allen)

Charlie Parker looked like Buddha
Charlie Parker, who recently died laughing at a juggler on TV
After weeks of strain and sickness
Was called the perfect musician
And his expression on his face was as calm, beautiful and profound
As the image of the Buddha represented in the East
The lidded eyes, the expression that says "All is well"
This was what Charlie Parker said when he played: "All is well"
He had the feeling of early in the morning, like a hermit's joy
Or like the perfect cry of some wild
Gang at a jam session, "Wail, wop"
Charlie burst his lungs to reach the
Speed of what the speedsters wanted
And what they wanted was his eternal slowdown
A great musician and a great creator of forms
That ultimately find expression in mores and what-have-you
Musically as important as Beethoven, yet not regarded as such at all
A genteel conductor of string orchestras, in front of which he stood
Proud and calm, like a leader of music
In the great historic world night
And wailed his little saxophone, the alto, with piercing clear lament
In perfect tune and shining harmony, toot
As listeners reacted without showing it, and began talking
And soon the whole joint is rocking and talking, and everybody talking
And Charlie Parker whistling them on to the brink of eternity
With his Irish Saint Patrick patoodle stick
And like the Holy Miss, we blop and we plop in the waters of slaughter
And white meat, and die, one after one, in time
And how sweet a story it is when you hear Charlie Parker tell it
Either on records, or at sessions, or at official bits and clubs
Shots in the arm for the wallet
Gleefully he whistled a perfect horn, anyhow it made no difference
Charlie Parker, forgive me
Forgive me for not answering your eyes
For not having made an indication of that which you can devise
Charlie Parker, pray for me
Pray for me and everybody
In the nirvanas of your brain where you hide, indulgent and huge
No longer Charlie Parker, but the secret unsayable name
That carries with it merit not to be
Measured from here to up, down, east or west
Charlie Parker, lay the bane off me
And everybody