This was the first "bus song" I ever wrote. There was this guy Jasper who always wanted to talk to everyone, and no one, least of all me, particularly wanted to hear him.

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Then he I didn't see him around any more.  A year or so later someone told me his story.

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Thirty Years For Jasper

 

Jasper wasn't crazy

Maybe just a touch

He kind of got things backwards

Way too much

Jasper got in trouble

Stumbled out of line

He couldn't read the papers

They had him sign

 

Thirty Years For Jasper

Night after night

Thirty years of waiting for the light

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Puzzles in the day room

Little yellow pills

Mary Ann and Ginger

Distant hills

 

Thirty Years for Jasper

Late for the show

After thirty years we told him

"Time to go"

 

Jasper

Where are you sleeping tonight?

Somewhere out in the cold?

Tell me

How come your eyes burn so bright?

You're talking too slow

You're dreaming too loud

Go on - take a walk

Out of luck

Out of sight

Out of mind

 

Jasper rides the city bus

Packard number five

Sits down by the ladies

Still alive

Jasper talks real funny

His voice is like a groan

Talking to the ladies

He's all alone

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Thirty Years for Jasper

A story to be told

No one wants to hear him

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Last time I saw Jasper

I guess I turned away

I didn't want to hear him

Not today

Maybe it's a blessing

Probably it's a crime

Jasper's up in heaven

Doing time

 

Thirty Years For Jasper

Night after night

Thirty years of waiting for the light

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Thirty Years For Jasper

Lost like a song

I hope somebody told him

We were wrong

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Jasper wasn't crazy

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