Wayne Orr

(A Twangy Tune for Boots and Bonfires)

[Verse 1]
Well, the adobe’s crumbled where the peaches once grew,
There’s a church bell rusted, but it’s hummin’ outta tune.
Coyotes harmonize where the schoolkids used to laugh—
Grafton’s just a shadow on an old photograph.

[Chorus]
Ohhh, ghosts in the dust, they’re dancin’ slow,
Boots on the porch where the sagebrush blows.
Moon plays fiddle, stars pick the chords—
This town’s still alive when the sun hits the boards!
Yeehaw!*

[Verse 2]
There’s a plowman’s ghost in a rattlesnake hat,
Says, “Partner, pour some whiskey where the river went flat.”
We swapped lies ’neath the mesa’s red grin—
He stole my last cigarette, then vanished again!

[Chorus]
Ohhh, ghosts in the dust, they’re twirlin’ high,
Sippin’ on starlight, kissin’ the sky.
Windows don’t talk, but the walls sure sing—
Grafton’s the king of the lonesome thing!

[Bridge]
The orchards got secrets, buried real deep,
Sweethearts’ initials where the gophers sleep.
Flood tried to drown it, but the dirt’s too tough—
This old ghost town just can’t get enough!

[Outro]
So saddle your shadow, ride the night’s cool breeze,
Grafton’s bones jangle like a drunk man’s keys.
When the rooster don’t crow, and the road gets odd,
Just follow the laughter… straight to the ghosts’ hoedown, y’all!