And I remember the first time I ever heard "Psycho" by Leon Payne.
Or shall I say, "I'll never forget".
It was one of those nights I've been chasing since about a week after I was in it.
And chasing it harder and harder as it gets further away. (think about that)
I guess because I just assumed I'd have so many more nights that way.
It was a night when I was in some of the most perfect company I could have possibly dreamed up. Perfect weather, perfect spirits.
We were in an old river house on the Red River. We gathered up there around early afternoon on a Saturday.
With stories and party favors and instruments.
And then we set into enjoying the moment.
Only not knowing how fleeting and almost impossible it would be to ever get in that kind of moment
ever again.
Oh but how I've tried.
Probably safe to say I've bout dedicated a life to it.
I was somewhere in my 30's. And I had already been very fortunate enough to have a handful of these similar nights.
But this one was different.
And of course.
I did not know it at the time.
We passed songs around all night. Only stopping to pile in a couple of vehicles and drive straight ahead in the pasture about 200 feet.
To dance in the dark amongst the cottonmouths and no telling what else. Just to shoot fireworks over the river.
Or really just watch one guy shoot fireworks over the river.
He really likes fireworks. It wasn't July the 4th either. It was just like his warm up for it, probably.
He shot a cannon off too.
Yeah he had a cannon.
Look like one of those Civil War models.
Then back to the songs. And when I say passed songs around all night, I mean all night.
When we started I could see the daylight peeking through the windows over my friends shoulders.
Then it went away for 10 or 11 hours. Then it started peeking back through those same windows again, over those same shoulders.
And I'll never forget the last song played about 7:30 that Sunday morning. It was "Desperados Waiting for a Train",
and it was myself accompanied by Trapper Dan on "Bertha" his big dog house bass.
(RIP Trapper you were a big part of the light that night, and possibly the reason it has yet to return)
Travis Brink played "Psycho" that night. It's pretty obscure. Real obscure actually. Go ask a few people if they've ever heard it.
Maybe the earliest punk song of all time. So early people didn't dare approach or write or sing about that subject matter back in the 40's.
Now that I think about it, I may be a little punk too.
No I don't write about killing lovers or puppies or moms or babies or brothers.
But I do settle with one or two takes in a studio.
And I've been known to snarl and sing my lyrics too close to yelling.
And I've bled my own blood on every guitar I've ever owned.
Believe that.
mo
9/13/25
8:07 AM
Psycho
Can Mary fry some fish, Mama
I'm as hungry as can be
Oh lordy, how I wish, Mama
You could keep that baby quiet 'cause my head is killing me
I saw my ex again last night, Mama
She was at the dance at Miller's store
She was with that Jackie White, Mama
I killed them both, and they're buried
Under Jenkins sycamore.
You think I'm psycho don't you, Mama
I'm gonna pour her a cup
You think I'm psycho don't you, Mama
You better let 'em lock me up
Don't hand me Johnny's pup, Mama
Cause' I might squeeze him too tight
I'm having crazy dreams again, Mama
So let me tell you 'bout last night
I woke up in Johnny's room, Mama
Standing right there by his bed
With my arms around his throat, Mama
Wishing both of us were dead
You think I'm psycho don't you, Mama
I just killed Johnny's pup
You think I'm psycho don't you, Mama
You'd better let 'em lock me up
You know that little girl next door, Mama
I believe her name is Betty Clark
Oh, don't tell me that she's dead, Mama
Cause' I just saw her in the park
We were sitting on a bench, Mama
Thinking of a game to play
Seems I was holding a wrench, Mama
Then my mind just walked away
You think I'm psycho don't you, Mama
I didn't mean to break your cup
You think I'm psycho don't you, Mama
Mama, why can't you get up?
