After his death they auctioned off his bikes.
Wasn't just the money, at least someone will ride.
I stood there watching as they emptied out the house.
Take everything, I don't need any of it now.
Every life has a beginning and an end.
Some roads take a slight curve, others go 'round the bend.
I don't know which way to go, or even where I've been.
I can't go back or take things back, this place that I'm in.
Don't forget the things you see
When time is short and your thoughts are free.
Don't forget to look at me.
After his death they auctioned off his bikes.
I watched remembering he never let me ride.
Now strangers take the things it seems that mattered most.
Like every day I smile and play the gracious host.
Commentary
I wrote this song in the summer of 2003. It represented my return to songwriting since I had not completed a song during the eight years prior, I had only written snippets and bits and pieces of things. I had started going to an open mic, it was the first time I had done that since college, and so writing was once again on my mind.
The open mic was at a bar I was going to regularly, and they had a trivia game on the TV. After each question was a factoid. The answer to the question had been "Steve McQueen", the question had something to do with who starred in whatever movie, I don't remember. After the answer was given, the factoid was "After his death, they auctioned off his motorcycle collection", which of course was too cumbersome but the image stuck in my mind for a couple of weeks. The 2002 death of my father (who as far as I know never rode a motorcycle) was still fresh in my mind, so it wasn't much of a stretch to tell the story as I heard it in my mind. At the time Lisa was expecting with our second son David, and thoughts of being a father were primary in my mind each day. The middle bridge was written as if I were my son talking to me.
I am especially happy with the line "Every life has a beginning and an end, some roads take a slight curve others go round the bend".
