Not For Keith

Not For Keith - Peter Hammill

In Germany

His days finally caught him

I won't insult his memory with

Long distance grief

Tears and wakes weren't his style

Not him

Not for keith

He'd have laughed in my face if he saw it

Get mournful

He'd pull me up short and say life carries on

In that gentle way of being cruelly scornful

Now he's gone

I want to see it all and eat it

Was as close to ethos as he came

Though he knew he couldn't beat it

Never gave of himself anything less than best

In the game

Oh one of the game

I never did say I never quite found time

He taught me a lot

And I carry it still

Never thanked at all for his friendship

And now I never will

Diaries we write

Are those we crave for

We never put the p s at the foot of

The final page

He deserved more time

But he never was made for

Middle age

Middle age

Not for middle age

Not for Keith