The Spirit Of Django Lives

He was born in a poor gypsy family
Roaming free in a caravan
From lowlands of Belgium to green fields of France
Then at Paris he grew to a man
He was drawn to good music like a moth to a flame
He played fiddle around the camp fire
But he knew he was blessed with a talent so rare
When young Django first played the guitar

Chorus
When he played his guitar
He would reach for the stars
Improvising with power and grace
Every solo he played
Has echoed away
But the spirit of Django lives
The spirit of Django lives

Now fate can be cruel and that’s just how it turned
He was trapped in a caravan fire
And though lucky to live he was terribly burned
And his left hand was shriveled and scarred
Now you can’t play guitar if two fingers won’t bend
But that’s just what he learned how to do
Django came to be known as the gypsy of jazz
As his fame and his confidence grew

Chorus

Now with Stephane and Joseph his brother and all
The Quintet of the Hot Club of France
He gave concerts, made records and travelled the world
And brought joy to a million fans
With Duke Ellington’s band  he played Carnegie
Though America proved for him
Before quietly settling down near Paris
Back once more in his own caravan

When he played his guitar
He would reach for the stars
Improvising with power and grace
All the solos he played
Now have echoed away
But the spirit of Django lives
The spirit of Django lives
The spirit of Django lives
The spirit of Django lives

                         Chris Flegg    June 2009