the state i am in

i was surprised

i was happy for a day in 1975

i was puzzled by a dream

stayed with me all day in 1995

my brother had confessed that he was gay

it took the heat off me for a while

he stood up with a sailor friend

made it known upon my sisters wedding day

i got married in a rush to save a kid from being deported

now she's in love

i was so touched

i was moved to kick the crutches

from my crippled friend

she was not impressed that i cured her on the sabbath

so i went to confess

when she saw the funny side

we introduced my child bride

to whisky and gin

the priest in the booth had a photographic memory

for all he had heard

he took all of my sins and he wrote a pocket novel called

the state i am in"