I took a year off. Packed up the house, put everything into storage and me and the dog headed off in the EH station wagon. Where? Anywhere. One of the best years of my life. It helped heal my grief. Me and Lucy loved every damn minute of it. It’s an incredible freeing feeling to be behind the wheel of a car not knowing where you’re going, blasting Lou Reed on cassette and stopping at places you’ve never heard of, not knowing how long you’d stop there for. I wrote this song on this trip.  And I can tell you, there is  nothing like sitting in the middle of nowhere by a campfire on your own, with your dog to look out for you, singing your heart out – into the night.

The song originated as a kid’s song, taking its title from the name of my little buddy, William Green, Billy the kid. Billy and I spent a lot of time together as his number one go-to babysitter and I lived with his family for a short while. We were best friends and did things that best friends do. We made up stories, magic tricks and songs and laughed a lot together. “Where you been Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?…Seen a frog on a log with a dog. Seen a lady with a baby going crazy. Seen a man with a van, his name was Stan. Seen a fish make a wish, in a dish.”

Then came the car trip..

BILLY GREEN

Where you been Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?
Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?

With my life in my car, my dog at my side
We went pedal down and travelling round
Our minds open wide
Going anywhere and everywhere but nowhere been before
To leave behind a friend of mine not to see what I saw
That was hard

Where you been Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?
Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?

Seen old man from long ago staring at sea
The rock was bare, his face was there
I know he seen me
And we stayed in his days dreamed away for a while
My dog and me, his land and he
Was good company
Felt my heart

Where you been Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?
Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?

Seen rivers lay dying and crying around
Mighty trees with busted knees
That fell to the ground
Damn the man with his plan to hold back the flow
Of mothers tears the big man jeers
And lets it all go, kills the land
Don’t understand, kills the land

Where you been Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?
Billy Green, where you been, what you seen?

Seen the bush way out west where it’s best
Big-hearted people in a broken down town
And I sang out my songs in the flames of the fire
The dancing trees they danced for me, firing me higher
Said the man counting days his wife had left his home
He said, “Travelling man, the rebel, he travels alone
With his dog, always alone with his dog”

Where you been Billy Green, where you been, how you feel?

Feels good to be alive, even better to survive
Where I’ve been, what I’ve seen

All Rights Reserved
images©TJBISHOP