Herb was Harvey Bender, with whom I became extremely close in the 60’s after we both had dropped out of college and found ourselves hanging out at The Rail. This is the rare song that I wrote for a man and not a woman. This recording from the Willow I cassette contains one of my favorite band moments, James’ impassioned harmony on the second verse.
Lyrics
Herb’s Song
Empty hands
For loaded questions
Asking you to invest in
What you feel should be given for free
And here you stand
Skipping stones in the river
Wondering how you’ll deliver
When you’re asked to make
Waves in the sea
The time is right, my friend
For feeling lonely
But not you only
For I’m here too
Back in your dreams
You hoped that she would think of you
Well, now you’ve found out she loves you
And I’d think you’d be
Getting it on
But it seems
You sit at home all day wondering
Wondering if you’ve been blundering
Wondering what you will do
When she’s gone
The time is right, my friend
For feeling lonely
But not you only
For I’m here too
And the folks come by
Peddling their religion
Seven bucks for a vision
Of death after life after death
And you get high
And full of the spirit
Don’t you know I’m sorry to hear it
It will take away
More than your breath
The time is right, my friend
For feeling lonely
But not you only…