What follows are the lyrics to a song that my bud Bill brought to my attention (thanks, Bill, if you're reading this). The song is called "Night Drive", and it was written and recorded by Garnet Rogers, a Canadian singer/songwriter. He wrote it in honor of his deceased brother Stan, and when reading through the words, I felt it could be seen as strongly evocative of the feelings Ennis might have, though not necessarily articulate, regarding Jack in death. Ennis and Jack were lovers and best friends, and they were also brothers...in spirit. And this is a song for brotherly love wherever it may be found:
Yellowhead highway
How bright the stars
How dark the night
How long have I been sleeping?
Sleep overtook me on my westward flight
Held me in its keeping
I had a dream; it seemed so real
Its passing left me shaking
I saw you're here behind the wheel
On this very road I'm taking
Hurtling westward through the prairie night
Under the spell of motion
Your eyes were clear and bright in the dashboard light
Dreaming of the western ocean
The dusty towns left far behind
Mountains drawing ever nearer
Your face was then as it was tonight
Ever young
Ever clearer
I know this road
And its every curve
Where the hills commence their climbing
We rested here
If my memory serves
The northern lights were shining
You lit a smoke
We shared some wine
We watched the sky in wonder
Your laughter echoes after all this time
In that high and wild blue yonder
I don't know why I write these lines
It's not like I could send you the letter
It's that I love your more after all this time
It's that I wish I'd shown you better
Years have slipped
Beneath my wheels
Dwindling in my rear view mirror
As time has passed
Your life has seemed less real
But these night drives bring you nearer
