He was standin’ on a milk crate, coat too thin for the wind.
Didn’t ask for coins, didn’t shout—just let the words begin.
I was halfway through my coffee, halfway out the day.
Didn’t mean to stop and listen, but hey…
What did that guy just say?
He said, “You think you’re free ‘cause you’re movin’ fast.”
I said, “Brother, I got bills and a tank of gas.”
He said, “You think you’re whole ‘cause you don’t feel pain.”
I said, “Man, I got work and a windowpane.”
He said, “You think you’re good ‘cause you don’t get caught.”
I said, “I ain’t got time for the guilt you brought.”
He said, “You think you’re livin’—but you’re just on play.”
I said, “Whatever, man… anyway…”
But what did that guy just say?
I keep movin’, keep talkin’, keep dodgin’ the light.
Keep my head down, keep my wrongs outta sight.
But the way he stood there, like he knew my name—
Like the wind was listenin’, like the sky felt shame.
I didn’t ask for truth today.
But what did that guy just say?
He said, “You carry weight that ain’t even yours.”
I said, “I know, but I still hold the doors.”
He said, “You pray in silence, then curse the sound.”
I said, “I walk alone, but I cover ground.”
He said, “You want a sign, but ignore the sky.”
I said, “I’m just tired, man—I don’t know why.”
He said, “You think you’re lost, but you’re on your way.”
I didn’t answer. I just stayed.
What did that guy just say?
I keep movin’, keep talkin’, keep dodgin’ the light.
Keep my head down, keep my wrongs outta sight.
But the way he paused, like the world took a breath—
Like the truth was quiet, like love outlived death.
I didn’t ask for grace today.
But what did that guy just say?
I’ve heard sermons dressed in velvet, dressed in shame.
I’ve heard rabbis, preachers, prophets call my name.
But this one didn’t ask for change or praise.
He just spoke like the wind, and walked away.
I went back to my coffee, but it tasted thin.
I looked up at the sky, and it pulled me in.
I walked past the crate, but I felt the weight.
I didn’t stop him. It was too late.
But I carry his words like a song I replay.
What did that guy just say?

All Rights held by songwriter Edwin H. Balder. Thanks to all the wonderful talent that made these recordings possible including the Del Studio Players, Tina, Tommy, Hot Cookie, The Indivisibles, AKB, and TBOJAR   For More tracks like this enjoy The Jubilee Line Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/the-jubilee-line?si=0e644986d56741c2b6eb7dc09f516a71&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The One Who Stayed written by Edwin H. Balder

In the shadows of Apache Junction, at the foot of the majestic Superstition Mountains, sits a weathered hacienda. This desert oasis is home to an enigmatic figure, a songwriter whose journey reads like a long, dusty road of honky-tonk bars and college cafeterias. He wasn't chasing fame or glitter; instead, he chose the soul-crushing beauty of music for music's sake.

Years spent hunched over sticky barroom tables and scribbling lyrics on napkins earned him a reputation—not in the spotlight but in the back rooms where deals are made. He wrote melodies that found their way into the hearts of stars who had lost their own muse. He sold his creations for cash, with no recognition, but the whisper of his songs carried the weight of his soul.

Finally, he bought this piece of desert paradise—a stable income from his timeless songs allowed him to live comfortably, if anonymously. Here in this hacienda, with his family beside him and the mountains as his backdrop, he found the peace to write hits under his own name. He chuckled at the irony that now, without chasing fame, he could create music that brought him joy.

In the end, it was never about the spotlight. It was about the journey, the stories, and the songs that wrote themselves through his life. As the sun set behind the Superstitions, casting long shadows over the hacienda, he strummed his guitar and sang—content, unknown, and unburdened by the world's gaze.


Copyright 2019 Edwin H. Balder

I may be dead when fame comes but my real glory was always JULIE & The Kids. Thank you for such love

The One Who Stayed written by Edwin H. Balder

Edwin Balder