IN A CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS
OUTSIDE WILLIAMSPORT, PA
A MAN SITS READING "WAR AND PEACE"
IN A MOST CONTENTED WAY
NO PHONE, NO CABLE, INTERNET
NOT A SINGLE LUXURY
NO POUNDING OF THE GAVEL
INNOCENT OR GUILTY PLEA
"I LIKE THE MOUNTAINS, LACK OF CROWDS
AND FISHING IN THE CREEK
THE TIME I HAVE FOR READING
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE
THE PEOPLE ARE ALL FRIENDLY HERE
AT LEAST THE ONES I SEE
AND IF NO ONE EVER MOVES HERE
IT'LL BE OKAY WITH ME."
CHORUS 1:
' CAUSE, HE'S DANIEL G. EHRGOOD
AND HE DON'T GIVE A DAMN
IF HE DON'T MAKE ANOTHER DOLLAR
IN LAW PROFESSION LAND
HE JUST PACKED IT UP AND WALKED AWAY
TO BE A SOLITARY MAN
LISTEN CLOSELY LITTLE JURORS
TO THE STORY OF DISAPPEARING DAN
ONCE PROSPEROUS AND PROMINENT
PROSECUTING TO THE FULL
EXTENT OF LAW, HE HAD IT ALL
YES, HE LIVED A DUTIFUL
LIFE OF SENDING UP THE BAD GUYS
FOR THEIR UGLY SINS
COUNTY ISSUED JEWELRY ON THEIR WRISTS
'CAUSE, DANNY ALWAYS WINS
IN 1990 HE BEGAN
HIS TENURE AS D.A.
HE SERVED US WELL, THEN SAID FAREWELL
FOUR YEARS LATER TO THE DAY
USED TO COME OUT TO THE FENWICK
FRIDAY NIGHTS TO HEAR ME PLAY
HE LIKED WHEN I SUNG THAT JOHN CUSATIS SONG
THE ONE THEY SAY'S A BIT RISQUE'
IN '97 HE CHOSE TO LEAVE
HIS PARTNERSHIP BEHIND
HIS ASSOCIATES AINT SEEN HIM
SINCE HE LEFT THE DAILY GRIND
HE HANDLED CASES HIGH PROFILE
AND BROUGHT DEFENDANTS TO THEIR KNEES
BUT, NOW HE LIVES UP ON A MOUNTAIN
WAY OUT THERE AMONGST THE TREES
CHORUS 2:
' CAUSE, HE'S DANIEL G. EHRGOOD
AND HE DON'T GIVE A DAMN
IF HE DON'T MAKE ANOTHER DOLLAR
IN LAW PROFESSION LAND
HE JUST PACKED IT UP AND WALKED AWAY
TO BE A SOLITARY MAN
HE'S A HERO, AND THE LEGENDARY
DISAPPEARING DAN
NOW, HE LIVES ALONE UP IN THE WOODS
AND SELDOM GOES TO TOWN
READS LITERARY MASTERS
WEARS ISOLATION LIKE A CROWN
AND, HE'S NOT DESTITUTE
BUT, HE DON'T HAVE WHAT HE ONCE HAD
NO, MONEY COMES AND GOES
WE CAN'T SUBTRACT WHAT WE DON'T ADD
PENNSYLVANIA STATE SUPREME COURT
BOARD OF DISCIPLINE
ON GROUNDS OF POOR COMMUNICATION
REVOKED HIS LICENSE...JOKE'S ON THEM
'CAUSE, HE AINT COMIN' BACK
TO PRACTICE LAW EVER AGAIN
HE'S HAPPIER, BY FAR, THIS WAY
THAN HE EVER WAS BACK THEN
NOW, IN THESE DAYS OF INFORMATION
MASS COMMUNICATION
"THE MASS OF MEN LEAD HORRID LIVES
OF QUIET DESPERATION"
TO LIVE ON WALDEN POND
AND BE LIKE HENRY D. THOREAU
IS NOT SO BAD, AND I'D BE GLAD
TO CHUCK THE STATUS QUO
CHORUS 3:
SO, HERE'S TO DANIEL G. EHRGOOD
NO, HE DON'T GIVE A DAMN
IF HE DON'T MAKE ANOTHER DOLLAR
IN LAW PROFESSION LAND
HE JUST PACKED IT UP AND WALKED AWAY
TO BE A SOLITARY MAN
AND I JUST HOPE SOMEDAY I CAN BE AS GOOD
AS DISAPPEARING DAN
AND, THAT'S THE STORY, LITTLE JURORS
OF DISAPPEARING DAN
Copyright 2003, written by David L. Heilman
