The Ballad of Jackson Colorado (Have Laptop Will Travel)

The silence is torn with a piercing wail

That connects our hero to his friends

On A hand me down PC, we start our tale

The world opens no telling where this ends

2400 bits at a time

The power of connection is shown 

The unfurling future sets a blaze in his mind

The flashing cursor starts to feel like home

He learns code a friend finds him a job

And now he masters the computer’s ways

The pay ain’t great but he can’t be a snob

The work is fun this ain’t just a phase

After school he lands real work texting 

Messages  to people in need 

When the texts start selling sex he 

Decides that it’s long past time that he should leave.

Have laptop, will travel

Who knew this world was so fragile

We’ll just have to move on

You got to be puttin’ me on

Got a plan to let you pay at the pump

Code is written at an insane rate

Patent vultures shut it down with a thunk

Office is locked the very next day

Two hour commutes, rooms full of smoke

Bosses who won’t even use your name

Sneaker net version control what a joke

How can the future be so lame

Have laptop, will travel

Finding work can be such a hassle

We’ll just have to move on

It can’t all just be a con 

He finds himself in the Pacific Northwest

Building websites for the folks who make games

Finally a place where he can rest

He stays long enough to learn everyone’s names

But the country goes to to hell it’s time to go 

His family ain’t feeling safe there now

Spain is calling, life’s looking nice and slow

With family and kids he can takes a final bow

Have laptop, will travel

He finally had to leave Seattle

Our hero has finally moved on

And just maybe he finally won. 

Well now it’s time for me to go

But that’s the tale of Jackson Colorado