The Life of A Grievous Angel

Ingram Cecil Connor
                        The Third

A trust fund baby who 
                        Became a Byrd

Born to a warrior and a fruit grower's daughter
In the proud South of these here United States
The warrior father took his own life when the boy was twelve
Then mother took up with a local Parsons
                  Not to be mistaken for a religious man, though
                  He took to women other than his wife
                  And the neglected mother drank herself to death                                                        
He wanted to create cosmic American music
Liked his Gospel and Soul with Country and Rock & Roll
Dropping out of the Crimson College
To play with submarines along side Nuese who introduced
                   Him to the music that sparked it
                   So they fancied themselves like Buck Owens
                   And serenaded the truck driving man

A kid who died in Lakewood in July of '72
Convinced Gram he needed to be in California
Where he could make the scene on the big screen
Go west he did and bought a house for the band
                   But stayed with Nancy
                   Much to Crosby's chagrin
                   And the band played on

Success eluded our young hero
                      Even with Hazlewood's help
As '68 dawned he knew 
                      He had to make a move
Then he found himself filling 
                      Crosby's spot once more
Only with his voice and guitar
                      Not in the boudoir

Sweet was the short time spent in the studio
Heart full of soul and raw with passion
Of this history shows
The trip to Nashville wasn't easy
Rodeo days and Opry nights of harassment
                       Five months was long enough
                       When the Glimmer Twins said stay with us
                       In London, and teach the Honky Tonk

Back in L.A. he was soon flying with the Bros. Burritos
Living in a gilded palace of sin
Until Hillman said it was time for him to leave
The cocaine and the heroin were taking their toll
Even Pallenberg told Richards to show him the door
                       G.P. back at the family estate
                       Married the young and fetching Gretchen 
                       Who needed more than he could give

Back in England Grech helped him kick the horse
                     And with Emmylou he found his echo
Alcohol though, that which drowned his mother and father
                     Filled his mind and his belly every night
Soon after he created his grievous angel
                     Death took away another friend

In 26 years he'd lost his parents, lost his home
lost his wife and lost too many friends
In Joshua Tree on a warm September night
Gram Parsons lost his life