My cousin died in October 2011.
We were very close when we were young. He was Glaswegian and he grew up in the gang culture of the 60’s and 70’s.
Thinking about him after he died I wrote down these words, they were the images of him that came into my mind. He was called Roy and he helped me to grow up stronger and more confident than I might otherwise have been.
His gang in Cathcart, Glasgow was called CODY, he was older than me, by a few years, and he taught me loads.
I'll never see him again but I will never ever lose sight of him.
Come Or Die Young (CODY)
You were always a hero in my heart
And I’m so sorry if I let you down.
You made my eyes water for all the reasons they do
We laughed, I cried, we played, you died.
You opened my eyes and made me strong
My life’s adventures began with you.
You were the captain, the expedition leader
You were the chief explorer, the story reader.
Two boys in the wilderness of youth,
Dreaming their dreams as they do.
Looking for their fun in the mysteries of imaginations,
Playing their games in sun filled vacations.
One summer you bought a three piece suit
And I spent those lonely days on the loch alone.
Gangland wars and coffee bars,
Fruity girls and trophy scars.
But you always protected me from that.
Later we walked through Glasgow nights together,
Me still following my hero, my big cousin,
The leader of the dirty dozen.
You made my eyes water for all the reasons they do
We laughed, I cried, we played, you died.
You opened my eyes and made me strong
My life’s adventures began with you.
You were the captain, the expedition leader
You were the chief explorer, the story reader.
Two boys in the wilderness of youth,
Dreaming their dreams as they do.
Looking for their fun in the mysteries of imaginations,
Playing their games in sun filled vacations.
One summer you bought a three piece suit
And I spent those lonely days on the loch alone.
Gangland wars and coffee bars,
Fruity girls and trophy scars.
But you always protected me from that.
Later we walked through Glasgow nights together,
Me still following my hero, my big cousin,
The leader of the dirty dozen.
© 2010 S Evans All Rights Reserved
This song will always remind me of him, he bought it and I remember him playing it many times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzpShIhvrjU
The Kinks; Days from 1969
