Lyr Req: Nightmare #5 (Al Kooper)

Subject: Lyr Add: NIGHTMARE #5 (Al Kooper)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 11:14 PM

NIGHTMARE #5
Words & Music by Al Kooper
(New York City / 1969)

I was sixteen years of age when I fled my family's house
And I hitchhiked down the highway tryin' to make my way down south.
It was in the dead of winter and it chilled me to the bone,
But I was sixteen years of age, just tryin' to get a message home.

It was cold and it was windy and I was two days in my flight,
And my shoes were almost wore through, and the day was almost night,
When the only car I saw that day came rollin' into view.
I just ran onto the highway for to see what I could do.

I waved my arms and hollered and the car it did slow down,
And I asked the man inside to help me for to get to the very next town.
He nodded "yes" and I jumped inside. I was thankful, safe and warm,
But the stranger kept his eyes ahead and drove straight into the storm.

I guess I must have fell asleep but I couldn't tell how long,
When I woke up in a hurry with the feel of something wrong.
The stranger was still driving and he did not say a word,
And I asked him many questions but he seemed not to have heard.

Then fear began to grab me and I reached out for the door.
When I almost had it open, well, the car began to soar.
As it angled towards the heavens, I just tried to catch my breath,
For it was then I knew what time it was, and the stranger's name was death.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Stranger's name was death'
From: GUEST,Anton van Straaten
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 10:36 PM

The song is "Nightmare #5" by Al Kooper.

There are some lyrics on this page (scroll down or search for "Kooper").

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Stranger's name was death'
From: GUEST,GUEST,MANFRED
Date: 25 May 03 - 03:30 PM

Strange story - would be good for a short film ...

Hope, anyone knows my "holy grail" song .
I cannot believe that I was the only one to hear it on air
and record it .

M

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Stranger's name was death'
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 25 May 03 - 05:21 AM

About the same era - I had similar experience.

Hitch hiking back from a dance. My collegue and I were picked up by a ranch hand that smelled of booze. The canyon road, was narrow and winding above a steep river gorge. There were various turnouts and sharp bends.

We were exhausted, it was late and we were thankful for any sort of a lift... even one from a fast driving drunk, with sloppy control. He didn't talk, and we didn't have the strength or desire to.

Over the course of an hour he would suddenly, brake, stop, and get out of the truck saying, "this would be a good spot." He would walk around and get back in.

At first we thought he was only seeing a man about a horse. By the third time, our curiosity could not be contained, and we asked, "Good for what?"

As he accelerated out of the turnout spraying gravel he said, "To kill myself." Then he began a story, straight from a country western ballad of a green love gone wrong. He wanted a place to drive his truck off into oblivion.

The forth stop - we bailed out quick and continued a twelve mile walk back to our quarters.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: Lyr Req: 'The Stranger's name was death'
From: GUEST,MANFRED
Date: 24 May 03 - 08:36 PM

Hi, does anyone know a song with these words in the end ? The song starts with the words "I was sixteen years of age, when I left (or:fled) my family's home" . It is about a hitchhiking boy who is taken by a stranger in his car . The car has an accident and the boy has to die . In his last moments he realises that "the stranger's name was death" . I recorded this song in the end sixties or beginning 70s . A poor copy is still available . Please answer or write to [e-mail]