So Long, Atticus

Words and music by Briyan Frederick
© Brian F Baker | Published by Blind Mime Music, ASCAP
All rights reserved.

This was originally written and recorded during a songfight where participants are given a song title and challenged to write and record a song in a week or so. It’s based on the book, To Kill a Mockingbird.

The resulting recording below was done in the house off 39th in Salt Lake around 2003 and has me playing guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and vocals.

The Blind Mime Ensemble version is a cover of this recording, faithful to the original, made for the Leave the Silver Coins Behind album in 2024.

Marbles and chalk
A broken pocket watch
I found them in a tree
He left them there for me

A pencil and a pin
A whistle made of tin
A button and a ring
For lack of words to sing

It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus
It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus

The town was filled with rage
To hide from their disgrace
The stranger ran from harm
They shot without alarm

And wise, beyond my years
I called these men to hear
But some things never change
While hatred still remains

It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus
It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus

Then before their hate filled me
The mocking bird in the tree
He filled the night with song
It's been so long…

It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus
It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus

It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus
It's been so long
It's been so long, Atticus