The Mayor of Cheapside

Born in Norman in the middle of a baby-boomer tribe of ten;
After Mary, just before Jerry, with his share of original sin.
I was his partner when we worked at a young and tender age.
Passing out them handbills, fightin’ off the dogs that raged.
Times were tough when we were growin’ up; there wasn’t much to spare.
But his daddy’s drive taught him how to survive, get him through them crazy years.

Right out of school he went to work at the family shop.
Took over from Polly, learned everything she and Shorty taught.
With his brother Jerry, built a business on solid rock.
Honed his tools, worked like a mule, earned everything he got.
Pressman, grease-monkey and artist, a Master Jack of all trades.
When he got that ‘Craftsman of the Year’ award, there with nothing he could say.

[Chorus] He was the mayor of Cheapside, public servant to the people on the Square.
Judge of the Courtyard Deli, he knew everybody there.
The mayor of Cheapside, lived every minute like it was his last one here.
We lost a favorite son on the day he died – the mayor of Cheapside.

His feet in a half a dozen different pods, it’s a wonder he did sleep.
Served on so many Boards and causes, his footprints wide and deep.
From the time he was a little boy, music was the joy of his life.
It kept him sane through the reigns and chains of prison, pains and strife.
Picking up the band, lending a hand to the folks at the Woodsong Show.
Bluegrass and ballet, rock or reggae,
His companion was the radio.

At Alfalfa’s every Saturday morning, Lynagh’s on most nights;
Driving his topless T-Bird, checking out them Kentucky sights.
He’d go to his friend, Larry’s, every Wednesday after dark.
A toke and shots, then they’d watch his favorite show, ‘South Park.’
And on game day, when the Cats would play,
He’d root on Big Blue and shout.
In a room by himself, away from everyone else,
Yellin’ “that’s what I’m talkin’ about.” [CHORUS “… Like a brother…lost a best friend…” – 2nd chorus]

He was my friend, my cultural, political bro.
A local star under the radar of the status quo.
How much I love him, how much I miss him, you will never know.

He took his gal to the island where he always went.
‘Neath the stars he was hit by a car; a senseless accident.
With his last dyin’ breath, pushed Cheryl out of the way.
When you save the life of another, you open up heaven’s gate.
With the woman he loved, in the place he loved
Roy was at the top of his game.
He might be gone, but in this song
This town will remember his name [Chorus… best friend (2nd chorus)]