Music Man (Last Rhyme)

I was trudging along, one windy summer day
On an off-beaten track, intent on making my way
When I passed by a man, sitting under a tree
He looked so forlorn, so I slowed down to see

He had on the look of a man far away
But this is not what made me stop, made me stay
There beside him lay an old, red guitar
Once it looked so very fine, I've seen it from afar

Gently sitting down beside him, never saying a word
I felt the same as when I saw him, quite a long time ago
This same man who inspired me to reach for my dreams
My mind whirling with questions, I need to ask of him.

"Gentle man, the music man whom all have adored,
Why are you under this tree, looking so absorbed?
Are you sad, are you lonely, do you need a friend?
Or a traveling companion, in this off-beaten bend?"

He said, "Thank you, for taking the time, to sit down with me,
I am neither afraid, nor lonely you see
I am merely resting, enjoying the way,
and took this moment too, to reminisce the days."

"I do know you, dear old man, I have seen you around
I have heard all your music, and have loved all the sounds.
You have streaked to the skies back in twenty zero-five
You have the admiration of many, the Soul Patrol by your side."

"You look too young to me." As he looked at me close
"How come you know my music, or know of me at all?"

"My parents loved you, when I was but a boy,
I too have heard your voice, I grew up with your soul."

He smiled to me then and asked me my name,
Which I readily give, to this man, of music and fame
Then he stood up slowly, and picked up his guitar
And he started to strum, blow some lines on the harp.

He played right and then, one song after the other,
I knew not what it was, save that we were together
To some secret, secret world, and my knees grew weak
Now I see him exposed, and tears coursed my cheeks.

When at last he has finished, and the muses are gone
And he packed up his guitar, rubbed the dust from his hand
He said "Come, walk with me, just for a little way,
I have something to give you, for the joy of today."

I stood up and followed him, and we're soon side by side
On this off-beaten road, he then stepped aside...
"I want you to have this, wherever you go."
He put the harmonica, in the palm of my hand.

I started to protest, for it was not mine to keep
I don't know how to play it, let alone do his feat.
"I am just starting out, with my own red guitar
I can't take your harmonica, I haven't gone very far."

Then he uttered these words, I know I won't forget
As he looked back at me, with the road up ahead,

"I was young, just like you, though a long time ago,
But I know how the music, moves in you and it shows.
Never fear, young lad, where your life's road may lead
For as long as you have music,
that is all you will need."