I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to “Erica’s Song.” Erica Coffey was a dear friend of mine and many, taken by a car accident 22-years young, one week before my wedding. I could talk/write all day and never run out of things to say about her. “Erica’s Song” is the result of so many and not enough conversations, e-mail exchanges and experiences, mine and others’ with Erica, cut and pasted into a kaleidoscope of abstract lyrics and music wrestled with Celtic guitar licks and Carol Anne’s ghostly vocal runs.

Erica’s Song
Words and Music by Jeff Hartman

Erica knows what she’s talking about when she says nothing at all
Regardlessly happy with
Better without
Everyone’s left but I stall

She unglues me
I’m falling apart
Amuse me
I’m ready to start

Standing in line between heroes and friends
Can’t please them all but she tries
From the beginning but that’s where it ends
The girl with the anime eyes

I just know her
I can’t explain why
Hello’d her without saying goodbye

Phone
It happened today
Alone
It happened that way

I wasn’t prepared for what Christopher said
I buried my face in the sheets on my bed
Convincing myself it was all in his head
Soliciting Jesus to take me instead

God knows the difference between right and wrong
Christening strength when I need to be strong
Wishing is easy
It doesn’t take long when ladybugs testify Erica’s song

Left hand on yellow
Right foot on green
Violently Femme-ing the floor
The natives are restless
She’s setting the scene
The locals find hard to ignore

I told her the show must go on
I told her the lines have been drawn

Poem
There’s so much to say
Home
Unheralded stay

Practically perfect
I don’t understand
Denying the kingdom of heaven’s at hand
The cream in my Coffey is high in demand
Wearing the time when she stood where I stand

Leaping my faith where it doesn’t belong
Finding I know what she knew all along
Wishing is easy
It doesn’t take long when ladybugs testify Erica’s song