The 27 Club Poem by David Welch

His name was Jack O'Bann, and how he liked to play,
if not for school I think he would've strummed all day,
and he had a voice of both gravel and honey,
with the kind of power that brought in big money.
It was no surprise he started a high school band,
he rocked the parties, we knew his future looked grand.

But Jack had some trouble, his family disagreed,
they did not like the path where this future might lead,
most musicians failed, and there was no hiding that,
they would tell Jack that against him the odds were stacked,
and with his math skills he'd make a good engineer,
this debate troubled Jack for all of his senior year.

During that last year, he dated a girl named Kay,
who listened to his troubles, the things he had to say,
Jack fell so hard for him, in her arms found relief
from the pressures of family, what career to seek.
His band kept on playing, more and more dates in town,
gaining fans with each show until they were renowned.

But his parents were certain this his path was doomed,
even once tried to lock Jack inside his bedroom!
still he was determined, even though they did scoff,
until one day they both threatened to cut their son off.
He stormed out of the house following a big fight,
in a sour mood went to play a gig that night.

Kay was there with the band and saw that he was pissed,
said, "Don't worry, go set up, I will handle this."
So he vented out back, she tried to soothe his rage,
he said, "I'm so done with this now that I'm legal age! "
But somehow she got him to take control of himself,
and he put on a great show for everyone else.

It was a good time that night, Jake's voice was like fire,
raised the crowd to a pitch, and then pushed them higher,
none knowing that a record man was looking on,
impressed by the skill they showed with their cover songs,
and the passion for their craft they made people feel,
so after it was over he offered them a deal.

All the band was excited, this could be their break,
Jack's head was in a swoon, it was more than he could take,
first the fight with his parents that had rattled him,
now this chance of a lifetime, he struggled within.
"I just need a moment…I need to get some air."
He half-stumbled outside, and Kay followed him there.

He looked around frantic as he struggled to breath.
"It's all happening at once, I just can't believe…
I know that they are all waiting, will want to record,
but right now it doesn't seem so simple any more,
with all my family's been saying…don't know what to do,
and I'd hate if all this took me away from you! "

She stroked his hand and said, "Jack, you have to relax,
you have the chance to make music, that is a fact.
You tell me it's what you want, so I think you should sign,
and not pass this up waiting for a better time."
He said, "But if we go on tour, you know what that means? "
She said, "I know, but I'd never impede your drams."

So Jack left with the band, and it was bittersweet,
they soon cracked the Top 40, which was no little feat.
Black Jack and The Shirkers would soon go platinum,
known for hypnotic hooks and songs of drink and fun.
Jack was modest at first, but soon embraced the fame,
all the parties and groupies who sere so far from tame…

Yes, the albums and the riches piled up in droves,
there was no sort of indulgence he did not know,
he had a big mansion, he drove fancy sport cars,
no one could image he'd ever go this far.
But as his twenties rolled on he soon started to see
deep within him a cold, growing despondency.

It started as a trickle, a fatigue he couldn't shed,
them slowly grew until it filled up most of his head,
the gnawing sense that all of this was just skin deep,
before long it made it hard for Jack even to sleep.
The shrinks couldn't help him, the gurus just annoyed,
so he thought back to the last time he'd felt real joy.

He realized it was that last night that he had seen Kay,
about no other woman had he felt that way,
for all of the drama he'd had his senior year
he remembered how with here there had been no fear,
just a quiet acceptance, she'd listened and cared,
and that was how Jay found himself going back there.

He was twenty-seven, eight whole years had gone past,
and he knew it was crazy, but he had to ask,
had to see for himself if some small spark remained,
if she could still see the real him through the trappings of fame.
It wasn't all that hard to find her new address,
so he worked up his courage, and put on his best.

She had a surprised look when he knocked on the door,
had trouble meeting his eyes, and glanced at the floor.
Jack too was nervous, had trouble speaking his minds,
stammered and said, "Hello Kay…it's been a long time."
She asked if he'd like to come in, and he said yes,
he walked to the living room with a pounding chest.

She made them both some coffee and he started to say,
"I know it seems kind of weird, me showing up this way,
but of late I've been looking at what I have got,
and I know, from the outside, it seems quite a lot,
but I don't think I've been happy since I left your side,
so I guess I'm asking if you'd give us a try…"

Kat met his eyes with a sad and piteous look,
said, "Can you see the picture right there, by the nook?
I've already a husband, and sweet children two,
so I'm sorry, But I will have to disappoint you."
Jack did see the small picture, and he forced a grim,
it's not like the chance of this hadn't occurred to him.

So he gained his feet sadly, saying that he would go,
Kay said, "Please, wait. There' something that you should know…"
He paused for a moment, saw the pictures of the kids,
could one of those small children possibly be his?
It was then that Kay spoke, and her face looked fright,
"I thought you should know the truth, about that last night…

"You are still holding a torch, that much is clear to me,
but you should know that, even them, we never could be.
You wanted to part, to tour and win great fame,
but you never once asked if I wanted the same,
and in truth, even then, I thought of a settled life,
or children and my own home, of being a wife.

"I thought it would be easier, avoid a hard scene,
if I acted like I didn't want to kill you dream.
Cowardly of me, but we were so young back then,
and I hadn't yet figured what I sought in men.
But now I want to be honest, we couldn't last lone,
and I hope all this will help you try to move on."

Jack just stood there stunned, his whole psyche now in doubt,
he said nothing, just felt numb, as he made his way out.
Driving to the airport he felt a deep despair,
the one woman he loved…whose heart was never there!
The one thing he'd known, this ‘one truth' that he had claimed,
had not been returned, just a mirage of his brain…

If felt like the whole of his foundation had collapsed,
and not many people can recover from that,
first he turned to his music, so he'd not have to think,
when that wasn't enough he grew more fond of the drink.
It got to the point that Jack started to realize
that behind shallow pleasures he could no longer hide.

But the pain of changing he could endure no more,
one day his manager found him cold on the floor,
his chest they compressed, his heart just wouldn't just-start,
there was no fight left in him, no will for the art.
People just clucked, "He joined the Twenty-Seven Club.
Oh, why can't the young talent stay clear of the drugs? "