ICE CREAM ANGEL

1.
When I was jus' a little boy,
I lived 'cross from a ice cream store.
Now that's livin' right close to heaven,
could any child want more?
2.
Mama and the neighbor lady,
each had a child of three,
an' one of them was Jenny,
an' one of them was me.
3.
The next door mama and Jenny,
and my mama and me, made four,
an' ever' so often of a summer,
we went to that... magical ice cream store.
4.
Jus' a little walk, up a little hill,
to Mr. Brauer's Ice Cream Shop.
Many a time that summer,
it became our favorite stop.
5.
A walkin', an' talkin', with Jenny,
I come to love that little hike.
"Course, once you got to know Jenny,
there was a' awful lot to like.
6.
Jenny'd often peek at me
'afore she'd take each taste.
A creamy, dreamy angel,
with ice cream on her face.
7.
I loved those ice cream summers,
and I loved that ice cream store
and I even loved Jenny's mama,
for a bringin' Jenny to the ice cream store.
8.
By the time we got to grade school,
I was awalkin' Jenny home from class,
and when we walked alone
to the ice cream store,
how I wished those days would last.
9.
Then we both went into high school,
an' tho our paths took different ways,
we was always ice cream friends,
thru all our high school days.
10.
(spoken verse)
I even asked Jenny, to the prom,
an' for me, that was takin' a chance.
"Cause Jenny was so popular,
an' me?
I couldn't even dance.
.
(SUNG)
11.
At seventeen, I finished school
and I answered the Army's call.
Jenny wrote right reg'lar,
but I didn't write much a'tall.
12.
I was overseas for four years,
my, how those years did fly.
Then, I heard Jenny, done got married,
my little Jenny, who was shy.
13.
Another thirty years siipped by,
then one day I took a ride,
an' met Jenny at a neighbor's house,
where Jenny's mom had died.
14.
We chatted in the driveway,
about our ice cream past.
and Jenny said "You're the first boy, I ever kissed,
but you know, you weren't the last."
15.
Another twenty years went by
I volunteered in a nursing home,
an' I often thought o' Jenny...
when all the ol' folks...
was a eatin' their ice cream cones.
16.
One day, I heard my name, an' turned to see
Jenny!.... a wheelin' in her chair.
She had Jenny's smile, an' Jenny's eyes,
an' silver was Jenny's hair.
17.
Well... we saw each other right reg'lar
and talked about our ice cream days.
I told all the kitchen help...
about our childhood...
so we had ice cream, every day.
18.
Well... we had a year... of ice cream
and then... Jenny...was no more.
But... I still honor... Jenny
by a goin' ...to the ice cream store.
.
(next three verses spoken, slowly)
.
19.
I always order two ice cream cones,
tho I can't ever finish, even one,
An' the ice cream lady always smiles and asks, "Is somebody?
a waitin' for that other cone?'
.
20.
I always nod... an' smile... an' walk on out
ice cream in both my hands.
'Course, right away, they both start a meltin'
but I don't care... where the ice cream lands.
21.
There's somethin' 'bout them two ice cream cones,
brings tears to my eyes, ever' time.
Lots of things git blurry now,
but my mind still sees things... right fine.
.
(Slowly sung)
22.
I loved those ice cream summers
and I loved that ice cream store,
And I even loved Jenny's mama,
for a bringin' Jenny to the ice cream store.
.
23.
We had a year... of ice cream,
and then...Jenny...was no more.
But...I still honor...Jenny,
by a goin' ....to the ice cream store.
.
24.
I think 'bout my ice cream angel
and about the passin' of all that time.
Then I take a lick o' Jenny's cone,
and then I take a lick o' mine.
25.
Yes, I dream 'bout my ice cream angel
and the passing of all that time.
Then I takes a lick o' Jenny's cone,
an' then I takes a lick o' mine.