Download Chris Thile’s Song of the Week for March 28, 2020, “CQ” (originally from October 12, 2019). The band: Chris Thile, Sarah Jarosz, Mike Elizondo, Kush Abadey, Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas, Brett Williams.

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Lyrics:

[BALLADEERS]

He believes (belies (belabors))

Himself into the wee hours of the morning

‘Til even he finds it boring

So he leaves it to long (and then look) for

Someone else with some midnight oil that wants burning

And seeing as he’s made up so much of this story

(We will too)

Behold dear listener some 50 years early

(The first CQ):

[MORSE]

Mark what goes on under the sun

Bonds are broken feuds are begun

Behind veils of pride that no pastor’s son

Can peek through

Peek through

But these treacherous partners with their envy and lies

Have drifted off and left me to my

Own beloved darkness where I

Seek you

Seek you

CQ

[BALLADEERS]

And who should hear our hero

But a sleepless God of Wire in Waiting

Who jumps up from the cot where he ought to be sleeping

Having implored (empowered (imperiled))

The free world into the wee hours of the morning

And because that world keeps adding more to his story

(So will we)

Behold the rail-splitter of Illinois

(At the straight key:)

[LINCOLN]

Mark what goes on under the sun

Bonds are broken wars are begun

Behind veils of pride that no farmer’s son

Can peek through

Peek through

But these treacherous generals asking “how, sir, and why?”

Have drifted off and left me to my

Own beloved darkness where I

Seek you

Seek you

Seek you

[MORSE AND LINCOLN]

Mark what goes on under the sun

The dream is over the nightmare’s begun

Behind veils of pride no daughter or son

Can peek through

Peek through

Let these embattled children with children and wives

Drift off to sleep and leave me to my

Own beloved darkness where I

Seek you

Seek you

Seek you

CQ

CQ

CQ...