Songs of Will T. Massey — “Letters in the Wind”

After Will first emerged from his prolonged absence in 2005, his first recordings were the sparse solo efforts, Acoustic Session and Alone, recorded at Stuart Sullivan’s Wire studios.

For his third recording, 2006’s Letters in the Wind, his family funded a full studio production and he hired Stephen Doster to helm the effort.

Stephen assembled an all-star cast of Austin players for the record: both Sexton brothers (Charlie & Will), Lloyd Maines, Bukka Allen, Brian Standefer, and J.J. Johnson with Kacy Crowley and Tish Hinojosa providing backing vocals. The resulting album beautifully showcases Will’s songs.

I have not shared as many of these songs here. For all the incredible production, Will’s lyrics at the time reflected imagery and thoughts from his days in the shadows of his schizophrenia. Few of these songs remained in his later performing repertoire — and more’s the pity.

I walked across the Congress Avenue bridge,
Seen by a few in window frames of hotels.
Walking between all those people
Without something to say to one another,
I felt the night was one of fair farewells.

I feel a little better,
Thinking of strangers who end,
Remembering writing one
Letters in the wind.

Futuristic giraffe eyes up through kind, bare limbs,
Celestially of perfections.
The places and the people one has been through —
Defining language throughout sky
A hung head, new path’s predestined directions…

I feel a little better,
Thinking of strangers who end,
Remembering writing one
Letters in the wind.

The Texas Tower standing,
Windblown cigarette,
City skyline like tombstones
Weathering wet.
And blue shadows through memory,
Written silhouette,
Riverbank trees left to leave
Like an envelope met.

As I returned from 6th Street
Across the Congress Avenue bridge,
Rain was playing fall leaves,
Falling again, windblown —
Of change, always for the better,
And a constant before one is found.
A familiar way — familiar unknown.

I feel a little better,
Thinking of strangers who end,
Remembering writing one
Letters in the wind.

Remembering writing one letters in the wind…