Standing in the Shadow of Ellis Paul

I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
I might get some gigs but I won't get them all
I've made a lot of hurdles but I might have hit a wall
I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
He's an award winning troubadour, folk aristocracy
He's got a tattoo on his upper right arm of Woody Guthrie
He's got long brown hair, recites romantic poetry
He's got his music in a motion picture, he's got his music on MTV

I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
I play a lot of coffeehouses but not the concert hall
I run around the court but I don't ever get the ball
I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
He's more respected than Marty Sexton, more _________ than Dan Bern
He's not as famous as Ani but he still makes all the girls' heads turn
He's a close friend of the Push Stars and he's in with Club Passim
He's got a first level personal manager in Ralph Jaccodine

I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
I don't fit the suit and I don't get the call
This job is for a white guy, Vance Gilbert knows what I mean
We're the only two minorities in the whole folk scene
My apologies to Ellis, my apologies to most of y'all
I'm actually one of his biggest fans and I love that song "Last Call"
In every bar that I've played it, there has never been a brawl
They walk around and hug each other when they hear the sound of Ellis Paul

I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
I play a lot of coffeehouses but not the concert hall
If I'm really lucky I might get recognized at the mall
"Hey you're that Oriental guy who opened for Ellis Paul !"
I'm standing in the shadow of Ellis Paul
I might get some gigs but I won't get them all
I'm waiting in the wings if he should ever slip and fall
Just pull me out of the shadow of Ellis Paul
Yeah just pull me out of the shadow of Ellis Paul