February 05, 2006
Memory lane...
I'd taken my dad's beat-up Toyota to his place, so when I got ready to go home, I stepped into that little car and fired up the stereo. Only one sole speaker was still working. The one to the front on the passenger side. What came out hit me like a brick though. My sister had stuck a tape in there with some Tom T Hall music on it. I guess it must've been one o'clock in the morning, but I decided to take that car for a spin to listen to some country music. I grew up on Tom T Hall, so that ride brought back a lot of memories.
So I was cruising along through the farm country I grew up in, in the dark with this simple country music blaring out of this lone speaker in this little heap of rust. And I cried. Because I realized then and there I'd never see my dad sit behind the wheel of a car again. But I had Tom T Hall to keep me company. The man tells simple stories, and he sings his poetry in his baritone to his simple country tunes. It sure felt real good to have that voice I'd grown up with with me in that car. It must have been the better part of twenty years since I last heard that tape, but it was like a homecoming.
Back in Sweden I immediately ordered four CDs, and I've gotten two of them. So I'd like to give you two of his tunes and their lyrics. Enjoy.
If you love somebody enough
You'll follow wherever they go
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
If you love somebody enough
You'll go where your heart wants to go
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
I know if you'd seen her you'd tell me 'cause you are my friend
I've got to find her and find out the trouble she's in
If you tell me that she's not here
I'll follow the trail of her tears
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
She would get mad and she used to say
That she'd come back to Memphis someday
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
I haven't eaten a bite
Or slept for three days and nights
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
I've got to find her and tell her that I love her so
I'll never rest 'til I find out why she had to go
Thank you for your precious time
Forgive me if I start to cryin'
That's how I got to Memphis (x8)
The man who preached the funeral said it really was a simple way to die
He laid down to rest one afternoon and never opened up his eyes
They hired me and fred and joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs
It took us seven hours and I guess we must have drunk a case of beer
I guess I ought to go and watch them put him down but I don?t own a suit
And anyway when they start talking about the fire in hell, well, I get spooked
So, I?ll just sit here in my truck and act like I don?t know him when they pass
Anyway, when they?re all through I?ve got to go to work and mow the grass
Well, here they come and who?s that ridin? in that big ol? shiny limousine
Look at all that chrome, I do believe that that?s the sharpest thing I?ve seen
That must belong to his great uncle, someone said he owned a big ol? farm
When they get parked I?ll mosey down and look it over, that won?t do no harm
Well that must be the widow in the car and would you take a look at that
That sure is a pretty dress, you know some women do look good in black
Well, he?s not even in the ground and they say that his truck is up for sale
They say she took it pretty hard, but you can?t tell too much behind the veil
Well, listen ain't that pretty when the bugler plays the military taps
I think that when you?s in the war they always had to play a song like that
Well here I am and there they go and I guess you?d just call it my bad luck
I hope he rests in peace, the trouble is the fellow owes me forty bucks