Blacktop dreams
Sunlight in my eyes as the day winds down, don’t know where I’m going but I’m west bound.
Ain’t felt this good since I don’t know when. Something bout the road makes me whole again.
Just Watching the world as I’m passing it by. People on the road. Sun up in the sky.
Waters rolling on. Trees growing green. I drive real slow, so I don’t miss a thing.
Give me four good tires and some gasoline.
Roll down the windows in my driving machine.
Seeing things I ain’t never seen
Hey Willie, I know just what you mean!
On the road again, in a blacktop dream.
Never seen a road didn’t wonder where it goes. Can’t see em all so I’ll never know.
I’ll take my time, see as much as I can. If I got to explain it, then you won’t understand
about the peaceful easy feeling that I get down inside Cruising slow and easy through the country side.
The big city streets, the quiet little towns. makes me feel sorry to see the sun going down.
So give me four good tires and some gasoline.
Roll down the windows in my driving machine.
Seeing things I ain’t never seen
Hey Willie, I know just what you mean!
On the road again, in a blacktop dream.
And maybe all I’m doings just running away.
Putting off my troubles for some other day.
But No matter where you go they’ll be waiting at home.
I’ll deal with that later, cause right now I’m gone.
On four good tires and some gasoline.
Windows rolled down in my driving machine.
Seeing things I ain’t never seen
Hey Willie, Man I know just what you mean!
On the road again, in a blacktop dream.
Forty
I used to be younger. I used to be thin.
I used to have a lot more hair and one less chin.
But with age there comes wisdom. Who says it goes that way?
If I’m any wiser all that I will say…
Is life, it sure is funny. To that there ain’t no doubt.
You’re too darn old to do much good by the time you figure it out.
So you look back on the years and the choices that you made.
laugh a little and cry a little…then you’re in your grave.
Forty real good years; now that ain’t nothing wrong.
til you change perspective, then half your life is gone.
Got your friends and you got your family. Got your job and you got your bills.
Got dreams you ain’t realized and you know you never will.
Life, it sure is funny. To that there ain’t no doubt.
You’re too darn old to do much good by the time you figure it out.
So you look back on the years and the choices that you made.
Laugh a little and cry a little…then you’re in your grave.
So here’s to all the years, to the right moves and the wrong.
I hope the thoughts all make you grin. Just don’t think too long.
But if you are still breathing then thank the Lord above…
For the good times and bad times and most of all for love.
Well Life, it sure is funny. To that there ain’t no doubt.
You’re too darn old to do much good by the time you figure it out.
So you look back on the years and the choices that you made.
Laugh and cry a little…then you’re in your grave.
Yeah you look back on the years and the choices that you made.
Love, laugh, cry a little…then you’re in your grave.
Just another folk singer
He's just another folk singer, another man with a dream
put to four beats of music with the words in between.
And he’s got to sing for the sake of his song.
If you don’t like what he’s playing it’s one night he’s staying then he’ll be gone.
Chillicothe Ohio , hey that’s Broadway to me.
I got 37 dollars and all the ribs that I could eat.
The place wasn’t too crowded – just ten people and me.
But, oh they listened good and this old box of wood sounded like a symphony.
He’s just another folk singer, another man with dream
put to four beats of music with the words in between.
And he’s got to sing for the sake of his song.
If you don’t like what he’s playing It’s one night he’s staying then he’ll be gone.
My tour bus is a pickup. I stay at Motel Six.
If you’d like to see my manager, right here he sits.
My 8x10 glossy is a portrait from Sears.
And if you’d like information on booking reservations see the man right here.
You won’t hear me on the radio. You won’t see me on TV.
You won’t find too many people who have ever heard of me.
I won’t ever make the big time, but I don’t really mind.
Cause if I ever made I might not even take it. I like my life just fine.
He’s just another folk singer, another man with dream
put to four beats of music with the words in between.
And he’s got to sing for the sake of his song.
If you don’t like what he’s playing It’s one night he’s staying then he’ll be gone.
Son of a working man
“I’m getting too darn old. It’s time that I slow down.”
I’d heard that line so many times that I knew better now.
We leaned against the bucket of a Ford 555.
My dad and his college boy laying down water line.
He stared down at the ditch, and I stared down at his hands
That trembled from the years of use. The Pulling and pounding had left their brand.
I guess he was lost in his thoughts; I was busy lost in mine.
Thinking about who I am and how lives intertwine.
His father was a quarryman of the marble that you see
Upon this nation’s monuments up in Washington DC.
And he depended on his oldest son to mind the fields of home.
Plow handles even with his ears as he tilled corn all day long.
So you see hard work ain’t nothing new to me.
In fact I have quite a pedigree.
And it’s such a part of who I am.
Son of working man.
That little boy grew into the man that I saw in front of me.
A man that I can only hope one day I might be.
First he took a job working steel for the Tucker Company,
then his country called him to Vietnam, a land so far away.
But God heard my grandma’s prayers and brought him back OK.
He met my mom and built a home and raised a family.
And for over forty years now I have watched my dad
give all he’s got so his kids would know the things he never had.
So you see hard work ain’t nothing new to me.
In fact I have quite a pedigree.
And it’s such a part of who I am.
Son of working man.
I want to thank him for the knowledge that he’s handed down to me.
I want to thank him for the sacrifice looking back now I can see.
But of all the gifts he’s given me I’d like to thank him most
For telling me of Jesus, a more precious gift than gold.
His voice then awakened me and brought me back to earth.
“You gonna stand there all day long boy or you gonna get back to work?”
so I climbed down in the ditch with the shovel in my hand
Cause I’m the son of a working man.
New Deal
Looked out my window and what did I see? Same ol’ city staring back at me.
Same ol’ fear. Same ol’ frowns. Knew right then it was just dragging me down.
Made up my mind gonna find a new home. Got me a map and then I started to roam
from town to town looking for the right feel. Stopped my searching when I got to New Deal.
I got to New Deal; New Deal. Sounded right. It fit the bill. Lost my blues when I got to New Deal.
I got to New Deal and what did I see? All kinds people living in harmony.
Red, white, black, yellow, they didn’t care. I knew right then it was the place me there.
So if your world is wearing you thin, come out to New Deal. Start all over again.
Throw out your liquor, throw out your pills. You won’t need them when you get to New Deal.
You get to New Deal. New Deal. Sounds too good to be real. We’ll all be waiting when you get to New Deal.
Ol’ Franklin Roosevelt, he had him a plan. “I’ll do right by every woman and man.”
I know just what you want. I know how you feel. No more depression. You want a new deal.”
You want a new deal. New deal. There’s a way if there’s a will. Take your old life, trade it for a new deal.
Poor but proud
My daddy raised five children, four girls along with me.
Never had much money, but we never were in need.
Said there’s three things we’ll always have: our faith, our love, our home.
Canned food in the summertime. Bought shoes when tobacco sold.
I’ve lived on that same farm for nearly 39 years.
Haven’t been all good times, but I’ve seen more smiles than tears.
Til’ the bank called up this morning, said they weren’t gonna float my loan.
Now I’m packing up my legacy, and I guess that daddy was wrong.
Can’t be poor but proud no more.
Used to be I could make ends meet, but someone changed the score.
I never thought I’d see the day I’d forever close this door.
Can’t be poor but proud no more. Starting today, we’re just poor and poor.
I used to raise burley tobacco and sell it the RJ man.
Never made enough and the work was tough, but it was money in my hand.
But someone changed the rules on me and now I’m paying with my land.
The world’s gone smoke free and forgot about me.
I’m beginning to understand.
Can’t be poor but proud no more.
Used to be I could make ends meet, but someone changed the score.
I never thought I’d see the day I’d forever close this door.
Can’t be poor but proud no more. Starting today, we’re just poor and poor.
I’ll get it together
There’s a car in my yard but it won’t start. Motor’s broke down in a million parts.
Ought to get busy and make it run, but it seems like a lot a work to get done.
to get it together, get it together. I’ll get it together - someday soon.
Got half a porch out my back door. The rest is a laying in the weeds somewhere.
I’ll clean it all up one day I know, but I said that 10 years ago.
Gotta get it together, get it together. I’ll get it together, maybe this fall.
For twenty-two years had a real a good wife who said that I never did treat her right.
Now I’m pretty sure she’s about to walk. I said please baby now hear me talk.
I’ll get it together, get it together. I’ll get it together. I really mean it this time.
Don’t leave me.
Don’t leave me.
Please, don’t leave me. I really can change.
I’ll get it together, get it together. I’ll get it together. Don’t leave this way.
Just tell me you’ll stay. Gotta hear you say it’ll be OK.
If it takes all day, then it just may -while the banjo plays the John Hartford way.
Saturday Morning song
I like to wish on stars, just like ol’ Winnie the Pooh, but I save my tiggerest wishes so I can wish for you.
And so far you’ve made all my dreams come true. I do not know where I would be if I could not be with you.
Cause you are my sunshine on a rainy afternoon. You make me happy when I feel so blue.
I like that song. It’s easy to sing. Just like our love it’s a simple thing.
Last Saturday morning I was watching the T.V. I saw Miss Piggy. She was making eyes at me.
Even though she tried, she could not turn my head. I didn’t bring home the bacon, I just thought you instead.
You’re like a box of crayons that never runs out of blues. I color my skies and you make them come true.
just like snap buttons and my Velcro shoe-strings, our love is easy. It’s a simple thing.
I was talking to a bird one day while at the zoo. His name was Toucan Sam and his feathers all were blue.
Then that bird started whistling a love song from some cartoon. And that melody it stayed with me all throughout the afternoon. You know it’s true. Made me think of you.
and Captain Kangaroo. And Mr. Rogers too. The Grinch and all the who, I don’t know who but I love you oh yes I do. Scooby dooby doo. Ahh – Crambo!
Lucky Man
Here’s a little story for ya…
I once knew a man was millionaire – had everything money could buy -
mansion on a hill, thousand dollar bills. His credit limit was the sky.
Just a dream to you and I.
Made all his money in business. I work at his factory.
And when times got lean me and my buddies would sit around the snack machine and talk about how nice it must be.
Everyone would agree.
What a lucky man he was. What a lucky man he was. What a lucky man was he.
But everything ain’t always what it seems…
That man was found face down in his swimming pool. A victim of suicide.
You know we could not understand how such a lucky man would want to take his own life
until his farewell note came to light.
Said “I got servants to bring me breakfast. I got servants to bring me lunch. I got servants to bring me all kind of fancy dinners, but what I do not have is love. The rest it just ain’t enough.”
What a lonely man he was. What a lonely man he was. What a lonely man was he.
Here’s the moral of the story…
Sometimes it takes a harsh reminder to make us realize what’s important in life.
If you got love then brothers and sisters you got enough and everything is all right.
In that case I’m doing fine.
Cause I got a woman who loves me. Everyday she tells me so.
And when she looks into my eyes or puts her hand in mine, even if she didn’t tell me so,
without a doubt I would know.
What a lucky man I am. What a lucky man I am. What a lucky man am I.
Judge Joe Clark
(Dedicated to my distant forefather who got married many times and always by the same Grainger County judge – Joe Clark. This is also a tribute to a particular country music group’s album and a particular television show. Can you guess either?)
First time I wed I was sixteen to a girl across the hill.
She got bit by a copperhead or I’d be living there still.
Two weeks I grieved, got on my knee; took another to be my bride.
She caught me with number three. Run me off with a kitchen knife.
Marry me up judge Joe Clark. Marry me up I say. Marry me up Judge Joe Clark. It’s my wedding day.
Ol’ number three was a city gal, as fast as she could be.
She ran off with a shoe salesman and that was the end of me.
So I got a mountain woman. Made her number four.
She was as wild as an old bobcat. I Won’t do that no more.
Marry me up judge Joe Clark. Marry me up I say. Marry me up Judge Joe Clark. It’s my wedding day.
From a Knoxville paper mail ordered me a bride.
Never could say that gal’s name. Just called her number five.
Found me a rich old woman. I Thought I had it made.
She dropped dead in her bed. The money went to her grave.
Marry me up judge Joe Clark. Marry me up I say. Marry me up Judge Joe Clark. It’s my wedding day.
Found a farming woman. Her land it was the best.
Behind the plow or a milking cow, she bout worked me to death.
Now I got a Rutledge woman with a place in town.
And here I’ll stay to my dying day unless better comes around.
Marry me up judge Joe Clark. Marry me up I say. Marry me up Judge Joe Clark. It’s my wedding day.