I grew up listening to music my parents loved: Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Skeeter Davis, Jimmy Dean, Roger Miller, Ferlin Husky . . . country artists who ruled the charts back then. I don't mind today's country music, but given a choice, I'd listen to these old school singers. They were good . . . most of their songs composed in story form.
One artist stands out, however, as "The Storyteller!" Tom T Hall was a master at his craft.
I couldn't tell you her favorite song by Tom, but I guarantee Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine ranked pretty high. I'd have to say this is probably one of MY more favorite tunes by him. We could all learn a lot from the lyrics:
"How
old do you think I am?" he said.
I said, well, I didn't know.
He said, "I turned 65 about 11 months ago."
I said, well, I didn't know.
He said, "I turned 65 about 11 months ago."
I was
sittin' in Miami pourin' blended whiskey down
When this old gray black gentleman was cleanin' up the lounge
When this old gray black gentleman was cleanin' up the lounge
There
wasn't anyone around 'cept this old man and me
The guy who ran the bar was watchin' "ironsides" on tv
Uninvited, he sat down and opened up his mind
On old dogs and children and watermelon wine
The guy who ran the bar was watchin' "ironsides" on tv
Uninvited, he sat down and opened up his mind
On old dogs and children and watermelon wine
"Ever
had a drink of watermelon wine?" he asked
He told me all about it, though I didn't answer back
"Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime,
But old dogs and children and watermelon wine."
He told me all about it, though I didn't answer back
"Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime,
But old dogs and children and watermelon wine."
He
said, "Women think about they-selves, when menfolk ain't around.
And friends are hard to find when they discover that you're down."
He said, "I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime;
Now it's old dogs and children and watermelon wine."
And friends are hard to find when they discover that you're down."
He said, "I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime;
Now it's old dogs and children and watermelon wine."
"Old
dogs care about you even when you make mistakes;
God bless little children while they're still too young to hate."
When he moved away I found my pen and copied down that line
'Bout old dogs and children and watermelon wine.
God bless little children while they're still too young to hate."
When he moved away I found my pen and copied down that line
'Bout old dogs and children and watermelon wine.
I had
to catch a plane up to Atlanta that next day
As I left for my room I saw him pickin' up my change
That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime
Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine.
As I left for my room I saw him pickin' up my change
That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime
Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine.
No comments:
Post a Comment