A voice of gravel wrapped in velvet
Bringing a warmth to every song,
Laid back and gentle as
Every track moved along.
He looked so tall and lanky in
Photographs of his early years
With the trade mark white Stetson
Perched so precisely above his ears.
Rainbow at Midnight
Walking the Floor Over You
Have You Ever Been Lonely
Filipino Baby, Seaman’s Blues
Somewhere in every track
I seemed to hear a smile,
Simple songs of the time
With no trickery or guile.
I think his music still as fresh
As those fifty years ago or more
When I first listened to the music of
Ernest Tubb, The Texas Troubadour.
Categories:
honky tonk, hero, memory, music, nostalgia,
Form: Rhyme
Sittin' in a honky tonk he'd just turned forty two
Scratched the label off a beer he'd nothin' else to do
Thought about his life 'til now - he'd just turned middle age
Coulda done some better things if money was the guage
There were things that he would change and some he could forget
But he knew it was half done and he could change it yet
His memory flashed back to blue eyes and golden hair
The tears and the laughter and the love they used to share
She is now a granny with a family of her own
And he's tearin' labels as he sits here all alone
He smiles at the honky tonk it's home as he can see
He will have a beer or two when he is forty three
4-4-18
Categories:
honky tonk, age,
Form: Couplet
A Honky Tonk Piano
I woke up all alone
My money was all gone
but I didn’t feel like cryin’ any tears
A redhead I would guess
Got me into this mess
A honky tonk piano’s in my ears.
I remember dancin’
Nothin’ ‘bout romancin’
Prob’ly left my money on the bar
That seems more than likely
My eyes ain’t so slightly
Been drinkin’ my share of that Lone Star
I should stop this drinkin’
That’s what I been thinkin’
Wonder who the redhead was I met.
Guess I shouldn’t worry
I ain’t in no hurry
Don’t know what town I’m in I’ll bet.
Guess I should take a wife
Give up this ramblin’ life
Been at this for God knows many years
I see that neon sign
And then I’m feelin’ fine
A honky tonk piano’s in my ears.
Yeah, there’s that neon sign
I’m feelin’ mighty fine,
A honky tonk piano’s in my ears.
April, 2016
Categories:
honky tonk,
Form: Cowboy Poetry
Your honky tonk don't cut it no more
all this misery you put me through
your whiskey breath, your cheatin ways
a cowboy gone astray, too many chances
& still you don't see
so get ya boots on honey & be sure to close the door
lovin you is over
your bad boy days & wicked ways don't win me
you wear the devils grin, full of evil sin
what used to be a man, now stands before me a drunken fool
full of sorrow your all washed up
your stumblin words can't save you now
so turn up the juke box baby
this love has played it's last tune...
Categories:
honky tonk, love, me,
Form: Light Verse
Lost… somewhere between that whiskey lullaby and His saving grace,
I look in the mirror and I don’t know that face.
Heaven or Hell, why can’t I choose?
I know what’s at stake, I know what I’ll lose!
But the lure of the lights are calling me back,
While the power of the Cross is trying to keep me on track.
A sinner for years, I’m trying so hard to change,
But this new world I’ve found is so new and so strange.
Forgive and forget, they say I need to let go,
Let the past be the past, live for today don’t you know.
He forgave us our sins, and offers His love,
And invites us to live in His mansion above.
I don’t want to go back to those dark places with lights,
I know that they’re wrong, those honky tonk nights.
My new life is better, I know in my heart,
Jesus Christ is my Savior, I hope never to part.
Categories:
honky tonk, lifeme, , Lullaby,
Form: Verse