Sunday, December 27, 2009
Home
My dad has outlived his terminal prognosis by 3 ½ years. He has spent a fair amount of time with one foot on this side of the veil and one on the other, and has made some pretty interesting observations. My sister (his caretaker) kept me abreast of all the wonderful things he was saying and seeing. These are basically his words, I just rearranged them in a more or less poetic way. For Dad………
HOME
Three great bears come to me
Building shelter from the storm
White as snow and tall as trees
They have come to keep me warm
Then four white horses with manes ablaze
Carry my body along
To seven lovely women
Who’ll take my hands
And lead me
And lead me
Home
Standing on the road at night
I am not afraid
Four watchers beside me
With maps to show the way
And at the end of the road there lay
A track I must step o’er
With stars to reckon along the way
I’ll find my way
Find my way
Home
And I will be kissed upon the forehead
And I’ll have all I could ever possibly need
And I will lay down this tired, old body
And I follow
Yes, I will follow
Love home
(Deb’s note: Dad passed away March 3, 2010)
The first time I heard Deb sing this one, I was speechless – it brought back memories of losing both my parents in the last 5 years and I wondered how she could get through playing it in concert. I remember shaking Deb’s Dad’s hand at her 50th birthday party at Nieman’s – my hand still hurts.
As I write this, we’re at the end of 2009 and the end of another decade. We’re all getting older – a reminder that we’ll all be in this boat one of these days. Better grab an oar….
Thanks Deb for the Christmas gift of these lyrics. Now I need to hear it in concert! Hope that happens soon, perhaps even in Oregon.
I’m speechless just reading the lyrics. Wow, Deb. I need to hear this tune. Need to.
When my grandfather was passing, he too spent some time on both sides. The last time I saw him, I wrote down the things he said. Many of them were memories, bright shining moments of his life, purest expressions of his love. Your dad’s words, your arrangement of them, bring it all back.
Ya know, Bill……..his grip is STILL strong. Amazing……….
Mike,
I sure hope we can get up to Oregon soon! Sure miss that neck of the woods………and miss seeing you and Judy!
Love,
Deb
I’m so grateful my sister kept me posted on Dad’s observations. He’s still with us……….though he still steps to the other side occasionally.
BTW, we’ll be singing “Home” AND “Spring” this Saturday at Sharlot Hall.