This song was inspired by my friend Dave Bennett, that I wrote Corvettes in Heaven (April) for that so many of you wrote gracious comments on. I had an idea for the hook line from a famous 19th century writer (name escapes me at the moment): "If a picture can paint a thousand words, then paint me a picture of Gettysburg." I wrote this in the last few hours of my 44 year friend, best man, and all around great guys life: Dave Bennett. He was unconscious and may have heard the scratch version, but passed on within a few hours after that. At that point a crying dobro seemed appropriate. --Jon Hanson, June 14, 2011
My Old Reynoldsburg
© 2011 Jon Hanson June 9, 2011 (David Ward Vocal, Frank Michels Dobro)
Took a walk through my home town
There’s a vacant lot where the Village Store burnt down
Pick Richardson's place is a Dentist's office
Everything has changed, they call it progress
No skating rink, no Green Gables or John Hazy
No more Bennett's Garage the place that saved me
I KNOW—THEY ARE [JUST] CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
[AND] IT’S NOT THE PLACES IT’S THE PEOPLE I SEE
IF A PICTURE—CAN PAINT A THOUSAND WORDS
THEN PAINT ME A PICTURE OF MY OLD REYNOLDSBURG
I’ll never forget the summer of 68
Martin Luther King was shot and my Dad passed away
My radio played Fortunate Son
As my pal Dave headed off to Vietnam
Maybe only Don Mc Lean knew the music had died
In my little town life was all Chevy’s and apple pie
chorus
They say it takes a village to raise children
Without my neighbors I don't know where I would have been
Old man Bennett, Wilma and Tubby Dean
Are just a few—that helped mom and me
Chorus
Tag:
IF A PICTURE—CAN PAINT A THOUSAND WORDS
THEN PAINT ME A PICTURE OF MY...
WON'T YOU PAINT OF MY... OLD REYNOLDSBURG
I am second from left, this is about 1978, Dave is taking the picture.... A part of everything I am came from Bennetts Garage, Old Man Bennett (next to me) and friendships from the garage.
Robert Frost said, "No tear in the writer, no tear in the reader (listener)." I know I did my part. Jon