A Countryman's Dream
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"The airport, where we touched down, my heart was starting to sing." Bob remembers his trip around heaven, when he didn't dare to blink lest he wake.
Transcript
"A 7.47 out of Gatwick that day, July 12th '85
Up, up and away - to the U S of A.
This old countryman's dream came alive.
The airport, New Jersey, where we touched down,
My heart was starting to sing.
I rode a Greyhound to Memphis,
And wandered round Graceland,
The home of Elvis - 'The King'.Way on down to Houston, and Dallas
To 'South Fork', J.R. wasn't home!
But the evening was great,
Country music till late,
With Jerry Lee at the vast Astradome
We travelled at dawn into Nashville,
A 'country dream' for fellows like me.
At the 'Opry' that night, Hank Snow, Faron Young,
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three.
For days we roamed around 'Heaven'
Not daring to blink lest we wake.At Billy-Bob's Passadena, the world's largest club,
Hank's band made the roof-rafters shake!
In New Orleans we boarded 'The Natchez'
The Mississippi River to ride.
Laid out like a tree in the Everglades
An alligator, mouth yawning wide!
Yes that place scared the life out of the me and Jeannette,
A huge snake slithered down from a tree.
Don't let us break down
Keep this hover car moving,
Dear Lord, we both prayed fervently.New York, Washington, Highway 109
The White House, so fine, so serene.
Nodding donkeys, yellow cabs, and space rockets
Are all things I can now say I've seen.
Yes, that trip was great for me and Jeanette,
A dream world.
I still wonder when Luck's Lady might smile,
Perhaps in a while,
Dear Lord - let us go back again."
An interview with the author
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am 68 years old, married to Jeanette with two grown up children - son, Steven and daughter, Beverly. I enjoy writing my biography and songs (poems) and am a keen country music fan. I represented Wales at Amateur Boxing, televised live versus Holland on Feb 13 1970 from Merthyr. I intend to begin a course learning Welsh language.
What's your story about?
My story is in verse and is based on our trip to Nashville Tennessee in 1985. It's also put to music. I had plentiful amount of photographs and so this story seemed like the obvious choice.
What did you find the most rewarding about the workshop?
The help, patience and enthusiasm generated by the workshop team. Wonderful! It was a privilege to be involved.
Your comments
"Well written with lots of feeling"
Arthur Bassett, Castleton.
