Composed and Recorded in 1979 ... one of my first attempts at a bluegrass sound. I composed this song in just about 10 minutes. Recorded it a week later, on two cassette decks and some very cheap mic and other unusual equipment, to say the least. Di
wb
gss
wb vaughan
wb and the western union
wb prison recordings
wb plain simple cd
wb vaughan and the good s
moment production ltd
welcome to the good samar
Story behind the song
The story was based on my first experience, just about 20 miles, southwest of Nashville, back in 1971-72. I went there to try my hand at or sell some songs, then. I wound up, living on a mountain top, in an old run-down shack, rented, (very cheaply I might add), to me by a Sweet, old Tennesian woman called by everyone, Mama Lu-ann. It was up this old winding one-lane road, that snaked up to the top of this mountain, just off Hwy, 40, southwest of Nashville, long before it was built up as it is today? I stopped one day at a little general store, about halfway up this old road to my shack, to listen to a group of old-timers, (in their 70's and 80's) Pickin and a grinnin on this old porch of this general store. I was invited to sit in with them, and they were amazingly good! I took note of this old washtub bass, and remeberd it. But the eldest musician there was 87, pickin a homemade banjo. He wittled it out himself when he was in his 60's. And when He died later that year, and only a few months afer I had met him ... I was a bit saddened ... as they often let me sit in with them. And I always called this old gentleman, Grandpa. Actually everyone did! He was a walking, talking wealth of information. Smart and sharp as a tack, right up to his unexpected departure from this old planet. So, one day, back here in Michigan ... I got to thinking about those times ... and the song just came to me, and is a literal wording of all that I had seen and heard, when I was playing with these old mountaineers. They were truly great! But sought no fame or fortunes from the Nashville scene? To them ... it was all about the love of music, family and friends. So I wrote the song to honor, the man who everyone called Grandpa ... and his home wittled, banjo. He was absolutely, a wise and spiritual oldtimer. And I remember and think of him often.
Lyrics
When I went back to my hometown,
back in these Tennessee hills
I stopped once more at the general store,
down from Uncle Bills'
My thoughts ran back to this old porch
and of the evenin sings ...
Of all the folks who gather'd here
that mountain music brings
(1st Chorus):
Grandpa's still a-pickin
You can hear his banjo ring
At the general store in Heaven
Where all the Angels sing.
(Verse):
Now Uncle Bill would pick his old guitar,
Daddy, his washtub bass.
Sis and I, stood side by side
and sang Amazing Grace ...
And Jed, who ran the general store
played a French harp, oh so sweet.
sometimes I would just sit right there
by my Grandpa's feet.
(1st Chorus):
(Verse):
Now the Blossom twins, from down the road
Were always there too sing.
They'd sing of all our mountain songs,
and oh the joy they'd bring.
You could hear their music thoughout these hills
Could hear from far and near.
And all the good times that we once had
on this old porch right here.
(Chorus):
Yes, Grandpa's still a-pickin ...
You could hear his banjo ring
at the general store in Heaven ...
Where all the Angels sing
(2nd Chorus):
Yes! Grandpa's Still a-pickin
You could hear his banjo ring
He's gone to be with (NOTE: Slow down), J-e-s-u-s
Where all theee An-gels, Sing ...
Pause ...
Music end.