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If You're Gonna Grow A Garden © 2003 dawg, BMI

Daddy raised tobacco;
both burley and bright leaf.
A few hogs for hams and bacon,
two steers each year for beef.
His eggs came from the hen house,
the pantry was his store.
He said food don't grow by itself, you know
you got to do a little more.

If you're gonna grow a garden, you've got to pull some weeds.
Not everything is good to eat, just 'cause it starts from seeds.
The bad can choke the good out, if you allow it to grow free
If you're gonna grow a garden, put some time in on your knees.

He learn't me how to bush-hog;
he taught me how to plow.
He showed me how to ride a horse
and how to milk a cow.
Caught my first fish beside him;
grew my first paying crop.
When I picked up bad habits...
he taught me how to stop.

Now, I'm living in the city
working nine to five each day.
I give eight honest hours
for a decent daily wage.
My son's leaving for college
to pursue his destiny.
He said, "Dad, do you have
any good advice for me?"

If you're gonna grow a garden, you've got to pull some weeds.
Not everything is good to eat, just 'cause it starts from seeds.
The bad can choke the good out, if you allow it to grow free
If you're gonna grow a garden, put some time in on your knees.

My bank account is shallow
but I still have my health,
a loving wife and family...
to me, that is real wealth.
I try to read the Bible
a little bit each night.
And give thanks for my garden
as I turn off the light.

If you're gonna grow a garden, you've got to pull some weeds.
Not everything is good to eat, just 'cause it starts from seeds.
The bad can choke the good out, if you allow it to grow free
If you're gonna grow a garden, put some time in on your knees.


[This message has been edited by greydog (edited 05-05-2003).]

Dawg,
Excellent, as usual. A fine read that is exactly "on-point"
.
My one small nit is the back to back(successive lines) for "eight".

I give eight honest hours
for a decent eight hours pay.

perhaps--
I give eight honest hours
for a decent rate of pay.

Not a biggie my friend,
The best to you and Bobbie,
Pete

Hello Pete,

and thank you, kind sir. Good point on the double-down eights...and I have tried to fix it. Hope it works.

You know Bobbie and I would sure love to see you at Pineyfest this year if you can make it.

dawg

Dawg,

You can eat dandelion but it doesn't taste too good.. Very enjoyable to read this story. I't has a lot of warmth and love of
family. Last verse is cool. A city garden
now reminds him of the days on the farm and
what is important.

David

oisutivey

uh. what i was trying to say was.....that was POSITIVELY....I SAY...POSITIVELY.........wonderful...., Dawg.........

Kaley

Hi Dawg,

Very nice

You've got a second "Great Hook" in this one.

(you've got to pull some weeds) works with all kinds of gardens.

Regards
Bill

Hello Dawg,

Very well put together.
I enjoyed reading this very much.

Calvin

Right nice one Dawg,
As usual, I can count on you to give me a few more lessons on what life is like, east of Reno. (and perhaps a bit south,too ) Thanks to the Dixie Chicks, I've heard of Burly tobacco, (although I didn't know it was a variety) but not "bright leaf". Or is that another Dawg-ism?
N' I ain't never learn't how to bush-hog. Heck I don't even know what that means. But coming from you, it flies okay.
I would find a way to shorten this a tashie bit. even singing at break0-neck speed, I think it's gonna come in a little long. But will keep the listener attentive, so maybe doesn't matter.

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Harriet
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/harrietamesmusic.htm

Another good one, Dawg! Only nit would be the same one Harriet mentioned -- length -- but I agree with her that it keeps your attention to the end!

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Mary Lou

Hello David,

and thank you, kind sir. There are all kinds of gardens in all kinds of places. The secret, I think, is to enjoy yours, whatever type it is.

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

dawg

Hello sweet Ms. Kaley,

and thank you so much. I always look forward to your visits and regret only their brevity.

Thank you,

dawg

Hello Bill,

and thank you. Initially, the last line of the chorus read the same as the first. I decided it would all tie together better if I changed the last line.

Thanks for the read and the kind words.

dawg

Calvin,

Thank you, for the read and the comment. Both are appreciated.

dawg

Hello Miz Harriet,

(One day I am gonna write that "Swing Low, Sweet Harriet" lyric). Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

You are probably right. I tend to write 'em long so that I can show the self control by taking verses out which I fail so abysmally to display by taking weight off.<g>

Thank you, sweet lady.

dawg

LOL Dawg,
the way I heard the joke once, The neighbor gal didn't exactly have a "comforting" voice. and so they said "SING low, sweet Harriet"
Only twice has anyone used my name in a song. (one was Jim Stafford's Black Water Hattie ((my childhood nickname. Hubby hates it) and a more recent one using the name Hattie Sue (what I once thought would be my stage name. (yeah right)
But no one has ever used Harriet. (at least to my knowledge)
So if the urge ever strikes...go for it.

I like your version of weight loss. I'm gonna remember that one.

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Harriet
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/harrietamesmusic.htm

Mornin' Mary Lou,

and thank you kindly. Please see my explanation to Miz Harriet regarding editing for length.

I certainly do appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.

dawg

Harriet,

I forgot, there are several varieties of tobacco, but for a cigarette to be sold as "American Blend" it must have a majority of Burley and Virginia Bright Leaf tobbaco varieties.

Hattie, huh. I never would have guessed. I had a grandfather who didn't care for my name so he called George my entire life.<g>

dawg

I cut tobacco growing up and it was a kind called "broadleaf" - would that be more recognizable? Maybe it's a regional thing!

Good song -

Mornin' Jesse,

Walker's Broadleaf is an old variety of Virginia origin which contains more, and wider, leaves per stalk. When the acreage was limited, Broadleaf was a good choice.

Thanks for the visit.

dawg

Greydog,

Wow. Nailed this one dead center. Excellent work.

Keep writing.

Skip

P.S. Mind if I borrow your chorus (with credits to you as writer, of course) for a sermon illustration?

[This message has been edited by Skip Johnson (edited 05-07-2003).]

Skip,

thank you kind, sir; and by all means help yourself.

Gotta warn ya, though...between Bobbie's family and mine there are more than a few clergy and missionaries and I think it is safe to say that the last place any of them would look for a serman illustration is in my writing.<g>

dawg

Hey Dawg long time no read....

Good work Dawg!
Nice reflections on the bonding relationship between a son and Dad.

I find it easy to read with an even flow through your work....Here's the only two lines that stumbled me a little...
"Caught my first fish beside him;"
and
"My son's leaving for college"

Very small nits really and probably just me and the rythum I was using to read this.

Have a good one...

Eric

Greydog,

Thanks for permission. I've clipped it. The Jews had a saying that goes something like this. "The worst Jew is as full of good deeds as a pomogranate is full of seeds." Guess they figured something rubbed off even when someone doesn't choose to intentionally follow their early training. This lyric is practically preaching, and may help me do a better job of it. Too bad your relatives don't take a look from time to time.

Keep writing who you are.

Skip

Dawg,

There's "Good", Better", Best" and then "Dawg". You are a lyrical philosopher for all seasons and needs. Guess that pretty much says what I came to say.

Alan



------------------
When you talk, you say something you already know...
If you listen, you might learn something new.

You know...I just figured out why I like your writing so much Dawg...It's cos' I almost always learn something...like "Bush hog"...I love that...it's in my vocabulary now and probably never would have been if not for you !
Graham does that too with all that Aussie stuff in his words......

Too bad you don't have a resident picker there...this is real folky..not folksy..folky..I hear some hard pickin' and string thumpin' behind this..

Onliest thing is..I'd sure like to get the word "stand" in there somewhere to play off the "knees" bit....
Maybe too cutesy...I'm known for that !

Good one Young man !

GoHave A Biscuit !
Good Dawg !

Bob

Lol,

good mornin' Skip. I admit that I have yet to find the pomegranate aisle at the local Piggly Wiggly...matter of fact, when you only local supermarket is called a Piggly Wiggly, the odds are you'll have an equally hard time finding a local synagog. Don't think I've chewed up the seeds to one of them things in 35 years or so. Good thing they didn't have Chinese Gooseberries (Kiwi Fruit) in the Holy Land.<g>

Hope it helps.

dawg

Oops Eric,

Sorry, I almost missed you in there. Certainly didn't mean to. I am re-reading the lines you mentioned, and can only guess that we are using different head tunes for 'em.

Thanks for the read and the kind words.

dawg

Alan,

I certainly do appreciate you "waxin' the elephant" but you abreviated and got the order reversed. I believe it should read:

"dawgerel, good, better and best"

Thank you for the read and the kindness.

dawg

Mornin' Bob,

You sure it isn't because I use a real large font size and bold print so you can read it without squinting<g>

The "bush hog" line actually came from Jane's niece, a delightful redhead who looks just like a young Reba. She told me one day, "My greatgrandaddy learnt me to bush hog, right chere."

I'll work on the "stand" bit.

Thanks for the visit old...er..young friend.

dawg

Wow, Dawg, I'm glad this'n' Sprouted UP Again...how'd I miss it earlier--I Love Growin' Things...and Seein' how You Grow a Song!

Smooth Job, Master Gardner! Blue Ribbon Harvest Here, with NO Manure...what a Feat!

"KUDOS" Amigo!
Big Gardenin' Guy-Hug,
Stan

Corky,
This is good, although I was waiting for a line about spreading some <fertilizer>.
out here in North carolina, we know what brightleaf is.
Kurt

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http://kurtfortmeyer.home.att.net

Hello Big Guy,

and thank you. Lol, this one seems to have the staying power of kudzu.<g>...it just keeps growing back up.

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

dawg

Hello Kurt,

Bein' from North Caroline, of course ya do. Most folks don't realize there is a difference in the varieties of tobacco and what makes a good chaw, don't make a good smoke; and what is aromatic in a pipe is terrible in a cigar or cigarette...anything fine enough to be trapped by the airfilter in the plant can go into snuff.<g>


Thanks for the read and the kindness.

dawg

Goes along real good Dawg. Interesting lesson.
Dush hog made me think a bit. Figured it was slashing weeds, or hoeing maybe.
Down here some shools of talk callagirl of easy virtue a bush pig by the way.
Like it Dawg.
Graham

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/grahamhendersonmusic.htm