I played a show in Dayton, Ohio last weekend, and Jack, an old friend of mine, (and the groom above), reminded me of my song "Leave this World Together" and requested it. I was a little nervous because I don't perform it very often, but it ended up being one of the special moments of the night.
It comes from a couple of different places. My grandpa Dye took care of my grandmother for years and years after her mind failed her. Towards the end the only thing she really seemed to remember were the words to the hymns she grew up singing. And on the other side my grandma and grandpa Gove also grew very, very old together. One time I came across a note one time in my their house that said "I love you" followed by "I love you more". I don't know who wrote what, but they were 89 and 91 at the time.
As I sang this song, I saw Jack next to his lovely bride of more than 40 years, and remembered a photo album he shared a while back that captures just a few moments of his blessed life. I've shared some of these images here.
Thank you Jack, for your spirit, and these pictures.
Lyrics:
Once again the Fall has come upon us
And this used to be our season but now it only warns us that its cold
And have I told you that my memory keeps forgetting
And I didn't think this would bother me but I never really knew you could feel so old
But I remember how we could sing for hours
And sometimes when those old hymns come on a flash of recognition lights your face
And the time when you first saw the ocean and how ran right toward the water vowing you would never leave that place
And when you'd tell me that you loved me
I'd tell you that I loved you more
And you'd smile and say well that's the way it should be
So tell me this again just like you did before
And I apologize 'cause I just read your journal
And the things we used to fight about seem so silly now
You'd be embarrassed 'cause I keep telling them you were something
And these pictures don't do justice to the way you smile could warm up any crowd
And when you'd tell me that you loved me
I'd tell you that I loved you more
And you'd smile and say well that's the way it should be
So tell me this again just like you did before
Oh my dear we always knew this would be fleeting
But even so now that it's here it still takes me, takes my surprise
And I've been thinking it would sure be something
If we could leave this world together holding hands while our spirits rise
If we could leave this world together holding hands while our spirits rise
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Wedding Day-1967
First Apartment-1968
Farmersville, Ohio-1971
NCO Club-1978
Cowan Lake-1981
Deer Creek Lake-2005
With grandson-2017