Have you ever had a question you wish you could ask of one of your favorite singers should you have the opportunity? I have and did.
For many years Tom T. Hall has been one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Last year he was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and has written numerous country hits. Some time ago I had the opportunity to meet and talk with him. He gave me his phone number and invited me to play a round of golf with him and his good friend, Ralph Emery.
We did play golf and afterwards we had some time to visit. I said to him, “Can I ask you a question about the lyrics of one of your songs?” “Sure,” he replied. “There’s a song you wrote and recorded many years ago called “Homecoming".” The song is about a country music singer and his life on the road. The song describes a visit and conversation the singer has with his father on a quick trip back home. In the song’s last verse the son says to his Dad “And by the way, if you see Barbara Walker tell her I said hello.” Hall smiled and nodded at me as if he knew my next question. “Was there really a Barbara Walker?” I asked. Hall smiled even bigger and then he said to me… “What do you think?”
Let me take your number down I’ll call you and I promise you I’ll write
Now you be good and don’t go chasin’ all those pretty women that you know
And by the way, if you see Barbara Walker, tell her I said hello
“Wasn’t there always a Barbara Walker somewhere in the lives of all of us?”
June 1, 2012
Keep on,
Larry Adamson