Indiana Poet

JAFO92
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Location
BFE, TX US
One of my favorite songs of all time. Came out when I was 22, had recently gotten married, bought some land and had a child on the way. First time I heard it was on some headphones from a small handheld cassette player and I was laser focused on the lyrics and they just reached through the wires and grabbed me. 30+ years later it still has the same effect and now I can understand both sides of the story. Ole Mellancamp is half crazy most of the time, but the guy put together some truly powerful songs.

https://youtu.be/xSLxsLdCGaw
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Uncle Tony
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New York, NY US
3/15/2018 7:32am
Always liked him, I kinda put him on the same level as bob Dylan,
JAFO92
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BFE, TX US
3/15/2018 9:34am Edited Date/Time 3/15/2018 9:35am
Uncle Tony wrote:
Always liked him, I kinda put him on the same level as bob Dylan,
For sure, he is very good with imagery and wordcraft. Can put you right into the setting and your minds eye can see exactly what he is trying to convey. With phrases like, "The rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming." How cool is that? Describing a rainstorm coming down on the Greyhound bus at dusk. Or, "He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind." You just dont hear profound stuff like that being recorded.



On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown
He saw the sun set on the Tennessee line
He looked at the young man who was riding beside him
He said I'm old kind of worn out inside

I worked my whole life in the steel mills of Gary
And my father before me I helped build this land
Now I'm seventy-seven and with God as my witness
I earned every dollar that passed through my hands

My family and friends are the best thing I've known
Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home

Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

The rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming
He said "son it sounds like rattling old bones"
This highway is long but I know some that are longer
By sunup tomorrow I guess I'll be home

Through the hills of Kentucky 'cross the Ohio river
The old man kept talking 'bout his life and his times
He fell asleep with his head against the window
He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind

This world offers riches and riches will grow wings
I don't take stock in those uncertain things

Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

The old man had a vision but it was hard for me to follow
I do things my way and I pay a high price
When I think back on the old man and the bus ride
Now that I'm older I can see he was right

Another hot one out on highway eleven
This is my life It's what I've chosen to do
There are no free rides, no one said it'd be easy
The old man told me this my son I'm telling it to you

Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

XXVoid MainXX
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Schenectady, NY US
3/15/2018 10:04am
He's an Indiana poet, and he didn't know it, but his feet show it.

When Jack and Dianne came out I became a fan. I was stationed in Las Vegas at the time and went and saw them open for Heart at the Aladdin. He was a wild boy back then and they put on a good show. I also use them in a lot of my YouTube videos because they don't restrict it.

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