Let me tell you
all about my town
seldom talked
about by most
it was a Veteran’s
Housing projects
full of empty dreams
and hopes
sitting right in the middle
of the wealthy folks
who always sneered
every time they spoke
of the derelict families
who lived flat broke
which is why I’m singing
this song I wrote
to defend against
the fingers poked
by the better off who
who made cruel jokes
'bout my part of town
they were always
putting my home down
My prison was
those projects
it was not of
my own choosing
a place they called
the briar patch
we were burrs
needing removing,
With 30 kids per block,
who made winter gloves
out of their socks
and Salvation Army
hand-me-downs,
were the only fashion
statement found
with water on our cereal
cause there was never enough
I had rickets back
when I was young
deforming my bones
it was no fun
but I got around
while eating
liver and onions
served often,
cause it was
20 cents a pound.
I chewed on windowsills
and bedposts back
when I was wee
just to get a
taste of something
other then sheer poverty.
I spent much of my youth
writing songs and poetry
of far off places I'd never know
wishing I had somewhere else, to go
till the draft became my genie,
With three drill instructors "SCREAMING!"
and a war that left men bleeding
till my weary soul was pleading
to return to my home town
but it was no where to be found
It was turned into a golf course,
filling me with deep remorse
and the ninth hole where
my house once was
was a huge hole in my soul because
my home town was just memory
and I found myself wishing I could see
everything I loved that used to be
that fate had stole from me
Where the girl next door,
had set my heart, jack hammering,
where the whap of stick ball
set my nimble feet, dancing freely
among my dearest, old friends faces
running for trash can lid bases.
But there was no home to run to
time had taken away all I knew
Now I live in the
the shelter of Adulthood,
with a mighty fine house
and my life is good
with endless stimulation
and plenty to spend,
but I wish just once
I could go back again
away from where
I know so few
of the joys of not having
back to my long lost youth
filled up with fun
and laughing.....
now that I’ve learned to value
all that I have because
I spent my early days living
with what little there was.
back in my town
in my humble home
that Is no longer around
but it is still the best place
that I have ever known.
So treasure all that you have
cause far too quickly it’s gone
our lives are like rivers
endlessly moving on…….
endlessly moving on….
Phenomenal Music Composed
& Played by-Frank Dana-©-2022
Vocals & Lyrics Sung & Written by-
Matthew F. Blowers III--©-2022 at:
Art~Whimsically Yours Studio
Photo from my family archives
