George Mann - Tell Me About Woody Again

My brother Jim was my hero, I followed wherever he led
And though there were six years between us
Still, we shared the same bed
My father, he was a good union man, though his fortunes, they rose and fell
Home most nights, to tuck us in tight, singing songs that he knew so well

There were hobos and unions and Robin-Hood thieves
And pictures of places that I’d never seen

And we always sang “This Land Is Your Land”
They traded each verse to the end
And when we were done singing, Jimmy would cry
“Daddy, tell me about Woody again!”

I remember 1967, so long ago, though, it seems
I had just turned 11, and Jimmy was still 17
I remember the night that my father cried
When he came in to tell us that Woody had died
And we sang those songs until his tears had dried
And then he kissed us goodnight

And when we sang “This Land Is Your Land”
They traded each verse to the end
And when we were done singing, Jimmy had said
“Daddy, tell me about Woody again!
Tell me about Woody again....”

I can’t forget that cold morning, the day that everything changed
A letter for Jimmy came in the mail, and then he was going away
My father, he was a strong man, but he never would be the same
A knock on the door, I found him on the floor, with only the war to blame

But I’ve got these images stuck in my mind
The innocent memories of an innocent time

When we always sang “This Land is Your Land”
They traded each verse to the end
And when we were done singing, Jimmy would cry,
“Daddy, tell me about Woody again!
Tell me about Woody again!“

(C) 2023 George Mann
Beluthahatchee, Florida (3/11/23)