Everyone Is From Somewhere . . .

It was 1989 when the Rock Island Album was released and after hearing “Another Christmas Song” I said that someday, I would be the old man mentioned in the song.

Thirty years later, with dad dying this year,  that prophecy has been fulfilled.

“Another Christmas Song”
Hope everybody’s ringing on their own bell, this fine morning.
Hope everyone’s connected to that long-distance phone.
Old man, he’s a mountain.
Old man, he’s an island.
Old man, he’s a-walking says
“I’m going to call, call all my children home.”

Hope everybody’s dancing to their own drum this fine morning —
the beat of distant Africa or a Polish factory town.
Old man, he’s calling for his supper.
Calling for his whisky.
Calling for his sons and daughters, yeah —
calling all his children round.

Sharp ears are tuned in to the drones and chanters warming.
Mist blowing round some headland, somewhere in your memory.
Everyone is from somewhere —
even if you’ve never been there.
So take a minute to remember the part of you
that might be the old man calling me.

How many wars you’re fighting out there, this winter’s morning?
Maybe it’s always time for another Christmas song.
Old man, he’s asleep now.
Got appointments to keep now.
Dreaming of his sons and daughters, and proving —
proving that the blood is strong.

Merry Christmas, Y’all.