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WE’VE LOST ONE OF A KIND

C Ra Mcguirt/ Curtis Ray, March 5, 2008 / Rewrite finished May 31, ‘08


For everyone who loved Richard Hornsby

Richard Hornsby was a millwright and he traveled this great land
With a pocketful of knowledge and such skill in his big hands
He could take on any job, if he liked the pay
If somethin’ didn’t feel right, old Rich would walk away

They don’t make too many like him, with the eyes to see
Ways to get around what some might call impossibility
But
Richard had the touch, and he never failed
His word was gold on any job; he always had it nailed

I grew up with Richard and his brother Ron
And their sweet sister Candie; you know his Dad & Mom
Felt like my own whenever I biked over to their home
Back before old Lakeland grew so many brand new roads

First time I stayed up all night was with Rich & Ron
In a tent beside their house; we didn’t do no wrong
Just some kids who wondered how it would really feel
To be awake from dusk to dawn; that sun was like hot steel

In our eyes at daylight. At night, Ron beat the drums
He could hammer “Wipeout” and make you feel the thrum
Of mighty waves a-crashing, while Richard and me laughed
Over rasslin’ and bad movies, but that was in the past





Along with all the magazines that Richard safely shelved
Creepy, Eeerie, Vampirella, and the ones we drew ourselves
Those were so damned crazy that we’d go on a tear
Until Chuck or Geneva yelled “Boys, keep it down in there!”

Many years passed both us by and we took different roads
Then one day my old friend called me on the telephone
It was just like yesterday when we had roamed the groves
Of oranges they’ve got rid of now to put up Kwikee Stores

Old Richard loved to argue, but no malice in his heart
He’d argue whether you agreed with his viewpoint or not
We both enjoyed the times that he visited my shack
Up in the Smoky Mountains, and I’d give so damn much back


If I hadn’t heard a week ago that Richard passed away
A hotel bedroom heart attack; I told him to lose weight,
And get one of them sleep machines like I have to wear
But Rich, he seemed immortal, and didn’t really care

He could party all night long and work hard every day
He didn’t look for trouble, but if it came his way
He’d advise ‘em “Best not, son”, but if they stood their ground
You could bet Big Richard would slap the suckers down

Now my oldest friend is gone. Though I’m an old Florida boy,
And we ain’t supposed to do that, I cried long and hard
When I heard Rich slipped by me through that Golden Door
I’m holding back just thinkin’ I won’t see him any more

Or hear his unexpected voice show up on my phone
Up here in the mountains, where I’m sitting all alone
Throat choked with emotion as my eyes look out to see
Through a scalding film of tears those hills Rich saw with me

Rich put on a badass act, but it was mostly show
He loved his family and his friends half to death, I know
Brother, son, and uncle, and my oldest friend
Keep an eye out for me, Richard, you may see me in the end

Don’t know if Rich would like this song, but I like to believe
That he can hear me somehow, and didn’t really leave
I feel him in this cabin, and always in my heart
Could be it was no ending, but just a brand new start

(Repeat first verse and fade out slowly...)



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