Three Rights Make a Left

THERE’S AN OLD OAK TREE

Year ago when I was young, before I was married, I found myself in an intellectual discussion with my roommate. He said something that I have always regarded as profound.

He said: “Do you think that inspiration is God speaking to your heart?” He went on to explain that if you are inspired to write a song, a story, or a book, where does that inspiration come from?

At the time, I thought about it a good deal and I decided that the premise of his question is sound. Through the years my agreement with that thought has been cemented and has become a core of my being.

I would go a step further and say that if inspiration is God speaking to my heart, then it is hard for me to claim ownership of a product of divine inspiration.

Years ago I told about a song I wrote after my daughter’s 16 year old best friend was killed in a crash that almost killed my daughter. The song is called “A loving Tribute to Rachel”. I am convinced that God gave me that song as a comfort not only to me but Rachel’s family and friends. After I wrote it, I asked Thomas Fitzgerald, the minister at Eastside Church Of Christ here in Forney, to record it and he did a masterful job. What came out was so much more than the poem I had written. Thomas is a gifted musician and I think God spoke to his heart too.

Last year my dad passed away. His was not an easy passing but my wife Lori, my brothers and I were there at his side in his last few days.

I was inspired to write another song, this not so much with a broken heart but a reminder of the long line of love I have been blessed to have been born into.

THERE’S AN OLD OAK TREE

There’s an old oak tree with a swing out back

In the valley you can hear the whistle on the track.

My father would fly me on that swing.

I still see his smile as I hear him sing:

Son I love you more than gems and gold,

I love you now, I’ll love you when I’m old.

I’ll love you when Jesus takes me home on high

And fly with you again with him in the sky.

There’s an old oak tree with a swing out back.

In the valley you can hear the whistle on the track.

I flew my precious son on that swing.

I can’t help but smile as he hears me sing.

Son I love you more than gems and gold.

I love you now I’ll love you when I’m old.

I’ll love you ’til Jesus takes me home on high.

And fly with you again with him in the sky.

There’s an old oak tree with a swing out back.

In the valley you can hear the whistle on the track.

My son flies my grandson on that swing.

Beneath that old oak we can hear him sing:

Son I love you more than gems and gold.

I love you now, I’ll love you when I’m old.

I’ll love you when Jesus takes me home on high…

And fly with dad and Paw Paw in the sky.