RIP TOM T HALL

I notice some of the headlines have declared the late writer as one who "wrote of life's simple joys." He sure did, but it's a shame to overlook his socially conscious side and willingness to explore topics that weren't joyous at all:


That's Tom's post-Vietnam song, cut from a similar cloth as Kenny Roger's "Ruby" and perhaps painfully relevant today.


And that's one where Tom puts pen to paper on a particularly touchy subject with grace and understanding. The lyrics are quietly defiant, especially for the subject matter and the time. By the song's end, they reveal a lot his thoughts about his motivations as a writer, and it makes the song complete.

There are about a dozen more lesser-known tracks by the Kentucky bard worth sharing (including those he wrote for other people), but I'm sure others will post them in time. RIP to Tom T Hall.
 
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