Thursday, June 09, 2011

This Old House

One of the stories I just finished writing was about the oldest house in Mountain Brook, Alabama. It started out as a two-room log cabin with a dog-trot and a lean-to kitchen  just after the Civil War (1871).
Through the years it's been remodeled inside and out a number of times to the point that the only visible evidence of its pedigree is two log beams in the hall.
There is a historical record of the house and it was fascinating to learn about the old structure.
The current owners are delightful folks too and I've talked to them a number of times.
When I started thinking about how I wanted to approach the story, I remembered an old song by a country music trio -- Schuyler, Knoblock, and Brickhardt (written by Schuyler and Brickhardt) called This Old House. The song is written from the point of view of the house.
It's country music at its best in my opinion.
But in thinking about the log cabin and this song, I got to thinking about what our house would say about us when we're gone.
I'd like to think it would be happy that we did our best to care for it through the years.
But more importantly, I would hope it remembers how much we cherished our family, friends, and pets. 
I would hope it enjoyed the laughter, the tears, silence, and the music.
I would'nt be bothered if it forgot the times we were sick, troubled, snippy, or when we came up short in our efforts to do the right thing.
What follows are the lyrics to This Old House by SKB, If you've never heard it, listen to it on Youtube by clicking here. It's sad and beautiful.

This Old House

There are fifty liquor boxes in my hall
And a hundred  empty nails on my wall
There's a sign out in my yard reads for sale
And if this old house could cry the tears would fall

There are bargain  hungry  vultures everywhere
Buying broken toys and old clothes and tupperware
The phones has been taken out they've stopped the mail
And if this old house could talk I'd say a prayer
          
I've been strong and I've been sturdy
And I've weathered every storm
I've always kept your family safe and warm
Now your packing up the laughter
And your sweeping out  the tears
If this old house were build on memories
I would stand a 1000 years
This old house  this old house
If this old house was built on memories I would stand a 1000 years

Take another look before you lock the door
Where your shoes  have worn the finish from my floor 
Listen to my banging pipers my creaking stairs
Let your boys slide down my banister once more
I'll remember where you hid the extra key
Where the hammer and  the bandaids use to be
I will smell your morning coffee in the air         
And I'll see you hanging tinsel on the tree

I've been strong and I've been sturdy
And I've weathered every storm
I've always kept your family safe and warm
Now your packing up the laughter
And your sweeping out  the tears
If this old house were build on memories
I would stand a 1000 years
This old house  this old house
If this old house was built on memories I would stand a 1000 years




5 comments:

  1. That was a treat Rick. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This made me think of the house my mother grew up in. In fact, she was born in the bedroom. It is in Drumheller, Alberta. The house is still there and in good shape. People have taken care of it all these years. She is 84.

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  3. Great old house story, but the song was a new "This Old House" to me.

    I was remembering the one on Hit Parade about 1960 that went something like:

    "This old house was home and comfort as we fought the storms of life.

    Now my knees are getting shaky, but I feel no fear or pain, and I see an angel peekin' through a broken window pane."

    Do you remember that one?

    Marsha

    ReplyDelete
  4. Homes that have withstood and are withstanding the test of times are such fantastic places!! Oh if only they could speak - what tales they'll tell!!!

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  5. years ago we were looking to buy another property in our neighborhood because we needed a bigger studio. there was a house at the end of our street, around the corner about a block away that had a dog trot. we loved it but ended up buying the house next door because, well, it was right next door. The people who bought the dog trot house ruined it. the first thing they did was get rid of the dog trot and then convert it into three apartments for rental property. eventually, someone bought and returned it to a single family residence but they didn't restore the dog trot.

    ReplyDelete

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