A Southern Missive

Here are the song lyrics to two songs by Jeff Talmadge. If you don’t have his CD True, you should get it! I’ll do a review on the whole CD soon. These are songs I’m going to add to my own Americana show.

Train from Amsterdam by Jeff Talmadge

Verse 1:

We used to talk about tomorrow

like we had all kinds of time

And sometimes this life is like

Some shirt I borrowed

but tonight it fits me like it’s mine

CHORUS:

And I’m near some border

on this train from Amsterdam

knowing what’s been left along the way

And it’s hard giving up a thing you never had

And my heart’s a million miles away

Verse 2:

I took this train across the lowlands

The stars were setting in the sea

And I’ll take these lowlands as a sign tonight

While the rails are whispering to me

CHORUS:

Verse 3:

Did you ever stop and wonder

What it took to put you in this place

Every careful plan you made got torn asunder

Then every broken piece fell into place.

White Crosses by Jeff Talmadge

Verse 1:

White crosses by the side of the road

Plastic flowers and sunburnt bows,

All lit up like a desert rose

As I drive away from you

Memories float in the twilight air

And it feels like sadness everywhere,

I wish I could say I didn’t care,

But that just isn’t true,

CHORUS:

Some things last forever,

That’s what you used to say,

Stars can burn white hot or fade away,

You’re in the stars tonight

And every breath I breathe,

I guess it’s true nobody gets to stay

Verse 2:

There’s a faded name on that cross

Somebody, somebody lost,

A reminder of what’s the cost

And how nothing stays the same

It’s like the faded name on your heart

And the road out of town takes us apart

Is it the end or just the start,

When there’s no one left to blame.

CHORUS:

Verse 3:

And in the faded desert light

There’s no clear picture of who’s wrong or right,

I could turn around and I think I might,

But I hit the gas and go,

For every cross and city limit’s sign

There’s one who goes and one who stays behind,

I don’t know which I am this time,

Or if I’ll ever know

CHORUS:

I guess it’s true nobody gets away . . .w

Jack Hinson’s One-Man War: A Civil War Sniper
by Tom C. McKenney
Pelican Publishing
ISBN 9781589806405

A Review by Rickey E. Pittman

Revenge is a strong emotion, one often attached to or possessed by individual soldiers or civilians in times of war. Jack Hinson’s One-Man War: A Civil War Sniper  (Pelican Publishing) is a story of Jack Hinson, a man living along the Kentucky-Tennessee border who attempted to be neutral in the Civil War. Two of his sons were captured by a Union (Yankee) patrol, executed on the roadside, decapitated, and their heads placed on the gateposts of their farm.
Such a sad story, but what’s worse–it’s a true one.
Now, the war became very personal, intensely personal. Hinson had a gunsmith specially design and make a .50 caliber rifle, designed for long-range accuracy. Hinson said goodbye to his family, and set out to obtain revenge. And the Federal Army learned the high cost of vengeance. With that rifle, Hinson killed over 100 Federal soldiers, marking each kill on the barrel of his rifle.  Confederate sniper, scout for General Nathan Forrest, Hinson was hunted by the Federal Army. Alone, he captured an armed Union transport, and he also warred against the guerrillas terrorizing the border states. Hinson did not record their deaths.
Hinson’s recorded kills probably makes him the most successful Confederate sniper of the Civil War.  If you enjoy reading about the Civil War, you will enjoy Jack Hinson’s One Man War.  McKenney’s well-written and detail-packed account is carefully researched and this is a story that is sure to touch your heart.

When I present my Texas History program in schools, I often teach them about Governor J.S. Hogg and of course make reference to his daughter, Ima. I just finished a funny song about Ima and wanted to share the words. It’s to a boogie-woogie pattern. I can’t wait to try it out on the kids. I’ll have to add it to my CD I’m working on as well.  If you don’t know anything about Governor Hogg or Ima, you should read about them. Below the lyrics is a photo of Hogg and his family.

“Ima Hogg Boogie”

VERSE 1

There’s a lot of strange names,
A man might give his kids,
But none could ever hope to match
The one my father did.

J.S. Hogg was governor,
Of the Lone Star State,
And though he did  folks much good,
He made a huge mistake.

VERSE 2

My Uncle wrote a poem
About the Civil War
The hero’s name was Ima,
A name my father did adore,

Without thinking of my future,
He did something quite insane,
J.S. Hogg the governor,
Gave me Ima’s name.

VERSE 3

On the day when I was christened,
I’m sure the parson laughed,
The way my teachers always did
When they called my name in class.

The students all would snicker
When someone asked my name,
And when I had to tell them,
My face turned red with shame.

VERSE 4

So, I’ll always be Ima Hogg
For all the years ahead
And though it made me famous,
I’d like another name instead

My imaginary sister,
I call her Ura just for fun,
So Ima Hogg, Ura Hogg too,
There’s two Hoggs instead of one.