Week 4 - Rusty Red Wagon
Wow! Last week’s song, while obviously not one of your favorites, sure did spur some debate among commenters. Let me assure you, I am very confident in who I am as not only a wife, but a mother, a daughter, a friend, a cook, maid and even a taxi driver. The list goes on and on. I know that God has designed me with a specific purpose in mind and while I may feel a little used and abused having to give to so many people with so little reward (that I can see right now), God is moving me daily into my destiny and I am proud of where He has placed me and the job He has called me to do. There. Does that make you feel better?
As far as that song is concerned, it was just a light-hearted song meant to paint a picture of what our bedtime ritual often looked like at the time. Our son was really into cowboys and indians and our daughter was, and still is, into angels and princesses. My husband loves to tell bedtime stories so it was only natural that he write a song about it. And yes, that’s their voices. I really cherish it because of that.
My part is kind of hard to listen to because I hate the sound of my own voice. It makes me cringe! And if you knew me, you’d know that winning a beauty pageant is not on my short list of things to do before I die. It didn’t even make the long list! I appreciated the compliment, though. I know that beauty pageants are kind of dying out, but my husband thought it would be a compliment to suggest that I took first prize. He’s sweet like that.
Now, to this week’s song, Rusty Red Wagon. It’s a little on the sad side but it’s not one that I ever get tired of. I’ll tell you more about it next week. Let’s just give it a listen, shall we?
Rusty Red Wagon
My shiny red wagon I left behind Daddy’s car
Crushed down he showed it to me
And I started to cry but he said,
“Toughen up now boy, you’re ok.”
And I was told that life goes on
despite the pain
A little bit older playin’ ball with my brothers
A grounder popped up in my face
And I teared up a little, but Daddy said,
“Suck it up, you’re ok.”
And I was told that big boys don’t cry
They hide the pain
Hey diddle diddle, cats don’t play fiddles
And cows never jump to the moon
Why can’t a boy cry for his Radio Flyer
Why should he grow up so soon
Wouldn’t you know it was cloudy and cold
When they buried my daddy that day
And I tried and I tried cause I loved that old guy
But no tears came
No birds sang, the sky was gray
That heavy day
Hey diddle diddle, cats don’t play fiddles
And cows never jump to the moon
Why can’t a boy cry for his Radio Flyer
Why should he grow up so soon
As we were leaving our black limousine
Passed the caretaker’s house on the right
And there on his porch was a rusty red wagon with flowers inside
And up above a welcome sun began to shine
And thirty years of held back tears began to slide
Love it!!
Great original melody and I love the chord progressions… it’s different and pleasing.
The story’s simple, but it’s enough. And I like the piano. It makes the whole song just really flow nicely.
I’m going to be listening to this one all week…
I love this one. It has always been one of my favorites. Can’t wait to hear more.
Love this one. I’d like to have the ending get BIG when he says “slide” I’d like to hear the orchestra go big –like a storm breaking loose-and roll into the chorus again what a well written lyric!!!
Songwriter here. I think DollyMomma was right on in her critique of “Once upon…” Saying “JUST my husband’s…” is slightly demeaning. I’ve noticed that before and it will be changed to “I AM my husband’s wife…”.
Thanks DM
I had tears well up at the end of this song. Loved the song.
I like this one. The story is clearly understood and shows a natural progression. I like the fact that the singer rejects the ‘boys don’t cry’ lesson he learned to become a man who questions this lesson without losing sight of the love he has for the man who taught it. And you have the feeling he won’t be passing that lesson along to his own son.
The other thing I really like is that grief is so often just like this-some relatively minor thing (the wagon full of flowers) reminds us of that pain, and brings it forward once again.
I also like the piano. It gives a more heart felt approach to this sensative song.
Howdy and aloha again. I finally figured out that Your Talented Hubby’s wonderful voice reminds me very much of that of Michael Martin Murphey, that cowboy singer feller who had a big hit back in OH MY GAWD, 1975, am I getting old or what?!?! Anyhow. Lovely tune, gorgeous melody–really complex and haunting. And what a message this tune delivers! If only every daddy could internalize it.
“Slide,” in the last line, disturbs me a bit. Tears do slide, but usually they’re given a place to slide down… and without that reference, this seems a little forced.
And another stray apostrophe alert: “cats,” in the chorus, doesn’t need one.
What would I do without all my human spell checkers?!? I need to stop writing these posts so late on Sunday night!
This weeks song, again is beautiful!!! I love the rawness, and the simplicity of the song…I’ll be honest the first time I heard it I loved it, but I felt like at the end there needed to be a little more….more of what I didn’t know…then I listened to it again and read the lyric along with and really listened, the first time i was doing other stuff while listening, i decided it was perfect the way it was….you feel the emotion through the simplicity of the song…I hope the word simplicity is not offensive, because in no way is writting a song simple, lyric or melody…However the song itself doesn’t get too large, it stays sweet and simple and heartfelt…if that makes sense….I would never critique your song writting ability!!!! Just the song itself, and only because that is part of the experiment!!!!! Otherwise I would just like the song or not….Anyway!!!!! I have enjoyed each weeks song, and I especially enjoy that they have each been so different…Sometimes when you hear songs written by the same composer you can hear things that are very similar to another song….So i appreciate each songs originality!!!
I had tears sliding at the end of this one!! Beautiful harmonies, melody and I love the simple story. Another great one, in my book!! Thanks again for sharing a part of yourself with the rest of us.