Gram Parsons..really, it's about climbing

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
Gram Parsons..really, it\'s about climbing

Tonight I'm making up some new business cards. The printer isn't cooperating.

Most of us have listened to songs many times and then for some reason, the lyrics are clear. There might be a line that comes out and is finally heard. That just happened to me. I've listened to Gram Parsons since The Flying Burrito Brothers. The first verse of Hickory Wind finally registered.

http://www.gramparsons.com/lyric/lyric_css.php?lyric=hicko

RIP Gram

****
Hickory Wind
Words and Music by Gram Parsons and Bob Buchanon

In South Carolina there are many tall pines
I remember the oak tree that we used to climb
But now when I'm lonesome, I always pretend
That I'm getting the feel of hickory wind

I started out younger at most everything
All the riches and pleasures, what else could life bring?
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin' me home, hickory wind

It's hard to find out that trouble is real
In a far away city, with a far away feel
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin' me home, hickory wind

Keeps callin' me home, hickory wind

Copyright 1969 Tickson Music BMI
Website Design © Copyright 1995-2005 Larry Klug. All rights reserved.
 
Re: Gram Parsons..really, it\'s about climbing

Tom,
Do you know the story about Gram Parsons body being "recovered" by his friends and immolated in Joshua Tree?
While climbing out there, I had a couple weeks where I was on my own, just bouldering and picking up the odd partner, waiting for some friends to arrive. One evening, I was driving through the park, and saw the sun setting over this really intriguing looking rock. Just a random spot along the road nearer the West entrance. The boulder looked really unusual for JT, and I pulled over to check it out. I walked back off the road a ways, and wound my way through the rocks. I got to the rock, which formed an overhanging lip about 10 feet off the ground, and about 20' long. The air was cool, and the sun was setting, there was just an odd feel. Anyway, when i finally got back in there, it looked like jim morrisons grave! there were candles, and Thank you Gram written on the rocks. Feathers, wreaths, guitar picks...I'm sure that was the spot. i had read about it when I was in eighth grade in a rock history book I found on the schoolyard, and all of the sudden I put two and two together. Anyway, talk about random spots to pull off the road...
 
Re: Gram Parsons..really, it\'s about climbing

That's a wild story. Since your eye was attracted to the spot you can understand why his buddies took the coffin there.

Your next Joshua Tree mission is to find the spot where the cover for U2's album cover picture was taken. It's along a highway so it can't taht hard to find. Yeah, right...
 
Re: Gram Parsons..really, it\'s about climbing

That's damn cool! Did you leave a tribute? Maybe, a fatty?
 
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