This man is my daddy! Isn't he handsome? This picture was taken in front of our house on Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach, FL on an Easter Sunday morning, when I was four, and I truly believed if he would just wait for me I would marry him when I grew up. I said earlier in the week that I was going to use the Easter theme this week and today's is a stretch so hang in there with me. This picture was made on Easter Sunday....but from there I am going to take a different road. Those of you who are old enough to remember might remember Tennessee Ernie Ford. Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist in both the country/western and gospel genres. My daddy sang just like him. When I was we would be in the car going somewhere and my dad would break into "Sixteen Tons." It would become one of my favorite songs. I remember the day I learned to play it on the guitar and sang it back to my dad...he sat there and smiled. Tennessee Ernie was a good 20 years older than my dad but that did not matter one bit to me. Everytime my dad would open his mouth and that velvety smooth voice would trickle out...Tennessee Ernie was timeless. I remember when he died in 1991 I cried when I heard the news. I never even met the man!....but I knew my dad...and to me...they had always been one and the same. My favorite line from the lyrics is, "If you see me coming better step aside. A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died. One fist is iron and the onther one steel, if the right one don't get you then the left one will." When my dad would sing that...he would ball up his fists...smile broadly and shake them at you. This man, the gentle giant would not hurt anyone.....but he sure sounded tough. This is my first Easter without Him. I am an Easter person...I will get through this holiday, his birthday, memorial day, Father's day (well...maybe not Father's Day)...but time will continue...and the memories will grow dimmer and sweeter....and evertime I hear "Sixteen Tons"...I will smile. Happy Hump Day!
Showing posts with label Tennessee Ernie Ford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennessee Ernie Ford. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Easter Pics, Tennessee Ernie, and Sixteen Tons - What a Combination!
This man is my daddy! Isn't he handsome? This picture was taken in front of our house on Georgia Avenue in West Palm Beach, FL on an Easter Sunday morning, when I was four, and I truly believed if he would just wait for me I would marry him when I grew up. I said earlier in the week that I was going to use the Easter theme this week and today's is a stretch so hang in there with me. This picture was made on Easter Sunday....but from there I am going to take a different road. Those of you who are old enough to remember might remember Tennessee Ernie Ford. Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist in both the country/western and gospel genres. My daddy sang just like him. When I was we would be in the car going somewhere and my dad would break into "Sixteen Tons." It would become one of my favorite songs. I remember the day I learned to play it on the guitar and sang it back to my dad...he sat there and smiled. Tennessee Ernie was a good 20 years older than my dad but that did not matter one bit to me. Everytime my dad would open his mouth and that velvety smooth voice would trickle out...Tennessee Ernie was timeless. I remember when he died in 1991 I cried when I heard the news. I never even met the man!....but I knew my dad...and to me...they had always been one and the same. My favorite line from the lyrics is, "If you see me coming better step aside. A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died. One fist is iron and the onther one steel, if the right one don't get you then the left one will." When my dad would sing that...he would ball up his fists...smile broadly and shake them at you. This man, the gentle giant would not hurt anyone.....but he sure sounded tough. This is my first Easter without Him. I am an Easter person...I will get through this holiday, his birthday, memorial day, Father's day (well...maybe not Father's Day)...but time will continue...and the memories will grow dimmer and sweeter....and evertime I hear "Sixteen Tons"...I will smile. Happy Hump Day!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Memories Can Be Amazing
Most of you have no clue who Tennessee Ernie Ford is....but I do. He was one of my dad's favorite singers and therefore I loved him too. I remember hearing his voice come drifting across the radio my dad loved to listen to on the weekend and one of the songs I loved the most was called "Sixteen Tons." I think it was one of the earliest songs I learned to play on the guitar. This is a song about the life of a coal miner. I thought the lyrics were great. There was a verse that said, "If you see me coming better step aside. A lot of men didn't and a lot of men died. One fist is iron and the other one steel, if the right one don't get you then the left one will." My dad and I would croon out this song and when we would get to that verse he would grin, wink, and ball up his fists and hold them up. You would have to know my dad to grasp the brevity of this. My dad never even spanked me as a child...the odds of him hitting someone, anyone with his fists is hysterical. I remember one time when I was in trouble....my dad came home from work, my mom told him how horrible I had been and that he needed to spank me. He took me into their bedroom, pulled his huge electricians belt off (which terrified me), and slapped the bed with it about four times. I was so scared that I cried out the first time, "No daddy!" My mom was probably listening at the door to make sure I would get my just rewards...gloating I am sure...well...the beating was done....I was none the worse for wear....everyone was happy....my dad didn't have to spank me, my mom thought I was punished thoroughly, and I missed the bullet to live and play another day. I always thought my dad looked like Tennessee Ernie Ford...and they do have some similar features....but looking back at him today...I was surprised at how much they DON'T look alike...funny what we think and remember as kids. I thought I would introduce you to the smooth stylings of Tennessee Ernie Ford. Enjoy and Happy Hump Day!
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