This song came out of some memories I had while on my travels this summer, during which I missed my guitar very badly. In the town of Warren, Minnesota, USA there is a little independant coffeehouse called The River Jordan Cafe. My friends kept on talking about this place, and so finally I was able to visit it. It's actually a coffeehouse/antique store, with a very coxy small-town feel to it. So the setting is real, but the people obviously are fictitious.
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River Jordan
Chorus:
Welcome to the River Jordan
Cafe down on Main Street
A simple congregation
And here their stories meet
Verse 1:
In the corner gossip ladies sit
Watch the townsfolk go about their day
There's so much to say
Latest news from every part of town
What's going down
Verse 2:
Farming man walks in out of the storm
Joins the friendly faces there inside
He's come to hide
Seems the cost of living's gone sky-high
He don't ask why
[Chorus]
Verse 3:
Tony's child is watching from the back
Feet dangling a foot above the ground
He makes no sound
Get a little older, move away
Young folks don't stay
[Chorus]
Verse 4:
At the counter Maggie wears a smile
Golden sunlight plays across her hair
But life's not fair
Diagnosis caught it much too late
But death can wait
Chorus:
Welcome to the River Jordan
Cafe down on Main Street
A simple congregation
And hear their stories...
Final Chorus:
Welcome to the River Jordan
Cafe down on Main Street
A simple congregation
Right where the waters meet
P.S. If you ever get a chance to stop by there, get a scone! They're scrumptious!
nice job, sounds like a nice little small-town cafe.
No matter what anyone says, these four men were the Innovators! of modern Rock & Roll!
Morse Code... Music on it's own
Howdy Uke,
I like this piece. It reminds me of half a dozen places in the town where I grew up. I particularly like the 3rd verse. Sorry I can't chime in with any kind of meaningful critique, but I do like it. Well done.
-- Scratch 8)
-- Scratch 8)
"...if heartaches were commercials, we'd all be on TV" -- John Prine
42
Big kudos for geting the word diagnosis into a song and still making it fit.
I think it's fine. Any chance we get to listen?
Best,
A :-)
"Be good at what you can do" - Fingerbanger"
I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
Maybe I'll do a rough recording and upload it sometime the next week... although I'll probably regret it. I'm not exactly proud of my singing voice, and my recording equiptment is not exactly what you'd call sophisticated...
The title caught my eye, then the song turned out to be nothing like what I was expecting - but you've captured the feel of small-town life perfectly, I can "see" the characters and almost feel I know them......
Maybe you could stretch this out further - I would like to know about the other patrons as well.........they say the sign of a good meal is you always want more, this is a feast but I'm still hungry........
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
