Re-assessments 1 : Tom T Hall - Nashville Storyteller - start with the song "Homecoming"

I am pretty sure my introduction to Tom T Hall was the same as many others in New Zealand, the early 70s cheesy country cross-over hit "Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine".  The next songs of his I heard were I Love and I Like Beer.   I never hated them but I never rated them either.  No need for further exploration - or so I thought.  

Never gave him or his music another thought for probably 20 years or so.  In the mid-90s I was exploring what at the time as being called alt-country.  A name that kept cropping up around that time was Buddy Miller, then the go to guitarist in Nashville.  He was lead guitarist in Emmylou Harris's Spyboy band and was also recording albums with his wife Julie and in his own name.  

Buddy's debut solo album, Your Love and Other Lies contained a song that I really liked.  That's How I Got to Memphis.  So reading the CD booklet I noted that it was written by none other than Tom T Hall.  Intrigued I did a little research and learnt that he was known as the Nashville Storyteller and had written a number of spongs that were rated by artists I liked.  An early song of his was Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C Riley.  Knowing this I could see how he got his nickname.  

So I started listening and buying the occasional record - they werent much of an investment as you can usually pick them up for less than $10 and many for only $1 or $2.   One of the albums even had a song on it I Know Who I'll Be Seeing In New Zealand.  All very listenable.  

However one song in particular really stands out and is a great example of how sometimes it is what the lyrics don't say that is important. Homecoming is also one of the saddest songs I have heard.  It captures  how someone has lost touch with their roots and what is important and do not even appear to recognise it.  

I guess I should've written, dad
To let you know that I was coming home
I've been gone so many years
I didn't realize you had a phone
I saw your cattle coming in
Boy, they're looking mighty fat and slick
I saw Fred at the service station
Told me that his wife was awful sick
You heard my record on the radio
Oh, well, it's just another song
But I've got a hit recorded
And it'll be out on the market 'fore too long
I got this ring in Mexico
And no, it didn't cost me quite a bunch
When you're in the business that I'm in
The people call it puttin' up a front
I know I've lost a little weight
And I guess I am looking kind of pale
If you didn't know me better, dad
You'd think that I'd just gotten out of jail
No, we don't ever call them beer joints
Nightclubs are the places that I work
You meet a lot of people there
But no, there ain't much chance of gettin' hurt
I'm sorry that I couldn't be here with you all
When mama passed away
I was on the road and when they came and told me
It was just too late
I drove by the grave to see her
Boy, that really is a pretty stone
I'm glad that Fred and Jan are here
It's better than you being here alone
Well, I knew you was gonna ask me
Who the lady is that's sleeping in the car
That's just a girl who works for me
And, man, she plays a pretty mean guitar
We worked in San Antone last night
She didn't even have the time to dress
She drove me down from Nashville
And to tell the truth, I guess she needs the rest
Well, dad, I gotta go
We got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight
Let me take your number down
I'll call you and I promise you I'll write
Now you be good
And don't be chasin' all those pretty women that you know
And by the way
If you see Barbara Walker, tell her that I said "hello"