“At 10 o 12 years old my best friend and I would ride our bikes down the railroad bed to the lake and take his dad’s boat out fishing all day. No life jackets or adult supervision.”
We were 12 yrs. old in ‘71 and took the bus downtown unsupervised to the movies....Just my cousin and I....Would go to the Woolworth counter where one of my aunts worked and have a burger and fries....Walk around town and catch the bus back home.....Never any trouble or violence.....I think of those days too often, it tugs at my heart in a powerful way, I’m not kidding, if feels like the loss of a family member or good friend because you know you will never see it again....COMPLETELY different America now.....
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We picked blackberries down that old fence line,
Long-side that sandy road,
Early summertime.
We always left worries somewhere far behind,
There in our mind,
Back when we were kids.
The fish were always biting when I was a kid.
There always seemed one more thrill,
Just around the bend.
And the good Lord sometimes threw a big one in,
I remember then,
Back when we were kids
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And we caught lightnin' in a bottle every single day.
A million dollars couldn't buy that smile we wore on our face.
And when we got in trouble, the calvary always came.
And there was Dad saying, 'Everthing's gonna be OK.
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We rode those ponies up and down those 'sunshine hills',
Through that bottom land,
Man that was a thrill.
And in the Spring we'd always bring the herd on in,
I remember then,
Back when we were kids.
(repeat chorus)
OOOH Woolworths. Yes loved that store, and also the Ben Franklins. Used to go to the movies with my cousin all the time. Matinee or at night. No problem.