A Long Way Back to Georgia

Tommy Beuten was Knees' model for guitar hero when Knees was growing up. Despite the theme of the song, Tommy seemed quite content to play music at the bars of southern Colorado for the rest of his life, and Knees adopted the same attitude. The important thing wasn't making it big in the music bidness; the important thing was to not have to wake up in the morning and trudge off to a day job.

And Tommy and Knees succeeded. Tommy lived on his ranch in southern Colorado and made music on computer as Knees does. He died earlier this year.

A LONG WAY BACK TO GEORGIA

Written by Tommy Beuten in the 60s. Recorded by Fender Tucker in 1993.

Knees first heard this song on a 45 back in the 60s, but can't remember if the record was by the writer, Tommy Beuten, or by his group, the Exotics. They were his favorite band and Knees used to see them play in Durango CO as often as he could in those days when he was under 18 and had an easier time getting into the bars in Colorado where the minimum age was 18. In New Mexico it was 21.

Here I am sittin in this lonely room
Haven't got a penny to my name
I'm all alone I guess I must be doomed
Looks like I had my last crack at fame
I guess I'll never see my home again.

And it's a long way back to Georgia
And it's a long time to get back home
And it's a long way back to Georgia
And I'm sick and tired of being all alone
I guess I'll pack my things and head back home.

I came to Nashville, gonna be a star
I left home with everything I made
Now all I have are my clothes and my guitar
They never even listened when I played
They never even listened when I played.

And it's a long way back to Georgia

And it's a long time to get back home
And it's a long way back to Georgia
And I'm sick and tired of being all alone
I guess I'll pack my things and head back home.

For years I thought this next tune was something that Tommy wrote about his beloved Colorado. But after he died I found out from his son Darrell that Tommy didn't write it; he just recorded it. In the meantime I had decided it was a perfect traveling song, meaning a song you can suit for whatever town or state you might be. Here are three versions, showing you what I mean. If your area has the right number of syllables, this can be your song by just changing a few words in the verses.

 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DOWN TO COLORADO?

Tommy Beuten's version

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DOWN TO LAS CRUCES?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI?

Pearls

BONUS COVER!

How about another tune by Canada's Bruce Cockburn? He plays great guitar and his songs grow on you. I was thinking this was too simple when I first heard it but its nuances are many. Too bad Knees is pretty much limited to his own nuances. And there's a video!

MIGHTY TRUCKS OF MIDNIGHT