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"The Gospel According To Gordon"

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Piano Ballad Style

SONG TITLE: "The Gospel According To Gordon"
SONGWRITER: Bill Pittman (words and music)
PERFORMER: Bill Pittman

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(Quality is not so good but it's just a work copy.)

Lyric

"THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GORDON"
(c)2006 Bill Pittman All rights reserved

The Red River Valley should have a Who's Who
I told my friend, Gordon, the farm page is you
He gazed at his crop with indifference, then said
Full moons turn a cottonfield blue

The autumn's first cold front is always a treat
I poked at the campfire to feel the heat
My friend gave me stories, opinions and tales
And a harvest that glowed just for me

[ CHORUS: ]
Dark is the night but bright is the moon
Casting new light on an old Haggard tune
Solution for stress and a sure cure for boredom
I kicked back and grinned with the gospel according to Gordon

His canine companions, two saints in disguise
Kept glancing at Gordon with contrasting eyes
Big Blue bought each word as the absolute truth
I think maybe Festus is wise

Philosophers come, philosophers go
I told my friend, Gordon, tonight, it's your show
Your crowd is but three, Big Blue, Festus and me
But we want to know all you know

[ CHORUS - REPEAT ]
[ BREAK ]
[ CHORUS - REPEAT ]

EXPLANATION

WHO IS GORDON?

A friend, a farmer. Who's a good talker! Ten days ago, I was at his farm. It was the first cool snap after a hot summer. The song is true. It was one of those times when I realize that being out "with nature" (and especially, with a friend) is so important to me. Especially in this crazy world. (I was raised on a farm.)

This started from sitting on the front porch with a gaggle of friends and another guy retorting to one of Gordon's musings, "Ah, the gospel according to Gordon." Song title! I filed it away and thought nothing more of it.

Gordon kept harping about the nice moon. Later, he made the comment (more than once) that the full moon made the ripe cotton crop look "blue" rather than stark white. Which it did.

And, of course, the dogs. I love dogs. I first only wrote about Big Blue, a mongrel. I played the song for Gordon and he insisted I also mention Festus. I told him I don't know if I can do that, I am trying to write a good song, not a perfect biography for him and that I had already spent many hours on the song. But, lo and behold, after another 20 hours re-writing, I figured out how to do it. Surprisingly, I think it's a better song with the two dogs rather than one.