Karl's Song: "Folks Up the Road"

Many of you who live in Tecumseh know the Ries family. They lived two doors down the road from us for many years. Mom and Edie Ries were best buds and they used to talk to one another every day. We’ve gone through thick and thin with them and Karl’s illness and passing was no different. Each have helped us through this in their own special way.

Many of you may also know that Tim Ries now lives near New York City and has toured as a sideman, playing the saxophone and keyboards, with the Rolling Stones. (As I write this, he’s in Los Angeles rehearsing for the Stones next tour.) Anyway, Tim couldn’t make it to Karl’s celebration, but he wrote a song for the occasion. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to download the tune and put it on a CD for the church to play in time for the funeral, so I asked him if I could post it on the blog. He reluctantly said yes. He’s not happy with the quality because he did it so quickly. For that reason he asked that you not download the song. When the tour ends, maybe he’ll record it more to his liking and then I’ll update the blog with the new version.

Accompanying the song was this email message:

“Kerry,

“This is the song I wrote for Karl. In truth, it is a song about the feeling and the closeness I have toward your entire family. When I think of the blessed and happy childhood I experienced growing up on Macon Road, just down the road from the Hamiltons, next to the Schaffers, a stone’s throw from the Gibsons golf course and over the river, or creek as it were, and through the woods to the Jones house, it is nearly like another lifetime. Like it was someone else who lived it and yet it was me. It was all of our times. It was the best of times, to coin a phrase. How lucky we all were.

“Without question, one, or all of the Hamiltons were always at our house, whether we liked it or not (that dig was for you Kerry) or we were at their house every day that we weren't in school. As children we were always welcomed into anyone’s house in the hood. And everyone was welcome to our place. Our family had 4 children but it wasn't unusual to have 10 or 15 children at our place without any planned "play date". Just come on over and let’s have fun. Fun. Honest to goodness FUN with a capital F U N. Doing whatever. Maybe those very simple times are gone forever for children. I try to make my household similar to my childhood, fun and laughter whenever possible. Why not? Life is so very short and very precious.

“They say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Well, Dean and Jo Ann Hamilton always had a smile on their faces. Always. And their wonderful children always did as well. As for Karl, who seemed so much younger than me. All of 5 years. When you are 8 or 9 someone who is 3 is really young. But we always included Karl in our activities. Everyone but Kerry that is (OK, I will stop bashing Kerry) Maybe not :-)

“I am so saddened by the passing of Karl. I know he had been through so much these last few years. Unimaginable. It is so strange, when you are driving down the road and pass a house, you never know who is inside and what experiences are going on in that house. Each house, each person in that house has a story. We can only hope that they are happy stories. As the years pass, I am sure that each house has its share of joy and sorrow. Inside, where life is happening, we need to be living that life to its fullest. For we never know the next day what could happen.

“I think of just in our little neighborhood, how much joy that happened and how much sorrow. My own brother Mark taken from us at 7 years old. Matthew Jones in his teens. Scott Schaffer tragically in his teens. Not to mention our parents who have passed. And now Karl. Way too early. Such a positive, smiling loving force of life. He battled so many obstacles.

“I will miss him. I will miss his smile, the sound of his voice -- he had such a distinctive voice.

“The song I wrote is called "Folks Up The Road". It is for Karl, and his entire family. It is also for all of us in the community who share those wonderful childhood memories and experiences. It was joy and love.

“My sincere condolences to the Hamilton and Smith families. I sure love them.

“Tim”

Tim’s song and the words he wrote in the email moved me so much that about a week after Karl’s funeral, I wrote lyrics for it. I think they convey the feelings that Tim wrote above. If you play the video, the first slide is of the Ries family in 2005 -- Becky, Tim, Marcy, Teri and Edie is sitting. 

Here are the lyrics:

I look back at the time when I was young

When all I thought about was having fun

The simple times of playing in the yard

When neighbors came and gave time no regard

Folks up the road were always there

Through thick and thin, I always knew they cared

And now as I grow old

God bless folks up the road

The laughter, joy and innocence would show

that country, Midwest values overflow

All the fun spontaneous; I loved it

You can tell by the wear and tear on my old baseball mitt

Folks up the road were always there

Through thick and thin, I always knew they cared

And now as I grow old

God bless folks up the road

I want the same kind of road for my children

and I think I can give them that same road if I just try 

(Instrumental)

And now when I go driving down the road

With each house that I pass a story's told

Inside there may be lowly times or high

I hope they have what I've had to get by

Folks up the road were always there

Through thick and thin, I always knew they cared

And now as I grow old

God bless folks up the road

Life is so short we should live every moment

Cuz we never know when one of us will be called home