For Rui Boy

 Hard Times

There was a Camptown man who used to plow and sing
He loved that mule and the mule loved him
When the day got long as it does about now
I’d hear him singing to his muley cow

Calling come on my sweet old girl
I’d bet the whole damn world
That we’re gonna make it yet to the end of the row

Singing hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, Bessie
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
No more

Said it’s a mean old world, heavy in need
And that big machine is just  picking up speed
We’re supping on tears and we’re supping on wine
But we all get to heaven in our own sweet time

So come on you Asheville boys
Turn up your old time noise
Kick till the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor

Singing hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, Brother
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
No more

But the Camptown man he doesn’t plow no more
I seen him walking down to the Superette store
Guess he lost that knack and he forgot that song
Woke up one morning and the mule was gone

So come all you ragtime kings
Come on you dogs and sing
Pick up your dusty old horn and give it a blow

Playing hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, Sugar
Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind
No more

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Summer heat has returned to your home town. Each time I feel closer to being ready to speak up and fire a flare out once again, I feel I have to prepare the ground a little bit.
Rui, this is my message to you: that my love for you has not diminished one minute bit.
And I am as ready as I could ever be to take on the battle to regain a just and peaceful end to this nightmare.
Please!  If you can hear the longing in this tune, keep an open heart.
Daddy