Lyr Req: Grandma's Letter (from Glenn Yarbrough)

Subject: Limelighter's Grandmother song
From:
Date: 25 Aug 98 - 07:30 PM

Some years ago I heard a folk musician in Victoria, B.C. sing a song about "his" grandmother. He said it was a song the Limelighters sang. Since then we have looked for the Limelighters album but cannot find it.

Anyone have an idea of the song? album? Does not seem to be in the database.

Thanks Richard

Subject: RE: Limelighter's Grandmother song
From: rich r
Date: 26 Aug 98 - 12:28 AM

The song is called "Grandma's Letter" by Bryan Walls. It is apparently one of Glenn Yarbrough's favorites. It can be found on the CD's Glenn Yarbrough Live At The Troubador, Glenn Yarbrough Live At Harrah's, and Glenn Yarbrough & The Limeliters Joy Across The Land (GNP Crescendo GNPD 2219)

rich r

Subject: RE: Limelighter's Grandmother song
From: Richard Wright
Date: 26 Aug 98 - 11:18 AM

Thanks rich;

Now I know what to look for.

Richard

Subject: RE: Limelighter's Grandmother song
From: SharonA
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 10:27 AM

Can anybody post the lyrics to this song?

Subject: ADD: Grandma's Letter
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 02:48 AM

Well, I didn't have this when it was requested, but now I have two different recordings. I think I prefer the shorter version, so I'll post it first.
-Joe Offer-

---

GRANDMA'S LETTER
(Byron Walls)

The return address sticker told me it was from my dad, so I opened up the letter, and this is what it said:

The funeral was last Friday. We flew the body back to Bismarck on a jet.
Everybody was right on time. Grandma would have liked that, you bet.
After all she suffered, in some ways it's a blessing that she's gone;
We know you couldn't be there, but the family felt your presence all along.

I'm enclosing in this letter a note to you she never got to send.
I hope it makes sense to you - you know, she got a little crazy at the end.
Now, we're back home in Oregon. After all that snow, the rain feels good somehow.
Love from your mom and me. I guess from here on, we're the old folks now.

The letter smelled of Ben-Gay, and Campho-Phenique and stale perfume.
From the Happy Manor Rest Home, smellin' just like I remember Grandma's room.
It was written in a tiny hand, I had to hold it real close to read.
Writin' isn't easy, when you're crippled, nearly blind, and ninety-three.

They treat me pretty good here, I've got a nice young doctor that I like.
He tells everybody he's gonna run away with me some night.
I've been eatin' better, but still I'm getting thinner every day.
I've been sleepin' pretty good, and find a lot of comfort when I pray.

My roommate, Mrs. Campbell, is startin' to steal from me again.
First she took my readin' glass, and yesterday my Christmas fountain pen.
And that old grouch Mr. Sloan is spreadin' tales about Doc Nicholson and me.
I swear this is a nuthouse, you would not believe the things I hear and see.

Your dad drops by on Sundays, drives me out past the orchards and the farm.
Seems like only yesterday, your dad was just a baby in my arms.
We went out last Sunday, but the rain made it kinda hard to see.
I know he's awfully busy, but his visits sure do mean a lot to me.

They phoned my father early on a Sunday morning just as it turned light.
We're sorry to inform you, sir, your mother passed away last night.
Mom and Dad had breakfast, and they took a drive out through the country air.
Dad told me later, it was the first sunny Sunday of the year.

I'm glad I knew my grandma, and I believe that we were truly blessed.
Yes, I believe in grandmas, and I thank God for giving me the best.


Transcribed from the CD "Glenn Yarbrough: Live at the Troubadour"
(recorded in 1978)

JRO

Subject: ADD: Grandma's Letter (longer version)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 02:51 AM

Gee, I got misty when I was transcribing this. Grandma died in 1982, but she still has a big influence on my life.
-Joe Offer-

---

GRANDMA'S LETTER
(Byron Walls)

The return address sticker told me it was from my dad.
So I opened up the letter, and this is what it said:

The funeral was last Friday. We flew the body back to Bismarck on a jet.
Everybody was right on time. Grandma would have liked that, you can bet.
The prairie soil was frozen, harder than the diamond in her ring.
They couldn't bury Grandma, so they put her in a vault to wait til Spring.

After all she suffered, in some ways it's a blessing that she's gone;
We know you couldn't be there, but the family felt your presence all along.
I know L.A. keeps you busy; like everyone, you've got to pay the rent.
But thank you for the phone calls. Those sure were pretty flowers that you sent.

I'm enclosing in this letter a note to you she never got to send.
I hope it makes sense to you - you know, she got a little crazy at the end.
Now, we're back home in Oregon. After all that snow, the rain feels good somehow.
Love from your mom and me. I guess from here on, we're the old folks now.

The letter smelled of Ben-Gay, Campho-Phenique, and stale perfume.
From the Happy Manor Rest Home, smellin' just like I remember Grandma's room.
It was written in a tiny hand, I had to hold it real close to read.
Writin' isn't easy, when you're crippled, nearly blind, and ninety-three.

They treat me pretty good here, I've got a nice young doctor that I like.
He tells everybody he's gonna run away with me some night.
I've been eatin' better, but still I'm getting thinner every day.
I've been sleepin' pretty good, and find a lot of comfort when I pray.

My roommate, Mrs. Campbell, is startin' to steal from me again.
First she took my readin' glass, and yesterday my Christmas fountain pen.
And that old grouch Mr. Sloan is spreadin' tales about Doc Nicholson and me.
I swear this is a nuthouse, you would not believe the things I hear and see.

Your dad drops by on Sundays, drives me out past the orchards and the farms.
Seems like only yesterday, your dad was just a baby in my arms.
We went out last Sunday, but the rain made it kinda hard to see.
I know he's awfully busy, but his visits sure do mean a lot to me.

They phoned my father early on a Sunday morning just as it turned light.
We're sorry to inform you, sir, your mother passed away last night.
Mom and Dad had breakfast, then they took a drive out through the country air.
Dad told me later, it was the first sunny Sunday of the year.

I'm glad I knew my grandma, and I believe that we were truly blessed.
Yes, I believe in grandmas, and I thank God for giving me the best.

Transcribed from the CD "Glenn Yarbrough & the Limeliters: Joy Across the Land"
(recorded in 1976)

JRO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIXR_-usRFA

Subject: RE: Limeliters Grandmother song
From: SharonA
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 09:27 AM

Better late than never. Thanks, Joe!!

Subject: RE: Limeliters Grandmother song
From: raredance
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 10:39 PM

Good Joe, I've had that Joy Across the Land CD all this time and I never did anything about it. And I should have! There aren't that many songs that mention the capital of North Dakota.

rich r

Subject: RE: Limeliters Grandmother song
From: GUEST,Diane
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 04:34 PM

I just pulled this song out of the storage closet, looking for holiday decorations, and put it on my phonograph. The version that I have is from the album "The Limelighters Reunion" Volume 1, a live concert recording made at the Seattle Opera House September 1976. While I had tears rolling down my face, thinking of my Grandma Brown, I got on the Net to see if I could find this on c.d. No luck. But found this site!

Thanks for the printed lyrics.

Diane

Subject: RE: Limeliters Grandmother song
From: GUEST,Byron Walls
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 07:50 PM

The song is actually called "Grandma's Letter." I wrote it about my grandmother in 1971 shortly after her death. I toured with the Limeliters in 1973 and Glenn Yarbrough recorded it around 1974-75.

It is available on my CD titled: "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" and can be purchased through me at 5042 Wilshire Blvd., #262, Los Angeles, CA. 90036. Send $15 plus $4.00 shipping and I will be happy to send it to you.

Byron Walls

Subject: RE: Limeliters Grandmother song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 09:10 PM

Thanks a lot for dropping by, Byron. It's a wonderful song. My grandma died in 1982, and she was very important to me. Your song brings back her memory.
Sometimes, I feel like she wasn't very important to my parents - but she still is important to me, the greatest inspiration in my life.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Limeliters Grandmother song
From: Richard Wright
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 01:18 AM

Wow! Four years later and someone retrieves my thread and then the songwriter sends his address. Mudcat really is fantastic. It will make a great gift or my wife who is the one who really wanted it.

Thanks all

Richard Wright

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grandma's Letter (from Glenn Yarbrough)
From: GUEST,John Kizer
Date: 13 Jan 17 - 11:21 PM

I first heard this song at a Glenn Yarbrough concert in Columbus a long time ago. I am not kidding. I think everyone in the large audience was crying by the end. It is really a great song, deserving of a much wider recognition than it has. Thank you so much, Mr. Walls for writing it. Again, it is truly wonderful. I don't say that easily either

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grandma's Letter (from Glenn Yarbrough)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 14 Jan 17 - 07:27 PM

The lyrics do nothing for me (sort to the mushy, soft, quasi-poetry found in popular newspaper columns circa 1890-1910 found in the USA.
Sincerely,
Gargoyle

An example of Tune? ? ?