Before one of his songs he talked about not having much sympathy for those who couldn’t find a time or place to write music or be creative in some other meaningful way. He explained that when he was growing up his father didn’t let him write songs at home so he simply wrote them in his car. I remembered this as I read Tom DeLisle’s moving tribute to John--which included the fact that during the last year(s) John could no longer drive. He might have given up the keys to the car but not to his uniquely American voice or the vision he shared of and with his country and the world.
It does not sound like he died with his “boots on”--but they were likely near his bed--as were family and friends who shared his last moments and his final journey home.
This song was written as a tribute to an American original who will be truly missed and remembered.
DRIVEN BY THE MUSIC
John Stewart was a poet who gave voice and harmony
To a state of mind and country in which he made us believe
Always moved and always moving wrote his first songs in his car
I wonder when he sang them if he thought they’d get this far
Chorus
Simply driven by the music that was singing in his soul
He was driven by the music down a long and restless road
Simply driven by the music--it would call and he would go
Following the bloodlines of those white lines heading home
The last years he was living robbed him of some memories
But they didn’t take his music and they couldn’t take his dreams
The ones that he kept writing down and kept singing about
The ones he saw those last years from the back seat looking out
Chorus
Simply driven by the music always singing in his soul
He was driven by the music down a long and restless road
Simply driven by the music--it would call and he would go
Following the bloodlines of those white lines heading home
(The bloodlines of those white lines were his lifeline heading home)
©Copyright 2008
Love Gives More Music
On behalf of the whole Brothers Four family…
Sincerely,
Mark Pearson
Bob-
All the best to you, my friend-please say "Hi" to Meri-
And "Hi" to Ron Fitz and all the Colorado Springs gang...
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