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Mason Jars, Dixie Cups (and the Pennsylvania Line)

©2011 Robert George BMI/Cameron Earnshaw SESAC

I was visitin’ my Uncle Ron
On his Pennsylvania farm
We were tradin’ crazy jokes
When he rolled himself a smoke
And he broke out with a jar of alcohol
Then he filled a paper cup
I downed it and looked up
When I saw an antique saber on his wall

Yeah, he said that thing was made
Back in 1864
And that shinin’ silver blade
Still reflects the civil war

And with ev’ry single toast
I could feel the past draw close
We could almost hear the fight
Echo through the countryside
We thought of life and dust
And traveled back in time
With mason jars, Dixie cups
And the Pennsylvania line

Then he said his granpa had it
In an old chest in his attic
And he gave it to him as a birthday gift
Hist’ry knows where to hide
Sometimes on a haunted night
That old saber whispers secrets it has left

I could feel a brave, young man
Who had fallen long ago
Weapon in his dying hand
Roses bloomin’ in the snow

And with ev’ry single toast
I could feel that soldier’s ghost
We could almost hear the fight
Echo through the countryside
We thought of life and dust
And traveled back in time
With mason jars, Dixie cups
And the Pennsylvania line

Just last May I lost my Uncle Ron
And he willed me his old country farm
Found his stash of outlaw alcohol
Watched that sacred saber on the wall

Cos with ev’ry single toast
I could feel the past draw close
I could almost hear the fight
Echo through the countryside
We thought of life and dust
And traveled back in time
With mason jars, Dixie cups
And the Pennsylvania line

Within the context of this lyric, I think the line, "roses blooming in the snow", are the saddest words I ever read.

thanks abigail...I hope it comes across that the "roses" are his blood. I was pretty sure it was clear but you never know.

Vividly clear. So clear, that the otherwise still, black and white photos, began to pulse with life. That's what made it so poignant. And so sad. And to close your eyes does not help to shut out the image. It's planted---never to die.

thanks again Abigail...it's often hard to know what will reach other people.