From Dixieland to Frisco Bay

FROM DIXIELAND TO FRISCO BAY

Born and raised in Dixieland,

I took an early stand

To live and die in Dixie,

But life soon changed my plans.

I grew up with the folks I loved

And called the South my home,

But somewhere there along the way,

I left my home alone.

Dixieland, I called my home

No matter where I lived,

For Dixieland had given me

The life I came to live.

I went to church and sang those songs

That all my family sung,

I share the same beliefs today

From lessons learned so young!

Times were rough and soon I left

To find another home,

Some place where I could live and work

And start life on my own.

I still went back on visits

And I wished I could return;

Somehow things got in my way

But I never ceased to yearn.

I found a job and did my best

To start out life again,

And tried to meet and make new friends

Some place I'd never been.

To fit in right, I found it hard

In places that seemed strange,

`Cause when I lived in Dixieland

Most folks were all the same.

Folks poked fun when they heard me talk

And to me they too spoke strange,

`Cause when I lived in Dixieland

Folks sounded all the same.

We all can't live in Dixieland,

There's not enough room there,

If plans all went the way we dreamed,

We'd never go anywhere.

You see, I was a southern boy

And raised in Dixieland,

At eighteen years, I left the farm

And thought I was a man.

I rode that long ole greyhound bus

To the Golden State out west,

With very little cash on hand,

I tried to do my best!

I went to San Francisco,

Some kin of mine lived there,

An uncle, aunt and grandma;

I knew for me they cared.

A ticket mailed to Vicksburg,

My Uncle Alton sent

Along with twenty-five dollars

To feed me where I went.

Along the way, I lost 10 bucks,

My money then was short,

I had to pinch my pennies then

`Cause I had not been smart!

A few free meals were bought for me

By a stranger I had met,

When he found my cash was low

Across the aisle he sat.

The bus stopped in El Paso

When it came time to eat,

For some this was a terminus

But I just kept my seat.

That stranger looked across the aisle

And asked about my plans,

I said, “I'm not too hungry now,”

He said, “Come eat, young man.”

He must have seen me counting

The money I had left.

He figured I was nearly broke

And wanted much to help!

We both walked in the depot

And sat down at a table,

He said, “Get what you want my friend,

I'll pay if you're not able.”

I told him of my money loss,

He said, “Now don't you fret,

If you don't have the funds to eat,

I'll pay for what you get.”

This was my first time all alone

But God had sent this man

To help me out along the way,

He fit right in God's plan.

That day I learned a lesson,

He taught me what it meant,

To show love and compassion

Like the angels God had sent.

That stranger's name, I don't recall,

I just know he was kind,

And helped me out along the way

While on that Greyhound line!

Two more times along the way,

He bought me food and drink

Then got off that ole Greyhound bus

And shook my hand and winked.

He wished me luck and walked away

Saying, “take good care my friend,

You're not too far from family now

Your journey soon will end.

I thanked him for the help he gave,

He wished me all the best,

But when my bus pulled out of sight,

I felt so very blessed.

Somewhere close to Bakersfield

That Greyhound rolled along

On west through California

As I sat there all alone.

I watched the fields and farms go by

The sights were new to me,

As we rolled west to Frisco Bay

There was much more to see!

The day went by and soon we stopped,

The sun was going down,

I was now in San Francisco

And got off that ole Greyhound!