“Hello. This is Monte Selby. I have a grant to write and sing songs about Morris County. Several people suggested I talk to you. Could I come by your office and visit?”
Sure, that’ll be fine.
Reflections from growing up in a farm town became one song Monte and Martin Selby presented in concert.
LAURA MAE
Laura Mae is your best friend
Always smile and say hello
Deliver groceries to your home
That’s my job, off I’d go
Twice a day, I’m on the go
My whole life, I’ve ridden my horse
Love to be a cowboy – rope and ride
Nearly 50 years, had the time of my life
But back as a kid, I had to bide my time
Mama had work, gotta bide my time
You see, Daddy had an accident on the farm
So Mama said we gotta make money somehow
A few years later what mama found was a
Grocery store in the middle of town
Right on Main Street, middle of town, they’d say….
Laura Mae is your best friend
Always smile and say hello
Deliver groceries to your home
That’s my job, off I’d go
Twice a day, I’m on the go
Times back then were not like now
I’d walk’n your house to the kitchen floor
Open your fridge and cabinet doors
I knew every house and so much more
Just a kid, but I knew much more
I knew who smoked, and who liked cheese
What they’d drink, and what they’d read (red)
Who baked cookies and homemade bread?
They’d give me treats I’ll never forget
Christmas time, I was very well fed. Because…
Laura Mae is your best friend
Always smile and say hello
Deliver groceries to your home
That’s my job, off I’d go
Twice a day, I’m on the go
Saturday night, farmers all come in
Some would trade their eggs and milk
We’d stay up late, get the orders filled
Charge the ticket to their bill
Charge the ticket to their bill
Some pay quick, some pay slow
Sell a few calves to get cash flow
Might take a year, to pay what they owe
Laura Mae just let it go
She’d been there too, years ago. That’s why…
Laura Mae is your best friend
Always smile and say hello
Deliver groceries to your home
That’s my job, off I’d go
Twice a day, I’m on the go
The Morris County Kansas Legacy Project was funded by the Morris County Arts Council and Historical Society. Ten songs were based on conversations with 24 longtime Morris County citizens for the concert in Council Grove. Three have references to the grocery story including fire destruction in 1978.
The concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=198&v=TbLxhSu0JoI.
Reminded of Psalm 42:8: “God promises to love all day, sing songs all night.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XIII–6–2-3-19
