Written in Virginia in Spring 2004 about changes that happened in the small town of Crozet, VA, where I grew up.
lyrics
Oh I'm from counting cars of the railway trains
And the few that make their way down the main street
We like to wave, my friends and I
As they go slowly rumbling by
And make a tally of the ones that wave back
But now the cars are SUVs
The drivers don't see us as they stop at the T
Small-town life is quickly getting faster
Where is Simpletown?
Just looking for a simple town
Where is Simpletown?
Just looking for a simple town
It's been over a year since I heard that lilting tune
That the old white ice cream truck used to play
The new kids don't know what they miss
No sticky wrapper in a grubby fist
No barefoot sprint down to hot summer pavement
And the shops that lined the main street have come and gone
To be replaced by restaurants all chic and trendy
The wooden plaques with painted vines
Have been replaced by neon signs
We're wiping out our history getting hip
Where is Simpletown?
Just looking for a simple town
Where is Simpletown?
Just looking for a simple town
Library built out of the old railway station
Where freight trains used to stop, their cars laden with apples and peaches
Put your ear against the rail
You can hear the whistle of the ghost trains still wail
Feel them rumble down the track
But you know they can't bring Simpletown back
We do our best to try to hold on to our rural past
But Suburbia, it elbows its way through
Developments are moving in
Three-story houses where the trees had been
The road names reminisce to fallen giants
And with development comes change
A drive-by shooting at the new cafe
And arson and murder followed after
Where is the town with the light-hearted laughter?
Where is Simpletown?
Just looking for a simple town
Where is Simpletown?
Just looking for a simple town
Bring me back to Simpletown
credits
from Solid Ground EP,
released October 15, 2013
Vocals/guitar: Ruby Ross
Mandolin: Cooper Schulte
Mandolin recorded by Michael Winter. Mixed by Michael Winter. Mastered by James Plotkin.
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