The Big Old Red Barn Square Dance
October 4, 2007 - 10:58am — Corys_Stories
I sometimes think that I was born 30 years too late. When I step into a big old red barn, I swear I've been there before, kicking up the dust at a square dance back in the hey day. A buddy of mine has a run down barn, and it sparked me to write this poem.
THE BIG OLD RED BARN SQUARE DANCE
poem written & read by Corben Geis
music written & performed by Jack Servello
Oh, I remember the big old red barn. What a sight so grand.
Good folks would come from miles afar, just to hear the band.
That old, red barn was our school house, at times, ‘twas our church and square dance hall.
Neighbors and friends would shuffle all eve. Boy, we had truly had a ball.
Time was much simpler then, no hurries and no rush
Between the caller’s dancing tips, we kids would sip Orange Crush.
Mornings we had church service there, baseball games all afternoon.
Square dancing the night away, I can still smell the apple pie in that big old room.
When I think America, all those images appear,
I hope those days are coming back, I soon wish they’d be here.
That big old, red barn was the hub place, we’d leave our worries at that big old, red door.
And allemande left and promenade, all across the dance hall floor
The boys would whittle on the bales of hay, and the girls would giggle and fix their hair.
Our parents and the grandparents would dance, no kidding.
I can still see that caller standing on the chair.
Can you hear the band a playin’? Is it Turkey in the Straw, or is that Cotton-eyed Joe?
It made no difference, to us dancers, we just clicked our heels and do sa doed.
Ah, there was peace in the valley, tranquility in the hills.
There was harmony at the hoe down, serenity in the vale.
I sometimes make it up to the big old, run down red barn,
The paints ah chipped, the boards are bowed, and curtains all are torn.
But I step inside, and sit right down, close my eyes and deeply breathe.
And memories flourish through my head. Soon, I feel so relieved.
My grandson is a teen-ager now, says he wants to fix it up.
And have the square dances back again and have everyone up for sup.
He’s an exciting lad, convincing he can be. If he says there’ll be a dance,
you can count on more than three.
I get a chill up my spine and pretend to do sa do.
I’m an old fool dancing by myself, I didn’t used to be this slow.
Autumn is in the air, the harvest moon, and colors fall
That’s the perfect setting for a square dance, I start picking up the hall.
I rustle through the hay, and the nostalgia puts me in a trance
It soon will be time for Saturday night at the big old red barn square dance.
"Whenever friends remember when..... they bring the good times back again!"
If you enjoyed that slide show of one of America's favorite past times,
check out this one Erin did with Ray Stevens' song
Comments
Fort Roberdeau
Have you thought about contacting Fort Roberdeau. They have an old barn and they use it for dnaces. Perhaps you could work with the fort to have a couple of old barn dances this fall.
My wife's Great Uncle and Aunt met at a barn dance in Sinking Valley, Pennsylvania. They had a terrific marriage. I guess you could say they got things off on the right foot and promenaded home.
Clay hardens by immobility – men's minds by standing pat. Both lose the power to take new impressions. (Pinchot 1910: 138)
The Barn at the Fort
My gramma and I attended the big, barn dance at Fort Roberdeau about 5 years ago, and to our surprise, it was a group of Civil War re-enactors dancing the old jigs, reels and contras. The live band, the caller prompter, sans microphone, shouting into a megaphone was interesting to watch.
Editing Genius
Erin Cooley spliced, cropped and edited this slide show all together. It works beautifully! Bravo to Mr. C.
Beautifully done
You both did a good job with this. Cory, you can barely tell it's you talking.
Bernice