Arroyo alums:  Doug Haywood, Marc Mariano, and Kenny Cox

Rusty

“gather ‘long now Rusty; 
it’s time to go.
the shaft is all played out; 
in a month there’ll be snow.”


Rusty’s down by the river,
gazing at  the sky.
he knows it’s time to leave
but he don’t know why.

“Gold is in a cornfield; 
mining is a game.”
that’s how Rusty put it;
different was his aim.

Rusty had a lady
and they stayed behind
working in the fields, 
gathering peace of mind.

        then a baby was born
        to bless their fields of corn.

then the child grew older;
assumed his father’s ways
learned to plow and plant the fields
and take old  Rusty’s place.

“Lord, my body’s weathered !”
Rusty vainly cried.
then he heard a voice inside lovingly reply:

“gather ‘long now Rusty; 
it’s time to go.
I have brought another spring
to melt away the snow.

make room for the others,
lay your head down now
and give the fields
to a fresh young man to plow.

gather ‘long now Rusty
gather ‘long now Rusty"


Rusty © 1997 Gary W. Shoe

Doug Haywood: Lead Vocal, Synth Accordian
Scott Bennett: Guitars
Gary Shoe:  Banjo, Vocal Harmony
Curt Pleiss:  Djembe