Additional Notes:

No Notes Available

Backstory:

This song is pretty much a true-to-life ballad about my Dad. Born in 1911, he spent most of his working years as a Ship-Repair tradesman, working mainly on Navy vessels in Nova Scotia shipyards. During the Second  World War, he logged many long days and nights of overtime, helping to keep The Atlantic Fleet afloat and ready. Dad kept singing, and playing his guitar up to a very short time before he passed in 1998 at age 86 years.

Lyrics:

                                                  
Clarence – Albert    
(©April 14, 2020, music and lyrics by Dan O’Brien)

Vs 1
A few years before the First World War, in a Nova Scotia town,
A little boy was born one day, who would turn my world around,
He was born left-handed and was always full of fun,
His name was Clarence-Albert, my Grandma’s oldest son.

Vs 2
He didn’t go too far in school, those war years they were rough,
And being born a south-paw, that just made things extra tough,
In time he left and went to work to earn a little pay,
And try to make his way in life, in the war years of that day.
          
Ch 1
He would learn he had a love for music deep within his soul,
And longed to own a real guitar, like he heard on the radio,
At Eaton’s big department store, one bright and sunny day,
He bought a Spanish Dobro, and taught himself to play.

Vs 3
One day he met a nice young girl, at a picnic with some friends,
He sang and played some music there, and planned to see that girl again,
In time, they started going out, and soon they fell in love,
They were wed in 1940, with many blessings from above.

Vs 4
His music ran along the lines of Jimmie, Wilf, and Hank,
But he always played just for the fun, not for money in the bank,
He played mainly at church concerts, and folks’d come from near and far,
To hear Clary, the south-paw picker sing, while playing his guitar.
    
 Ch 2
 The wisest man I’ve ever known, with a heart of purest gold,
 He always had a friendly word, and was loved by young and old,
 He was born left-handed, and was always full of fun,
 His name was Clarence-Albert, and I’m proud to be his son,

 Ending
 His name was Clarence-Albert, I’m so proud to be his son.