Story Time
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Story Number 11
May 2013
I was called upon recently to introduce my Father, Cowboy Jack Clement, at a very special event. A tribute in his honor was held in Nashville in January of this year. It was a splendid event with musical performances by some of the greats. My Dad sat proudly at his table as people, including President Bill Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama (via satellite), spoke of his musical contributions and his wonderful comedic personality. I sat at the table with him until time to take the stage with my introduction. It is hard to sum MY Dad up in a few words. I was not exactly sure how to approach it. The solution turned out to be a poem.... So instead of a story, this time, I present to you... my Introduction in Poem... Affectionately entitled..
The House That Jack Built
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
MOST MEN MERELY PLAYERS
BUT LET’S ADD CLOWN, SINGER, WRITER
DANCER AND WAY LAYER
THAT’S A FEW THINGS WE CALL COWBOY
THEN THERE’S MAGICAL AND FUN
AND LEGEND AND HERO
AND ENGINEER AT SUN
HE WRITES SONGS ABOUT LOVE
CARROTS AND DOGS
AND DELICIOUSLY LONG LEGGED
GIRLS THAT ARE GONE
HE THROWS GREAT BIG SHOWS
WITH SONGS, STARS AND FOOD
THE SOUP HE MAKES IN HIS BATHROBE
IS DELIGHTFULLY GOOD
HE HAS A BIG HOUSE
MOST OF YOU HAVE A KEY
SO COME IN, SING ALONG
BUT JUST NOT IN B
HE BROUGHT THE WORLD CASH
JENNINGS AND PRIDE
THEN HE SINGS “WHEN I DREAM”
AND EVERYONE CRIES
HE LOVES TO FILM PEOPLE
INCLUDING HIMSELF
AND STORES LOTS OF LOUD TOYS
ON ALL OF HIS SHELVES
THIS IS THE SHORT LIST
OF WHAT HE’S DONE, BEEN AND SEEN
AND LET’S NOT FORGET
HE WAS AN “A” PLUS MARINE
HE’S C.E.O.
IN THE BUSINESS OF FUN
SO IF FUN’S WHAT YOU’RE HAVING
HIS JOB’S GETTING DONE
HE CHANGED ALL OF US
WITH EACH TITLE AND HOOK
WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC HISTORY
HE HELPED WRITE THE BOOK
CALLED PINEAPPLE JACK
AND COWBOY TO SOME
HE’S POLKA KING
AND RATTLE AND HUM
THE BEST GENIUS AND POET
THE WORLD’S EVER HAD
I’M THE LUCKIEST GIRL
CAUSE I CALL HIM DAD
I have to ask you, right now, could my Dad be ANY cuter? The answer is NO. Just look at his sweet face. After I introduced him on the night of the show... he walked out on that stage, in all of his 82 year old glory and sang his signature song, WHEN I DREAM, so beautifully that there was not a dry eye in the house. Someone, offstage, recorded it and put it on youtube. The angles aren't great but I tell you what, the singing is MAGNIFICENT. If you want a real treat, delivered by the greatest man that I have ever known, click on his picture above and grab a kleenex....
AND.... Just in case you haven't visited my site before and don't know who my Father is and why I talk so much about him. Please click on his photo above to go to his official website. Be prepared to be amazed...
