Lincoln Park Inn

Cliff and I were watching a rerun of Country's Family Reunion tonight when somebody announced that Bobby Bare was going to sing "Lincoln Park Inn".  We were both ecstatic, because we think it's one of the best songs ever written.

"It's like a whole novel in a nutshell," I said.  Cliff agreed, and then asked, "Who wrote that song?"

I grabbed my Ipad, did a search and came up with an answer that should have been obvious.  Because, you know, every Tom T. Hall song I ever heard was like a novel in a nutshell.

"Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine"

"The Day Clayton Delaney Died"

The list goes on.  But these lyrics are among the best:

My name's in the paper where I took the Boy Scouts to hike,
My hands are all dirty from working on my little boys bike.
The preacher came by and I talked for a minute with him
My wife's in the kitchen and Margie is at the Lincoln Park Inn...

And I know why she's there; I've been there before,
But I made a promise that I wouldn't cheat anymore.
I try to ignore it, but I know shes in there, my friend.
My minds on a number and Margie is at the Lincoln Park Inn.

Next Sunday it's my turn to speak to the young peoples' class
And they expect answers to all the questions they ask.
What would they say if I spoke on a modern day sin
And all of the Margies at all of the Lincoln Park Inns.

The bike is all fixed and my little boy's in bed asleep.
His little warm puppy is curled in a ball at my feet.
My wife's baking cookies to feed to the bridge club again.
I'm almost out of cigarettes and Margie is at the Lincoln Park Inn...

And I know why she's there