With a keen eye of observation and a wise man’s knowledge, Ray Wylie Hubbard composes and performs a dozen songs that couldn’t spring from anywhere else but out of his fertile rock and roll bluesy poet-in-the-blistering-heat southern noggin. ”I like to look at both enlightenment and endarkenment,” he declares. “I feel comfortable observing each.”
His 2010 album "A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment" demonstrates the kind of talent that every great songwriter yearns for. Throughout the album, his focus remains on the song-constructing and performing stories set to music that resonate in a way that is completely his own. Hubbard recruits an ensemble of accomplished musicians to make the album’s larger than life outlaw tunes echo from track to track. Among the musicians featured on the album are Kevin Russell (The Gourds), Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen), Bukka Allen (Ian Moore, Jack Ingram), Billy Cassis (Bob Schneider,Double Trouble, Soulhat), Ray Bonneville (B.B. King, JJ Cale, Muddy Waters), Seth James (Percy Sledge, Delbert McClinton), David Abeyta (Reckless Kelly) and The Trishas as well as his own son, Lucas Hubbard.
The writing and recording of A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment came on the heels of Hubbard’s first screenplay endeavor, which was funded and filmed with a cast of icons including Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam and Lizzy Caplan. A weekly radio show, constant touring, and producing kept him busy, but didn’t manage to steal the Texan singer-songwriters focus. The outcome of the album is a juxtaposition of songs like “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” a fundamental gospel piece, and “Drunken Poet’s Dream,” cowritten with Hayes Carll.
Homegrown Tomatoes
Ray Wylie Hubbard Lyrics
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Than bacon and lettuce and home grown tomatoes
Up in the mornin′ out in the garden
Get you a ripe one don't get a hard one
Plant 'em in the spring, eat ′em in the summer
All winter without ′em's a culinary bummer
I forget all about the sweatin′ and diggin'
Homegrown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes
Wha′d life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
That′s true love and homegrown tomatoes
You can go out to eat, and that's for sure
But it's nothin′ that a homegrown tomato won′t cure
Put 'em in a salad, put ′em in a stew
You can make your very own tomato juice
Eat 'em with eggs, eat ′em with gravy
Eat 'em with beans, pinto or navy
Put ′em on the side, put 'em in the middle
Put a home grown tomato on a hotcake griddle
Homegrown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes
Wha'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can′t buy
That′s true love and homegrown tomatoes
If I's to change this life that I lead
I′d be Johnny tomato seed
'Cause I know what this country needs
Is homegrown tomatoes in every yard, you see
And when I die, don′t bury me
In a box in a cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
I could be pushin' up homegrown tomatoes
Homegrown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes
Wha′d life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes
Homegrown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes
Wha′d life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can′t buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes
"Homegrown Tomatoes" by Ray Wylie Hubbard is a joyful and tongue-in-cheek celebration of the simple pleasures of life. The song highlights the singer's love for fresh homegrown tomatoes and the importance of connecting with nature. The lyrics express a deep appreciation for the joys and benefits of growing and consuming one's own food.
The song begins by emphasizing the singer's fondness for the classic combination of bacon, lettuce, and homegrown tomatoes. This simple pleasure sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the lyrics describe the process of growing tomatoes from planting them in the spring to enjoying them throughout the year. The singer suggests that life without homegrown tomatoes would be dull and unfulfilling, making them an essential part of his existence.
The chorus celebrates the fact that there are only two things that money can't buy: true love and homegrown tomatoes. This statement reflects the belief that these intangible and authentic aspects of life are far more valuable than material possessions. The song also humorously suggests that homegrown tomatoes have healing powers, capable of curing any craving or need.
As the song comes to an end, the singer playfully contemplates what he would be if he could change his life, expressing a desire to be a tomato seed. This whimsical notion underscores the importance of homegrown produce in the singer's life and his belief that it is an essential factor in creating a better world. The song concludes with the singer expressing a desire to be buried in the garden, symbolizing his connection to the natural world and his appreciation for the simple pleasures it offers.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't nothin' in the world that I like better
There is nothing in the world that brings me more joy
Than bacon and lettuce and home grown tomatoes
Than the combination of savory bacon, fresh lettuce, and the satisfaction of homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin' out in the garden
Starting my day by tending to my garden
Get you a ripe one don't get a hard one
Make sure to choose a tomato that is ripe and juicy, not unripe and firm
Plant 'em in the spring, eat 'em in the summer
By planting tomatoes in the spring, I can enjoy their deliciousness in the summer
All winter without 'em's a culinary bummer
The absence of homegrown tomatoes during winter is a disappointment for my taste buds
I forget all about the sweatin' and diggin'
The hard work of sweating and digging in the garden is instantly forgotten
Everytime I go out and pick me a big one
Whenever I go out and choose a ripe, large tomato
Homegrown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes
The pure satisfaction and deliciousness of homegrown tomatoes
Wha'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
What would life be like without the joy and flavor homegrown tomatoes bring?
Only two things that money can't buy
There are only two things that cannot be obtained with money
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes
Those two things are genuine love and the experience of homegrown tomatoes
You can go out to eat, and that's for sure
Certainly, you can dine out at restaurants
But it's nothin' that a homegrown tomato won't cure
However, nothing can compare to the healing and satisfaction provided by a homegrown tomato
Put 'em in a salad, put 'em in a stew
Whether added to a fresh salad or a warm stew
You can make your very own tomato juice
You have the ability to create your own exquisite tomato juice
Eat 'em with eggs, eat 'em with gravy
Pair them with eggs or enjoy them alongside a rich gravy
Eat 'em with beans, pinto or navy
Include them in your meals with beans, be it pinto or navy
Put 'em on the side, put 'em in the middle
Whether placed as a side dish or at the center of the meal
Put a home grown tomato on a hotcake griddle
Enhance your hotcake experience by adding a homegrown tomato on the griddle
If I's to change this life that I lead
If I were to alter the way I live my life
I'd be Johnny tomato seed
I would choose to become a tomato seed named Johnny
'Cause I know what this country needs
Because I understand the essential requirement of this nation
Is homegrown tomatoes in every yard, you see
Every yard should have the presence of homegrown tomatoes, that is what I believe
And when I die, don't bury me
After my demise, please do not bury me
In a box in a cemetery
Avoid placing me in a box within a cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
Being laid to rest in the garden would be far more preferable
I could be pushin' up homegrown tomatoes
Even in death, my essence could benefit the growth of more homegrown tomatoes
Wha'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
What would life be like without the joy and flavor homegrown tomatoes bring?
Only two things that money can't buy
There are only two things that cannot be obtained with money
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes
Those two things are genuine love and the experience of homegrown tomatoes
Writer(s): Guy Clark
Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.