A few days later I get a call back from a major record label, and the conversation goes something like this, Record Co Guy: “Hey howya doin’,whatcha got goin’, what’s happening?”
Me: “Aaah, I’m slowly going insane.”
Record Co Guy: “Well I’m quickly going insane, that’s what this place does to you, you know. What is it that I have of yours, can you fill me in?.”
I explain to him about the tapes that he has, the video, the bios, the reviews, the letter saying I will kill myself if they don’t sign me, etc etc, and he promises to have a listen and get back to me real soon. I leave the country before he does. (if he ever does)
It’s Mecca for Country Music fans
Packing up and leaving ain’t easy, and I have acquired a number of large items of a household nature along the way. I have a TV, a couch, a beautiful mahogany coffee table, and a 1966 Fleetwood Brougham Cadillac which will definitely not fit into my suitcase. I go and get my hair cut at the “Sanitary Barber Shop” on Charlotte Avenue. My barbers name is Merle, and I ask for a Shemp Howard haircut, which he obligingly renders to my head, all the while giving his assistant, Bill, numerous putdowns regarding the merits of do-nuts versus bagels. Merle is for do-nuts. (good man) The last few days seem to unravel in slow-motion, as I try and gather all the loose ends together in preparation for leaving.
The horror
It’s been a big, horrible mess of trouble, but all is not lost. The story goes on, and will probably continue for many months, if not years to come. Nashville ain’t done with me yet, and I ain’t done with Nashville. I have written a whole albums worth of songs while I’ve been here. I’ve made some good friends. I’ve become addicted to non-dairy whitener, do-nuts and Krystal hamburgers, (look to the Krystal!), I’ve de-haunted a house and I’ve survived one of the worst winters physically and emotionally, that I’ve ever had to deal with, in one of the strangest and saddest places I’ve ever visited. Now I know some people are going to think that I am crazy and that it’s not Nashville at all. I’m not the only one. Some people have found it hard to leave their hotel room because of this awful, brooding presence that seems to inhabit Nashville. I am relieved to find out that it’s really not out to get you, it’s just playing with you, as someone said.
V. I took a similar photo in front of my Cadillac. I can’t remember who copied who now.
My first week back in Australia seems to pass in a dream. I can’t believe how green and lush everything is, and it’s so goddam hot that I’m melting. Looking back on the last four months I can see that I’ve done a great job really. Nothing that a crack team of assault troops with a few flamethrowers and ground to air missiles couldn’t have achieved in the same amount of time. I do love Nashville though, and it’s not the reason for my problems. Nashville intensified a situation that was already in the first stages of deterioration. It brought it out into the open and slammed it against the wall until it smashed into a million pieces and then burnt the remains. On the day before I left, I visited the local library to find out more of the history of the area. It seems that the early explorers, upon arriving in the Middle Tennessee Valley, discovered hundreds and hundreds of burial sites from one end of the region to the other. Thousands of people from an ancient and highly advanced civilization which preceded the Native American tribes are laid to rest in this part of the country and nobody knows anything about these people. They say that the Indian Nations never settled in the valley, only using it to trap and catch food. The Unhappy Hunting Grounds perhaps? Bloody battles with much loss of life raged up and down Tennessee all through the Civil War and that wasn’t too long ago neither. George was writing songs for a new album while I was there and one day he played me a tape of a new song that he had just written.
This is George’s new song about Nashville, and it’s called, “I Love This Town”
I LOVE THIS TOWN, DON’T ASK ME WHY
MAYBE IT’S THE SMILIN’ FACES AS YOU’RE PASSIN’ BY
THEY SAY HELLO, AND WHEN YOU GO
IT’S Y’ALL COME BACK AGAIN, AND SEE US NOW AND THEN
AND IF YOU GOT SOME CASH, YOU CAN STAY AWHILE
EVERY DOOR’S ANOTHER STORE THEY’LL DRESS YOU UP IN STYLE
IF YOU AIN’T GOT NONE, THEN YOU’D BETTER RUN
OH YOU DON’T BELONG IN PARADISE IF YOU CAN’T PAY THE ASKIN’ PRICE
BUT DON’T YOU LET THIS TOWN BRING YOU DOWN
IT’S A REAL NICE PLACE TO VISIT AND MAYBE EVEN HANG AROUND
WHEN YOU LEAVE JUST PICK YOUR DREAMS BACK UP DOWN AT THE LOST AND FOUND
IT AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND BUT I LOVE THIS TOWN
I LOVE THIS TOWN, YEAH THAT’S A FACT
I’VE LEFT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT SOMETHING ALWAYS BRINGS ME BACK
IT SURE AIN’T THE TRAIN, COS IT DON’T STOP HERE
SO I GUESS IT’S JUST THE ATMOSPHERE
MOST EVERY DAY,DOWN ON BROADWAY
THEY’RE TALKIN’ BIG AND MAKIN’ DEALS AND SPINNIN’ ALL THEIR WHEELS
IT’S A SIGHT TO SEE, YES INDEED, SO LET IT ROLL AND SELL YOUR SOUL
IF YOU’RE LUCKY YOU’LL STRIKE GOLD
BUT DON’T YOU LET THIS TOWN BRING YOU DOWN
IT’S A REAL NICE PLACE TO VISIT, MAYBE EVEN HANG AROUND
WHEN YOU LEAVE JUST PICK YOUR DREAMS BACK UP DOWN AT THE LOST AND FOUND
IT AIN’T NOTHING BUT A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND
BUT I LOVE THIS TOWN
C 1997 GEO HAMILTON V
Just before I left, I emailed my buddy to thank him for his hospitality and kindness, and to tell him to make sure and look after the only car I own, and I got to thinkin’ about the big hole in the ground theory. Sure it is a big hole in the ground, but sometimes you’ve got to dig deep to find the gold that you’re looking for. Some people dig themselves a hole that they can’t get out of, and some people just scratch the surface. Me, I’m having a temporary rest, but I’ll be back to dig it some more.
George V. I love this town. Here it is.