In this time of remembering and honoring those who have passed through the veils before us, I remember my dear friend, Robert. Catch phrases like “That’s cute stuff”, and “I can fix anything besides a hole in the sky and a broken heart” run through my mind as I think of him, along with a myraid of memories that are funny and kind and full of wonder, and adventure, and love. “That’s cute stuff” was pretty much his standard answer to me anytime I would call him with a question about whatever crappy car I was driving at the moment, talking me through whatever I was dealing with on the side of a random highway. The second phrase, “I can fix anything besides a hole in the sky and a broken heart” he picked up along the way, and certainly there was no better description of his mechanical skills, or his life in general. Any of us who knew Robert loved him, and could easily speak volumes of stories and fun times and compliments about every moment ~ but that's not the purpose of this post.
His exit from this world in July 2017 was sudden, and tragic, and rocked our entire community in many more ways than I could ever hope or try to describe in words.
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-multi-vehicle-wreck-on-asheville-highway/458390401
During his wake, a storm like no other rolled up, and throughout the night many magical and mystical things happened ~ and let’s just say life has not been the same since for any of us who were present.
Not long after, I wrote a song on acoustic guitar for him ~ “Lightnin’ Hot Rod” ~ that was my attempt at making sense of what I had experienced through Robert’s exit from this life, and also to memorialize him in the best way I knew how, in a way that he would appreciate.
Later a few of us got together and did a raw recording at a friend’s home, where I was accompanied by a lead guitar, mandolin, and fiddle. It's one of the only times I have ever agreed to record any of my music.
I couldn’t figure out how to just share the audio recording on here, so I created a video that has a slideshow of photos of Robert along with an mp3 of the recording. The photos are not mine, but are a compilation from his passing that many of us have shared with each other.
Here are the lyrics, for those who don’t have the nearly 7 minutes for the song:
Lightnin’ Hot Rod
The boy was a dreamer
from American soil
He drove fast cars, chased pinup girls
Full of wild abandon, and reckless care
He had a heart of gold, he loved to share
With mechanical wings, he soared in the clouds
Pretty girls in short skirts, kept his feet on the ground
He could fix anything, besides a broken heart
That hole in the sky was for him to depart
At the crossroads one night, Papa made it all clear
Robert rode the lightning, away from here
One door, sealed, and another unlocked
and suddenly we were all left in shock
a mortal coil traded, for a lightning hot rod
we witnessed the birth of an American God
I was lucky to be there that fateful night
when the storm rolled through, and he burned so bright
the tears fell like rain, as we screamed at the sky
we held vigil til dawn so that he could fly
dancing a dream, of fire and lace
the skies opened up, he was gone from this place
In the dog days of summer, when you're out late at night
you hear a shot in the dark, you see a bright light
its just a new God, on American soil
driving fast cars, chasing pinup girls
blow him a kiss, share a piece of your heart
he’ll gift you with love, never torn apart
remember Rob's story
and always take care
to freely love, to take the dares
It’s the birth of an American God
who rides through the skies
In a lightnin’ hot rod
The birth of an American God
Who rides through the skies
On a lightnin’ hot rod
Many will walk through our lives, and some will leave more of a mark than others ~ good, or bad. Throughout our time on this Earth, there will be a few souls who reach the stars, and touch us in a way that truly inspires an understanding of immortality. Robert, thank you for all you brought us, in life, and in your departure as well.
Thanks for reading. May your Samhain be full of blessings and mysteries and love, and please always remember:
