Countryklassieker du jour: The green green grass of home

Nog een lied van Johnny Darrell dat bekend is geworden door anderen. Het derde lied gezongen vanuit het perspectief van de terdoodgebrachte veroordeelde. (Je krijgt er het ontroerende My elusive dreams bij cadeau.) 1965.

The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa

Down the road I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home

Yes, they’ll all come to meet me
Arms reaching, smiling sweetly
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home

The old house is still standing
Though the paint is cracked and dry
And there’s that old oak tree that I used to play on

Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It’s good to touch the green, green grass of home

Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me
And I realize, yes, I was only dreaming

For there’s a guard and there’s a sad old padre
On and on we’ll walk at daybreak
Again I’ll touch the green, green grass of home

Yes, they’ll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me ‘neath the green, green grass of home

The Flying Burrito Brothers waren (en zijn misschien nog steeds) bekender in Nederland dan thuis in de VS, waarschijnlijk te danken aan de aandacht die de VPRO-radio aan hen gaf. Hun versie met Gram Parsons, 1970.