RC Burns

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  1. Rich Dark Earth (16-44 .WAV Version)

From the recording Full Circle (16-44 .WAV version)

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“Rich Dark Earth” is one of those songs that just kind of crawled out from my subconscious mind and onto the page.
I can’t recall just where or when I heard or read that one truly only needs 3 things in life: good soil, clean water and sunshine. That got me to thinking and I can see how those 3 things are the foundation of life, but I felt there was something missing and that something was love. I knew this was a really good theme for a song so I began to work on how I could communicate that in a way that would resonate with most everyone. That’s when the idea of a father passing on that truth to his son. After that it was only a matter of finding the right setting and filling in the blanks.
The relationship between a father and a son is one of the most important that there is in life and although that relationship can sometimes be difficult, there are times of clarity when the passing on of knowledge is seen by both the father and the son as important. I chose a father and son working in a farm field for the symbolism of that knowledge transfer. In the closing verse I made sure that the tradition continued so that it hopefully would pass down to all of the generation that follow.
JK amped up my simple melody and gave it a “Hotel California” feel which I think makes for a really good song.

Lyrics

Rich Dark Earth
© 2018 RC Burns
All Rights Reserved

Verse 1
Back in the summer of ’63
Walking in the fields just my Daddy and me
Hot summer sun beatin’ down
I asked him what made the world go ‘round
He looked at me in that way he did
And we walked over to that big oak tree
And on that day he planted a seed
He said ‘son there’s only four things you need’

Bridge
Rich dark earth, cool clear water
Bright sunshine and love

Verse 2
Somewhere between a boy and a man
I tried hard to understand
What he was trying to say to me
In the shade of that big oak tree
He wiped the sweat off of his brow
In my mind I can still see him now
Saying those words – that simple creed
Son there’s only four things you need

Bridge
Rich dark earth, cool clear water
Bright sunshine and love

Verse 3
My Daddy said son you understand
Everything begins with the land
A simple piece of rich dark earth
Only God knows what its worth
Rich dark earth to plant the seed
Cool clear water to fill the need
Bright sunshine in the skies above
And don’t you forget about love

Chorus 1
Rich dark earth to plant the seed
Cool clear water to fill the need
Bright sunshine in the skies above
And don’t you forget about love

Verse 4
Its been some time since my Daddy’s been gone
I go walking in those fields again
Hot summer sun still beats down
The same things make the world goes ‘round
This time I’ve got my son with me
And we walk over to that big oak tree
I try hard to plant the seed
Son there’s only four things you need
Rich dark earth, cool clear water
Bright sunshine and love

Chorus 2
Rich dark earth to plant the seed
Cool clear water to fill the need
Bright sunshine in the skies above
And don’t you forget about love
Rich dark earth, cool clear water
Bright sunshine and love
Rich dark earth, cool clear water
Bright sunshine and love
Rich dark earth, cool clear water
Bright sunshine and love