Monday, May 26, 2008

And on a sadder note.....

Last week, the nation and world lost one of its greatest patriots and citizens, Utah Phillips.




For those in Bob and Helen's neck of the woods, the tentative date for the funeral is Thursday May 29 with a memorial service on the following Sunday.

7 comments:

Diane Smith said...

He may be gone, but he lives in his music.

Unfortunately, this one is not "live" but it is how I will always remember him, dragging my daughter all around the state so she could hear him before he was gone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O93YpTYCWRk&feature=related

And there's an entire mini concert with one of Utah's wonderful stories here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D07S-m7h9Q

and for Helen, on the Hospitality House:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cQMvkDU558

Diane Smith said...

In case anyone is interested, here's info on the memorial service from his son:

There will be a memorial on Sunday June 1st at Pioneer Park in Nevada City. The memorial will begin at 10 a.m and last a couple of hours.

Because of my dads love of little league baseball the memorial will be held on home plate at the little league field in Pioneer Park and have a very distinct baseball flavor.

Wish I could be there!

Unknown said...

More info: this is from our local paper, after the memorial at the park is a pot luck at the Miners Foundry, then "trains, Tramps and Traditions" a celebration of Phillips music, 8pm at the Odd Fellows Hall, all in Nevada City.
Anyone able to come can stay with us. We unfortunatly won't be home Sunday, but maye be back for the evening event.

Gary and Susan Mullen said...

The Goodnight-Loving Trail
(Bruce Phillips)

Too old to wrangle or ride on the swing,
You beat the triangle and you curse everything.
If dirt was a kingdom, they you'd be the king.

On the Goodnight Trail, on the Loving Trail,
Our Old Woman's lonesome tonight.
Your French harp blows like the low bawling calf.
It's a wonder the wind don't tear off your skin.
Get in there and blow out the light.

With your snake oil and herbs and your liniments, too,
You can do anything that a doctor can do,
Except find a cure for your own god damned stew

CHORUS

The campfire's gone out and the coffee's all gone,
The boys are all up and they're raising the dawn.
You're still sitting there, lost in a song.

CHORUS

I know that some day I'll be just the same,
Wearing an apron instead of a name.
There's nothing can change it, there's no one to blame
For the desert's a book writ in lizards and sage,
Easy to look like an old torn out page,
Faded and cracked with the colors of age.

CHORUS

Diane Smith said...

Gary, thanks for that!

I can clearly hear him singing as I read the words.

He was a true original.

Rob said...

There is a movement to name the little league field at the park where the memorial service was held as the Utah Phillips field. He was a big fa n of little league and went to most games just to watch the kids play.

Unknown said...

Rob! Your with us!!!!