Mr. Henderson's Class - Part 3 - A Conclusion

Grampa Joe woke from his nap with an old tune in his head.

“Hey, there, Little Red Riding Hood,” he sang,

“You sure are looking good. You’re everything that a big bad wolf could want.”

“You’re waking up mighty happy, Joe.” said Mattie. “I haven’t heard that tune in a while.”
Joe smiled and thought about his early days as a struggling musician.

“I should have worked harder during those days,” he said. “I could have been escorting you to my rock and roll hall of fame induction right about now. Standing side by side with Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs or maybe even The Troggs.”

Mattie laughed and gave him a warm hug.

“I remember well," said Mattie.

“Wild thing,” sang Joe. “You make my heart sing. You make everything groovy.”

“Wild thing,” sang Mattie, “I think I love you. But I want to know for sure.”

“So come on and hold me tight,” sang Joe. “You move me.”

Joe held Mattie in his arms and danced her around the bed.

“You must have sung that tune a thousand times,” said Mattie. “You made so many people happy with the music, Joe. And you were the sweetest man on a stage. I have nothing but happy thoughts when I think of those times. You should regret nothing. You’re a fine man and have much life left in that old bag of bones.”

“At least I’ve still got me a good woman,” he said, “And and my Gibson J-160E."

“Some would have mentioned the guitar first, Joe.“ said Mattie.

“They’re the ones in the hall of fame, I suppose“ said Joe. “I guess I’m the lucky one. I got my Mattie.“

”Ah, Joe,” she said. ”You‘re still the sweetest man ever, don‘t you know. You want a little snack?”

“I wouldn’t say no to a bacon grilled cheese,” said Joe.

“You got a sweet little cookie like Mattie at your finger tips and all you can think about is bacon grilled cheese?”

“I am hungry,” said Joe.

“Lettuce and tomato sandwich then,” said Mattie.

”I want to keep you around for a while, Joe. Bacon and cheese, indeed.”

“Cookies for dessert?” said Joe.

“No room for cookies,” said Mattie. “Anaka’s in the basement with her schoolmates. They’re trying to write a song. You should help.”

“You’re a tease, Mattie," said Joe. “But writing a song sounds like fun,” said Joe. “I’m in.”

After lunch, Joe made his way down to the basement.

“What’s all this about writing a song?” said Joe.

***

On Monday morning, Mr. Henderson entered his class and, on his desk, found a rolled up sheet of paper tied with a blue ribbon.

“What’s this?” said Mr. Henderson.

“Open it,” said Anaka.

“Simplify Your Life,” read Mr. Henderson.

“It’s the song we were working on this weekend,” said Jordan.

“Anaka’s grandma Mattie wrote the chorus when she was a girl in Trinidad,” said Lewis. “And her grandpa Joe helped us with the chords. We wrote the verses.”

“With some help from Joe,” said Jordan. “He gave us some key words about getting along. Like change, love and peace.”

“So those are the things we wrote about,” said Michelle. “Then Joe wrote the chords down so you could play it.”

“Well then,” said Mrs. Henderson. “Let’s give it a go.”

Simplify Your Life

Chorus

D--------------G
Simplify your life, man
-----D
Go jump in the sand
-----A
And have a little dance

D-------------G
Justify your life, man
------D
Step out in the world
------A-------------D
And take a little chance

Chorus

D--------------------G
Change can make you happy
D--------------------A
Change can make you sound
D----------------------G
Change can twist you upside down
------D--------A------D
And turn your world around

Chorus

D-------------------G
Love can make you strong, man
D-------------------A
Love can make you scream
D-----------------G
Love can do what ever she please
--------D--------A-----D
She’s nature’s drama queen

Chorus

D------------------------G
Peace may come in your lifetime
D-----------------------A
Peace may come to your door
D----------------G
If you reach a hand out
---------D--------A------D
You may start an end to war

Chorus

https://soundcloud.com/hudsonmoon/simplify-your-life