Tom T. Hall - Once Upon a Road

In 2007, as Christmas gift to his wife Dixie, Tom T. Hall released the CD Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T. on their independent bluegrass label Blue Circle Records. "Once Upon a Road" is a selection from this CD.
Vocals: Tom T. Hall
Words & Music: Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall
Album: Tom T. Hall Sings Dixie and Tom T. (Blue Circle Records - 2007)
Lyrics:
ONCE UPON A ROAD
WHEN I WAS INNOCENT AND FREE
AND THE BACKROADS OF AMERICA
WERE LIKE TOYLAND TO ME
IT SURELY WAS THE PROMISED LAND
AND WE HAD OURSELVES TO PLEASE
OH HOW THE MILK AND HONEY FLOWED
ONCE UPON A ROAD
ONCE UPON A ROAD
WE COULD LIVE OFF OF THE LAND
WATERMELONS ON THE VINE
CHICKEN COOKIN' IN A PAN
WATER CLEAN AND WATER FREE
YOU COULD SLEEP BENEATH A TREE
LOVE AND FREEDOM WAS OUR CODE
THAT WAS ONCE UPON A ROAD
ONCE UPON A ROAD
REALLY WAS A CRAZY TIME
WE BELIEVED WE COULD MOVE MOUNTAINS
SO WE MOVED THEM IN OUR MINDS
BLOOD AND SWEAT AND BITTER TEARS
TOOK THE DAYS AND TOOK THE YEARS
WE HAVE LITTLE LEFT TO SHOW
FOR BEING ONCE UPON A ROAD
ONCE UPON A ROAD
WE WERE YOUNG AND WE WERE FAIR
CHANGED THE FACE OF ALL AMERICA
BUT NEVER IN THE BARBER CHAIR
WE WERE FIGHTING FOR A DREAM
FOUGHT A MIGHTY BIG MACHINE
THERE AIN'T NOTHING THAT WE KNOW
FOR BEING ONCE UPON A ROAD
WE HAVE LITTLE LEFT TO SHOW
FOR BEING ONCE UPON A ROAD

[@parkersmithphoto]

This is one of Hall's best songs and, unfortunately, not one that many people recognize. Many thanks.

[@jayjaynella4539]

I put it at #1 on my list. I grew up in the era in which the freedom he talked about existed.

[@NaiveCynic]

To be Appalachian is to live on a steady diet of hand-me-down nostalgia, for the roots of our ancestors nourish the fruit of our lives, just as our pains and stories shall one day nourish our own progeny. Mr. Hall, of Olive Hill, KY, has always understood this. And for the vast roots he laid we shall always be grateful.

[@thomastommy1192]

Tom T Hall belongs to a club I started. The Very Best Of The Best. He for sure is that. I have always liked him as a writer and entertainer. God bless you, Tom T Hall, where ever you are.

[@sartainja]

Amen, Brother TT.

[@James-gp2uf]

Maybe I'm being partial but I think he's the best country artist ever. By far the best

[@Bascomblodge]

T. T. Hall: What a great poet. His ability to capture a part of America in a song was similar to how Rockwell could capture it in a painting. I think of Hall, Rockwell, and Mark Twain and being 3 American originals.

[@DamonHawn]

Nigga yeah

[@ralphvarner483]

A perfect analogy, Bascomblodge! They are really strong comparisons of beauty's simplicity.

[@keithschmidt6418]

I've listened to mr tom t hall for well over 40 years, I'm 55yo, and Australian, started with old dogs and children, and pamela brown and i love, and i like beer, and of course Clayton Delaney, my son is 36 and i wanted his first name as clayton, but his mum went nah he can have it as a middle name, i imagine the ime tom t and john prine and waylon and slim and george and patsy and kitty and lefty are all writting songs and having a ball. RIP. Y,°ALL

[@jayjaynella4539]

I am Australian also.

[@Mr210fireman]

RIP Tom T. Hall. Your memory will live on!

[@sartainja]

Amen, Mr.

[@frankhanson5974]

This is so fvcking good.

[@keithschmidt6418]

Tom T Hall is in my special playlist titled " Pure " and it has all of the best country singers/ songwriters from many years ago up till modern day, there are a lot more from days gone by though. RIP.

[@not1personknowsy]

He is the definition of "pure"

[@terrycasavechia1474]

Another great message from the story teller! Thanks again Tom T Hall

[@kmckamey]

Love the Storyteller. Keep uploading great music, brother!

[@Bascomblodge]

What a great verse Tom T. wrote here. He captured the innocence and sense of a generation: ONCE UPON A ROAD WHEN I WAS INNOCENT AND FREE AND THE BACKROADS OF AMERICA WERE LIKE TOYLAND TO ME IT SURELY WAS THE PROMISED LAND AND WE HAD OURSELVES TO PLEASE OH HOW THE MILK AND HONEY FLOWED ONCE UPON A ROAD THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND MISS DIXIE.

[@DamonHawn]

nigaga

[@sartainja]

He would drive around the country and visit small towns in an attempt to find ideas for songs.

[@blueridgerennsport]

I just asked Alexa to play this song for me and it was the first time "she" told me no - this song isn't available for streaming on Amazon Unlimited, if you can believe that. Thank you for uploading it here!

[@amcdx1]

probably didn't comply with their community standards, whoever that might be.

[@daledebord4530]

Sure will bring tears to your eyes.amen.grest man.

[@daledebord4530]

Alot of good song of Tom t hall from bkn the good ol days

[@daledebord4530]

These songs never get old

[@Oscoe63]

R.I.P. old Storyteller - you will be missed.

[@TERoss-jk9ny]

Gotta love the Banjo and Mandolin! So beautiful. RIP Mr Tom T Hall!

[@StevenSpolar]

Tom T. Hall is still alive and well at 83 years old. Sadly, his wife Dixie passed away about three years ago.

[@keithschmidt6418]

Tom T Hall is still alive

[@brian5o]

@@StevenSpolar Sadly, we just lost him. I don’t usually get too broken up with the loss of a celebrity or musician but this one hurts. May Tom Rest in Peace. He was a legend that made the world a better place just by being in it. By the way, I don’t recall hearing this song before but I am so happy I have now, what a beautiful song with beautiful instruments. Thank you very much for sharing it!

[@jayjaynella4539]

@@brian5o From the cd "Tom T Hall sings Miss Dixie and Tom t." Blue circle records 2007. Many other great songs on this cd also.

[@larrbethea8432]

GREAT Musicians give back, Tom T. Hall was no exception he gave songs to younger artists and bands such as this Song. Tom T. Hall let the Nothing Fancy Bluegrass band record this song and make it their Cover Title. Tom and his Wife Dixie invited the Band to record & stay at their home Studio.

[@haroldblackwood616]

Can't get any better than that I really like it

[@daledebord4530]

Rip.tom t hall you was the best I love your song bring tears to your eyes

[@Sibonsax]

I've almost heard it all; from Tchaikovsky to Thelonius Monk, The Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, Peter Frampton, & Tony Rice, & Hank Jr.. Tom T. graced Halifax County , Va. once & it was a true pleasure. He deserves to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. I love his music. We need to get Jerry Reed ( a talented Georgia boy[ my mother is from Wrens, GA.] check out Yes Ma'am Chet Atkins' version) in there. ONCE UPON A ROAD! A GREAT TUNE! GOD BLESS TOM T.!

[@earlstewart2262]

great tune with a bluegrass flavor

[@regsunduk7036]

thank you so much for posting ....love this song but could you please re-post,as it skips at he beginning at 0:29

[@800green]

I wish they would play this album on the radio here in NH I love tom t halls music and some of these songs are so awesome I listen to them over and over finaly some good old country music I should of known that the only way I was going to here some thing that would compare to tom t halls story telling of the past would have to come from the master thank you so much I wish my father could of heard this song before he passed away you still have it Tom please write me some more classics . PORTER

[@paulbaker2090]

Who could not love Tom t hall?

[@keithschmidt6418]

My apologies for my last comment, i know Tom T is still alive and well , and will be for ever, i wrote that comment wrong.

[@toletaarmstrong4779]

Never heard that one before

[@rockymountainrose8189]

800green I agree 100% with you. Your dad is listening :)

[@polkjohnson4478]

confused..

[@cohencash1]

MY IDOL,TOM T,,# 1 FAN FROM CANADA

[@jburr6527]

number 2 lol

[@DamonHawn]

Number 3

[@joachimverhoeven3525]

This is tremendous!

[@sartainja]

Amen Joachim

[@not1personknowsy]

This song always makes me cry my damn eyes out, every time. What a brilliant work of musicianship!

[@not1personknowsy]

Every. Single. Time.

[@not1personknowsy]

It makes me ugly cry so hard. It's a visceral reaction from his delivery

[@danieladdair6793]

Love that Tom T Hall and always will

[@RemingtonRidersMusic]

I never heard this one. Thanks for turning me on to it.

[@paulinehurt617]

ONE of the Best love

[@MusicIsTheJoyOfLife]

Amazing. Thank you.

[@shawnmollett9617]

RAINBOW STEW, WITH RED,WHITE,BLUE.

[@hownos]

great stuff

[@philreverberation]

This fantastic album is coming out with new packaging in the UK in July on Drumfire Records.

[@DamonHawn]

Did that album ever release?

[@jayjaynella4539]

Tom here is telling us 14 years ago what our leaders had in store for us. As usual we ignored the message. Now look at what we have lost, even our dignity is now been taken from us. " we have little left to show for being once upon a road". Truer words have never been sung over the last 20 years.

[@terrysaunders5652]

This is telling about the 60s. Just listen to the past tense of the words. I lived the 60s.

[@jayjaynella4539]

@@terrysaunders5652 Yes I was born in 1954, and this song immediately struck a chord with me.

[@paulinehurt617]

Love love

[@Cracked-hands]

Love this song so much.. what a different world mine has become.

[@stephenbourque4619]

RIP Tom T

[@rockymountainrose8189]

So true

[@lornebain3831]

👍👍👍👍

[@hownos]

i was looking for this thanks for the post.

[@DamonHawn]

Nigga yeah

[@billynixon6596]

great noise..xxxx

[@twelvepolesdaroot8309]

❤

[@djreag8614]

awesome

[@lorraineirwin6348]

One of a kind!

[@bentonscrivener]

The King of Olive Hill, Kentucky! He inspires songwriters in Carter County to this day.

[@sartainja]

Viva the memory and music of Tom T. Hall. Gone but not forgotten!

[@pmcscwacks]

I love it, an embodiment of a great artist.

[@sartainja]

Amen, PMCS

[@terrysaunders5652]

Oh how this describes our lives as young folks living in the 60s