Jim Croce passed on this day 48 years ago
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He sang those anthems of my era consisting of the "common man" thematic elements with which I always identified.
The adage that the good die young was entirely too appropos here for he died as the result of a light airplane crash into a tree during takeoff in Louisiana on September 20, 1973.
I was about seventeen and a half years of age. I had graduated high school some 4 months previously and was still preoccupied in this fantasy world of my own concoction which would grip me for another decade.
The worse part was it was on the eve of the release of his fifth album and 1973 single of I Got a Name which was recorded by Jim Croce with lyrics by Norman Gimbel and music by Charles Fox.
Jim Croce is interred at Haym Salomon Memorial Park in Frazer, Pennsylvania.
I grieved his passing for a long time pondering all that might have been.
I got a name
Like the pine trees linin' the windin' road
I've got a name, I've got a name
Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad
I've got a name, I've got a name
And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I'm living the dream that he kept hid
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
Like the north wind whistlin' down the sky
I've got a song, I've got a song
Like the whippoorwill and the baby's cry
I've got a song, I've got a song
And I carry it with me and I sing it loud
If it gets me nowhere, I'll go there proud
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
And I'm gonna go there free
Like the fool I am and I'll always be
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
They can change their minds but they can't change me
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
Oh, I know I could share it if you want me to
If you're goin' my way, I'll go with you
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
Performed by Jim Croce
Song by Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc