Ah, late summer … cooler mornings and homegrown tomatoes. And those tomatoes always get me singing along with Guy Clark’s “Homegrown Tomatoes.” Don’t know the song? Listen here.
Then grab yourself a homegrown tomato, fresh basil and mozzarella … slice ’em up and sprinkle with some good olive oil, your favorite balsamic vinegar, and a little salt & pepper. Let them marinate for a few while you slice up a baguette and open a nice bottle of red. Dinner on the deck … perfect.
Thus inspired, I created this homage to Guy and homegrown tomatoes. (It’s also a very special homage to my sister whose painting I based this on.)
I’m honored to say “only two things money can’t buy” won the Dr. & Mrs. Leslie Russell Award at the Newton Art Association Annual Award Show! The show will be up through September 29 at the Newton Free Library.
Homegrown tomatoes
by Guy Clark
Ain’t nothin’ in the world that I like better
Than bacon & lettuce & home grown tomatoes
Up in the mornin’ out in the garden
Get you a ripe one don’t get a hard one
Plant ’em in the spring eat ’em in the summer
All winter without ’em’s a culinary bummer
I forget all about the sweatin’ & diggin’
Everytime I go out and pick me a big one
Homegrown tomatoes home grown tomatoes
Wha’d life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things money can’t buy
That’s true love and homegrown tomatoes
I’ve been out to eat and that’s for sure
But it’s nothin’ a homegrown tomato won’t cure
Put ’em in a salad put ’em in a stew
You can make your very own tomato juice
Eat ’em with eggs eat ’em with gravy
Eat ’em with beans pinto or navy
Put ’em on the side put ’em in the middle
Put a home grown tomato on a hotcake griddle
If I’s to change this life that I lead
I’d be Johnny tomato seed
Cause I know what this country needs
Homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see
When I die don’t bury me
In a box in a cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
I could be pushin’ up homegrown tomatoes