Back to the hollers of Tennessee when I lived in that $30 a month shack (see post called “Ola Cronk”, Oct. 13, 2024). The landlord was right—it could hardly be called a house. It did give me a roof over my head and it did have power. No plumbing, not even a drain….Making a living in rural TN was a challenge and the place was certainly cheap enough. It gave me a reality check and I will never take hot runnin’ water—or drains—for granted…
There was a well out back, close to the house. I had a small horse trough inside into which I would pour a few well buckets of water, enough to splash around in to get a bath. It’s hard to remember all the details now, but I think I had a sink in the kitchen with a bucket underneath to catch the gray-water from washing dishes…
I actually lived there for a couple years. So while I was holed up during one winter when I closed off all but one room to live in, I came up with this tune. I used the name Digger Lou then, my Nashville spoof. The album cover artwork was done by Linda Johnson, who is an incredible artist and new to Substack here: https://substack.com/@scarabtrax Her son Jason designed the cover, and there were several great Nashville musicians in on it too.
More adventures to come, down the road, about life in these here parts…
Meantime here is the transcript:
Hot runnin’ water, hot runnin’ water
Hot runnin’ water, it's so simple and plain
Ain't got no faucet, ain't got no drain
I want hot runnin’ water, I'm goin’ insane
Hot runnin’ water, I'm so tired of catchin’ the rain
I thought I'd move out to the woods.
Thought I'd live off of the land.
There were so many things about it that I just didn't understand.
If you thought that life was simple, well it is, but it's hard.
It's haulin’ water, cuttin’ wood, and mowin’ the yard.
And there's no hot runnin’ water, hot runnin’ water,
Hot runnin’ water, it's so simple and plain.
Ain't got no faucet, ain't got no drain.
I want hot runnin’ water, I'm goin’ insane
Hot runnin’ water, I'm so tired of catchin’ the rain.
Well, now if you haven't got pipes you gotta haul every drop
Haul it in, haul it out, you never can stop.
Livin' so simple takes up all your free time
But it sure is cheap when you’re countin’ every dime
And there’s no hot runnin’ water, hot runnin’ water
Hot runnin’ water, it’s so simple and plain
Ain’t got no faucet, ain’t got no drain
I want that hot runnin’ water, I’m goin’ insane
Hot runnin’ water, I’m so tired of catchin’ the rain
Now there is one good thing about no plumbing at all
When summer’s gone and we’re into the fall
I can clearly say that my mind is at ease
‘Cause when winter comes, then the pipes can’t freeze
When there’s no hot runnin’ water, hot runnin’ water
Hot runnin’ water, it’s so simple and plain
Ain’t got no faucet, ain’t got no drain
I want that hot runnin’ water, I’m goin’ insane
Hot runnin’ water, I’m so tired of catchin’ the rain
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