I was up in Cleveland last night, giving a talk to the Westpark Republicans, a very nice group of two dozen folks. To say I gave a talk is being too formal for we rather had a fine conversation on Lincoln lasting almost two hours. It was good, almost like doing politics in the 1850’s. After the talk, as I was lighting up a Henry Clay in my car, a club member came up and admired him. So we talked a bit about cars--much like folks would talk back then about their horses--and Cleveland and rock ’n roll and I was happy to hear that he knew the guy my Hummer is named after, Clarence Frogman Henry. So I played
Aint Got No Home for him and--embarrassingly--I almost got out of Clarence and danced in the parking lot, which is what I want to do every time I hear this song, one of the first I remember hearing in my new home. I mention all this because some of you have come think he is rather named after a famous author or judge. Not so.
Mr. Schramm does have the taste...Fats Waller, Henry Clays, and this goofy "frogman" stuff...Clarence Herny is kind of a slightly more laid-back Larry Williams or Smiley Lewis--also listened to "Lonely Street."
"So we talked a bit about cars--much like folks would talk back then about their horses"
Too bad the ghost of Abe himself didn't pull up beside you on his horse and inquire why yours is so bulky and lacking in agility, and why it must stop so frequently to eat and drink in quantities typical of two or three horses. And why does it have those big shoes just to prance on highways and in parking lots? Guess Abe was at home watching reruns of "Walker, Texas Ranger" or something.