NOTE: I updated and re-recorded the song in July. Please check out the new post HERE.
I wrote this song in Hawaii the first few days of June, after missing the memorial gathering for Earl Crabb at the Freight and Salvage. I went into Megasonic Studios as soon as I got home to make a recording. You can hear it here.
Be Like Earl
by David Gans
June 1-3, 2015
Recorded by Jeremy Goody at Megasonic, Piedmont CA
With thanks to Ziggy’s Coffee Pot
Earl Crabb was a brilliant man
A gentle man, and generous
His Rolodex was heavy
And his attic was voluminous
He had a million tales to tell
And every one was true
I’m a better man for knowing him
And a better friend to you
Let’s ignore the dominant paradigm
And practice random kindness all the time
Treat our customers like neighbors
Not the other way around
A little more “Share this planet”
And a little less “Stand your ground.”
This world will be a better place
For every boy and girl
If we all do our best to be like Earl
Earl Crabb was an easy man
A laughing man, and sociable
To stand before his camera
Was to be well viewed and notable
He had a million friends, you know
And every one was real
A friend of Earl’s is a friend of mine
And that’s an honest deal
Let’s ignore the dominant paradigm
And practice random kindness all the time
Treat our customers like neighbors
Not the other way around
A little more “Share this planet”
And a little less “Stand your ground.”
This world will be a better place
For every boy and girl
If we all do our best to be like Earl
Earl Crabb was a software man
When very few were doin’ it
He made the world a better place
Enhancing and improvin’ it
Call him esoft, call him Earl,
He was The Great Humbead
No one here was ready
On the day he took his leave
Earl Crabb was a helpful man,
Resourceful and encouraging
He helped me to improve my life
With optimistic urging
I know I’m not the only one
Who benefited thus
So I’m making it my mission
To pass on his gifts to us
Let’s ignore the dominant paradigm
And practice random kindness all the time
Treat our customers like neighbors
Not the other way around
A little more “Share this planet”
And a little less “Stand your ground.”
This world will be a better place
For every boy and girl
If we all do our best to be like Earl
I will do my very best to be as kind as Earl
©2015 Whispering Hallelujah (BMI)