If you’re like me, you can’t help but whip your head around at a classic rig that has been left to rot away in a field or pasture after serving its life for many years on the road. A rig like that will catch my attention as quickly as a shiny new custom truck. I often wonder about the day such a truck is put out to pasture – who decided its’ useful life was over, and why? At some point, it was likely someone’s pride and joy – someone’s fancy new rig that they were proud to show off to their friends and other motorists. Some of these rigs were blessed to be cared for by one owner for their entire careers, while others have passed through several hands before being retired. I think of the roads, the sunsets, and the all-night drives those rigs pushed through for all those years. I sometimes imagine the glow of the dash lights and the smell of the greasy diesels as they found a place to park next to another rig, also from days gone by. Some of these old trucks have been used and abused until they can’t take anymore, and sadly, some have been orphaned by a driver who has gone to meet the Lord. It makes me mad to think that many are being “regulated” out of the industry, even if they are still running strong. Nevertheless, the trusty old steeds are out there, waiting and rotting until someone rescues them or nature consumes them. This poem is about a driver who has decided to step away from his pride and joy, and feels the longing to go back to the days when they were both young again. He misses his glory days with his trusty old truck, yet he feels he must move on. I hope you’ll consider acquiring that old truck you’ve seen sitting in that field and give it a new life. Let it roll with pride again – you’d be surprised how fun and moving it is to drive an older dinosauric diesel – it’s an entirely different experience than driving the trucks of today. I hope you enjoy a taste of the old days, because… those were the days!
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
By Trevor Hardwick
There were times… those wheels were turning,
There were times… those lights were burning.
There were times, when those wipers kept on slappin.
There were times… that paint would shimmer,
There were times… that chrome would glimmer.
There were times, we never knew, these times would happen.
I recall… the day I got you,
I recall… the times I fought you.
I recall, the times we faced all kinds of weather.
I recall… just how you’d pound me,
I recall… how you’d confound me.
I recall, no matter what, we were together.
In my mind… I still adore you,
In my mind… I still abhor you.
In my mind, I’m in your comfort and your mercy.
In my mind… you’re like a lady,
In my mind… we’re rollin’ 80.
In my mind, we both are young and thirsty.
Now I see…our lives were blended,
Now I see… those times have ended.
Now I see, I must move on, though you can’t take me.
Now I see… you in the pasture,
Now I see… the road’s much faster.
Now I see, my life without you might just break me.
How I miss… the times you shook me,
How I miss… the miles you took me.
How I miss, the songs you sang when I was lonely.
How I miss… how we were bonded,
How I miss… how you responded.
How I miss, the way we had each other only.
Here I am… I’m reminiscing,
Here I am… it’s you I’m missing.
Here I am, I’m moving on but I’m without you.
Here I am… I’m getting older,
Here I am… I’m on the shoulder.
Here I am, don’t wanna go, but I’m about to.
There were times… we were outnumbered,
There were times… we roared and thundered.
There were times, we chased the lines but made it somehow.
There were times… that we outlasted,
There were times… we were outcasted.
There were times, good times, but those times are gone now.
