When Brother Ron Makes It (Honoring Ron Johnson)

From the Album As In Those Early Days

Oh me. Oh my.
When Brother Ron makes it.
Useful, beautiful,
Long lasting, fine finish.
When Brother Ron makes it.

Silver patterns of Damascus steel
On both sides of the blade
Sambar Stag handle in my hand
I know it might sound strange
But the spirit of those
Who work by hand
Lives on in all they make
When making love with all you do
Beauty we create

Oh me. Oh my.
When Brother Ron makes it.
Useful, beautiful,
Long lasting, fine finish.
When Brother Ron makes it.

With a bar of steel and a band saw
He cuts it to where he likes it
Grinds it down and tempers it
Then etches out his name
On that blade, then lays it down
Into an acid bath
One thing I have learned in life
What we do sure comes back

Oh me. Oh my.
When Brother Ron makes it.
Useful, beautiful,
Long lasting, fine finish.
When Brother Ron makes it.

When all we eat is store bought food
Hard to know what I’m talking about
When all we do is buy and sell
Hard to get up off the couch
But when you’ve known homemade, homegrown
Guaranteed to give your life
For what I’m holding in my hand
From Brother Ron a handmade knife

Oh me. Oh my.
When Brother Ron makes it.
Useful, beautiful,
Long lasting, fine finish.
When Brother Ron makes it.

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long Publishing 2018 / BMI

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