Track 12 — “The Great Sunday Squirrel Disappearance”

[Spoken Intro — relaxed North Georgia drawl, acoustic guitar picking, gentle harmonica] Well, I’ll tell y’all something… It’s a beautiful Sunday evening out here. Big ol’ white cumulus clouds floating across the sky. Me and Trigger are taking our little evening stroll. Birds are singing, breeze is blowing. Everything’s peaceful. But something ain’t right… Not one squirrel! NOT ONE! Dadgummit, where’d all the squirrels go!? [Comical banjo lick] [Verse 1 — easygoing country swing] We stepped outside about evening time, With a peaceful heart and a clear blue sky. Big white clouds like cotton balls, Floating over the treetops tall. Trigger had his nose down low, Investigating everywhere we’d go. Sniffed a bush and checked a tree, But not one squirrel could either of us see! I said, “Now Trigger, this don’t seem right, Them squirrels been running both day and night!” He looked at me, then looked around, And went right back to sniffing the ground! [Chorus — catchy, humorous country gospel swing] Where’d all the squirrels go? Does anybody know? Did they pack their little suitcases And head for Mexico? Did they take a Sunday holiday? Did they catch a southbound train? Or are they up there in the treetops Laughing at us again? Well, I don’t know, And I reckon that’s all right! We’re just two old buddies Walking in the evening light! [Spoken Break — band stops] Now hold on just a minute! I got a theory. I believe them squirrels Have organized themselves. That’s right! THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF NUT COLLECTORS! LOCAL NUMBER… ACORN! [Banjo crash, comic drum fill] And they’ve gone on strike! [Verse 2 — playful honky-tonk] Now yesterday they were everywhere, Running up trees and jumping through air. One went left and another went right, Had poor little Trigger wound up tight! But today it’s like a ghost town, Not a single bushy tail around. I checked the fence and the old oak tree, Thought maybe they’d gone to Tennessee! Then I remembered what I learned today, You can’t make life go your way. Don’t chase a squirrel, don’t chase a thought, Don’t get yourself all tied in a knot! [Chorus] Where’d all the squirrels go? Does anybody know? Did they pack their little suitcases And head for Mexico? Did they take a Sunday holiday? Did they catch a southbound train? Or are they up there in the treetops Laughing at us again? Well, I don’t know, And I reckon that’s all right! We’re just two old buddies Walking in the evening light! [Spoken Interlude — guitar slows, harmonica plays] You know something, Trigger? We spent this whole Sunday learning About letting go of anger, Being still, And not trying to control everything. And here I am… Trying to figure out WHERE THE SQUIRRELS WENT! WHAT DA!? [Long pause] I reckon I still got some learning to do! [Verse 3 — warm, thoughtful country blues] Now the clouds rolled by so peacefully, And a little old thought came over me. Maybe life ain’t something we control, Maybe peace is learning to let things go. Folks come and go, the seasons change, Some things leave and some remain. You can spend your life just wondering why, Or watch those clouds go floating by. I looked at Trigger, he looked at me, Like he’d figured out life’s mystery. Didn’t need no answer, didn’t need no plan, Just another little walk with his old man. [Bridge — soulful Hammond organ, guitar and harmonica] We heard about forgiveness today, About letting all that anger fade away. About loving people, letting them be, And finding the truth in what we see. I ain’t got tomorrow figured out, And that’s not something to worry about. The sun’s still shining, the sky’s still blue, And there’s still some living left to do. [Final Chorus — joyful swing, full band] Where’d all the squirrels go? Well, I still don’t know! Maybe they’re at a squirrel convention Putting on a Broadway show! Maybe they’re enjoying Sunday, With their feet up in a tree! Maybe they’re all sitting around Talking ’bout Trigger and me! Well, let ’em go! Let ’em have their fun! We got clouds above our heads And a beautiful setting sun! [Spoken Outro — playful, peaceful] Well, I’ll tell y’all something… I learned a whole lot at Church today. Forgive your mama. Forgive your daddy. Quit getting angry. Quit trying to control everybody. And don’t believe every crazy thought That comes floating through your head. Including… “WHERE’D ALL THE DADGUM SQUIRRELS GO!?” [Comical harmonica squeak] Oh, Lord! What a mess! Come on, Trigger. Let’s go on home. Maybe they’ll be back tomorrow. And if they ain’t? Well, dadgummit… ALL IS WELL! Stay with it! Stay with it! Stay with it! AMAZING! NICE! [Final harmonica flourish, guitar strum, band stops]