Track 9 — “I Reckon I'm Fixin' To!”

[Spoken Intro — Bubba, thick North Georgia drawl] Well, I’ll tell y’all something… People up North always ask me, “What in the world does ‘I’m fixin’ to’ mean?” Well, dadgummit, it means I’m ABOUT to! Now, when am I gonna do it? That’s a whole different question! [Band kicks in — fiddle, banjo, honky-tonk piano] [Verse 1] I was raised where the dogwoods bloom, Where Sunday dinner filled the room. We didn’t need no fancy words, Just the funniest sayings you ever heard. “Hey, y’all!” meant come on in, “Well, I’ll be!” meant here we go again. “I reckon” meant I wasn’t sure, And “fixin’ to” might take an hour or more! [Chorus] I’m fixin’ to, I reckon I might, Get around to doing something tonight! Well, I’ll be, and dadgummit too, That’s just how we talked, how about you? Good old Georgia sweet tea in my hand, The funniest folks in all the land! Amazin’! What da!? Well, I’ll be! That’s North Georgia talking to me! [Verse 2] Papa made biscuits from scratch each day, Sweet cornbread in his own old way. Taught me how to make that tea just right, Good old Georgia sweet tea, what a delight! Papa’d say, “Ah, dadgummit, boy!” Like those words were his personal joy. Mama was proper, careful and sweet, Papa kept the laughter rolling down the street! [Spoken Break — Bubba] Now, somebody asked me one time, “Are you coming or going?” I said, “Well, I’m fixin’ to leave, but I reckon I’ll stay!” They said, “That don’t make sense!” I said, “You ain’t from Georgia, are you?” [Banjo and piano answer each other] [Verse 3] “Well, bless your heart” could mean you’re sweet, Or you’re missing a few bricks underneath! “Hold your horses!” meant slow on down, “Over yonder” meant somewhere out of town. “Come here directly!” could mean right away, Or sometime later in the day. And when somebody hollered, “WHAT THE—” We’d all look around and say, “Smoke on it!” [Chorus] I’m fixin’ to, I reckon I might, Get around to doing something tonight! Well, I’ll be, and dadgummit too, That’s just how we talked, how about you? Good old Georgia sweet tea in my hand, The funniest folks in all the land! Amazin’! What da!? Well, I’ll be! That’s North Georgia talking to me! [Bridge — softer acoustic guitar and harmonica] Now Papa’s voice still makes me smile, Though I’ve been gone a good long while. The biscuits, the cornbread, those memories stay, And the words I learned ain’t faded away. Some things money just can’t buy, Like a front porch under a Georgia sky. And every time I hear those sayings again, I’m that little North Georgia boy I’ve always been. [Final Chorus — big country swing, handclaps] I’m fixin’ to, I reckon I might, Keep on laughing the rest of my life! Well, I’ll be, and dadgummit too, North Georgia, I’m still part of you! Good old Georgia sweet tea in my hand, A heart full of memories from my homeland! Amazin’! What da!? Can’t you see? That North Georgia boy is still in me! [Spoken Outro — Bubba] Well, I’ll tell y’all something… I’m fixin’ to wrap this song up. I reckon. Well, dadgummit… I just did! [Band stops] ALL IS WELL! [One final harmonica flourish]