An Ode to an Old Friend (Dear, Lou)

Lyrics

“Oh, Lou, oh Lou.” Good Ol’ Lou Lou is no longer held down by a mind of old. The world lost a Lou and a Lou gained his heavenly wheels. “Oh, Lou, oh Lou.” Dear Ol’ Lou. Lou is, was & forever will be a man of old. A dying breed. They don’t make em’ like Lou no more… Lou is out of the dark, he’s found the light. He’s a bit of Hank Williams, He’s a bit of John Wayne, and a lot Richard Petty, He is Red Blooded, American..! An Ohio Original, An Ohio Classic. He’s Chevelle cruisin’ to those pearly gates. A hotrod angel looking to race. Lou’s Heaven bound. God best be ready, for a scumbag legend to be race’n his streets. Dear, Lou you will never be forgotten. Lou is smiling again. Lou is happy again. Lou is better than ever. He has escaped a broken down mind. His soul is free. He’s drivin’ that perfect Chevelle up on Heaven’s boulevard. The mind is a terrible thing to lose, old Lou. You were just a good old boy who lost his wits. Now & forever a hotrod angel. Lou you’re race’n your dream car in the great beyond. “Oh, Lou, oh Lou..” You would groan… “Damn tire kickers! damn tire kickers.” Building a rage, your arms ending up over your head. “Goddamn tire kickers!!!” Then smack your gums & mumble to yourself, your arms on your hips. On many a cold winter morn’ you’d be looking out the window at our mud lot, our car sellin’ sink-hole Abyss. With your nose dripping, with earmuffs on & a winter hat. The building was without heat. If a person would pull in, you’d be watchin’. and there was always a good chance you’d shrug and say. “just a color’d feller.” Then you would walk on out and try n’ sell em’. Now you are livin’ the dreams that were once stuck within. You worked the lots most your life. You worked long and you worked hard. You finally got your heavenly ride. “Oh, Lou, oh Lou…” You told me when I was new to driving “Not to worry about the person riding your ass. Hell with em’! Break check the sum bitch..!” There was one day at the lot when we were talking about someone, who had lost both their parents recently. I remember Lou holding back tears saying, “I haven’t seen my Mom and Dad in a long time. I miss them.” “They’ve been long gone. Don’t matter how old you are, I miss my parents.” “Well, what can you do?” He then seamlessly held his sadness back, Pitting it once more and went back to the day at hand. “They don’t make em’ like Lou no more…” The big sleep has come to you. You were a car man. You will always be a car man. It was your time. You are with your Mom and Dad again. Take your folks for a drive, Old Lou. Now a hotrod angel. Peelin’ rubber on clouds. In your perfect Chevelle. You sold cars out of the mud for us. You helped our business get out of the rough. While in the twilight years of your life you chose to help us. You gave us your best. We are forever grateful for you. “Oh, Lou, oh Lou…” has gained his wings. The years of Chevelle chasin’ are over for you. So, goodbye for now, Dear, Lou.