Day #4 - “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother”

In June of 1975, upon graduating from City College of San Francisco, Terri and I took our Hotel & Restaurant Management degrees and went to work at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We were thrown into a melting pot of young people from all over the USA. It felt like still being in college, but with the backdrop of the Grand Canyon merely steps away. It didn’t matter that we were making $10/8-hour-shift. We had free room and board and .35 beers at the Employee Pub. What more do you need?

The “Beertender” at the EP would spin records all night, and Jerry Jeff Walker’s Viva Terlingua got its nightly place in the rotation. Track #1 on side 2, was JJW’s cover of Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother. Ray Wylie owes a lot to Jerry Jeff, and I’m sure he looks up to Heaven and gives thanks every time the royalty check show up in his mailbox.

The track became an anthem of sorts at the Canyon. Every time our friend “Little Jim” would play his acoustic set at the Bright Angel Lodge, we would all support him loudly during the chorus.

“Mother’s who have named their sons so well…” SO WELL, SO WELL, SO WELL!

There are many, many stories to tell about our time at the Canyon. Maybe I’ll share another this month. Stay tuned.

Mark McBeth

Mark & Terri’s excellent adventures in America

https://skydogadventures.net
Previous
Previous

Day #5 - “The Road Goes on Forever”

Next
Next

Day #3 - Tyler Childers “Country Squire”