Grandfather Rights (legal nonconformity)

Lew Dite with his baritone ukulele
a song written by Lew Dite
(using the tune from Woody Guthrie's Do Re Mi)

I wrote this song because some people will use the "grandfather rights" law to justify any and all activities on their land even to their landscaping and campfire activities.
It must be impressed on all people that "grandfather rights" laws do not legalize environmental abuse.

GRANDFATHER RIGHTS

There are some folks I hear them say
"Grandfather rights still rule the day
And they won't go away,
as long as I live here.
Even though I'm told it's wrong
Right to the lake I'll cut my lawn
It's where I sing my campfire song
Just like grandpa dear."
But nature does not recognize
Your grandfather's view of paradise, lord,

If you want to preserve it's beauty
If you want to keep all its charm
If you want to save it for your children
You better heed this alarm
Cause nature has no grandpa
Nature has no point of view
It just rolls right along
Harmonizing its song
And reaching out to cradle you.

Grandfather rights were put in place
So people would not have to face
Relocation of home base
And the troubles that would bring
But landscaping in grandpa's way
Is not what we do today
It is all so passé
And this is why I sing....
Nature does not recognize
Your grandfather's view of paradise, lord,

If you want to preserve its beauty
If you want to keep all its charm
If you want to save it for your children
You better heed the alarm
Cause nature has no grandpa
Nature has no point of view
It just rolls right along
Harmonizing its song
And reaching out to cradle you.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lew
• Dite
• ukulele
• the
• environment
• grandfather
• rights
• save
• our
• lakes

[rington1]

You know Lew; I can tell that you mean every word of this song. I'm a city lad myself and to have view like yours from my window would be marvellous. People don't realise how lucky they are, or what they've got till it's gone.

With video 400 on the horizon, are you thinking of doing something special?

[lewdite]

I hadn't thought of it, but now that you brought it up, I am.

[KnickKnackerson]

I really like all the sound effects.(of course I do) It can't be spring already in Dunany! Was this recorded last summer?

[lewdite]

Yes. I posted this video last August and after 8 months it only had 36 viewings. I decided to delete the video and re-post it. Now I've had 62 viewings in less than 24 hours.

[thomas242007]

its cool to lew, good song

[stevecbrewer]

Hey Lew,

Well done ! What a great sequel to your 'Phosphate Blues' ! How did I miss this last August ????

We'll just have to feature you again at this years AGM ;-)

Steve

[RLewisH]

Nice song!

[raymondcrooke]

Great song, Lew. You can't go wrong using Woody's tunes for a song with this kind of message.

[coolanddark]

if i had the do re mi i would clean up all our lakes and streams.fantastic Lew!faved

[brokenbirch]

Your song says it all, Lew!!!

WT & Maxine