Jack Hayford's Bounce Back— In Memory of Ruby My Dear

Years ago I wrote and recorded a song called "Bounce Back" that emanated from my being a musician by night and a daddy by day. Somewhere along the way, I gave a cassette copy of it to Matt, one of my best friends. (I didn't even have it on CD, that's how old the song is.)

Who knows why, but Matt gave it to his mother, Ruby. Well, Ruby LOVED the song and drove her friends and family absolutely nuts playing it...over and over. "Jack" and "that song" became a big good-natured joke in Ruby's family. And every chance I got to see her or speak to her on the phone, she always told me how she loved that song...and in fact had worn out the tape. Could she have another copy?

Well, I didn't have any copies. And I couldn't find the studio master. Time went by.

Matt continued to tell me about how his Mom always asked about "Jack." She named a stuffed parrot after me. I guess I was like a wayward son to her...because of that song.

Sadly, Ruby got cancer. She was a trooper but ultimately succumbed. One day near the end I got a call from Matt. He was at the hospital. The family thought Ruby might not make it through the day. Matt's request was that I sing to Ruby, over the phone, "Bounce Back."

So, there I was outside of Nashville, in the parking lot of Hill's Grocery store, singing "Bounce Back" into my cell phone - a capella - to my dear Ruby. She knew every word. Her family was looking at Matt - and hearing me sing through a speaker-phone from a thousand miles away - slightly confused but hopeful.

But they knew LOVE was somehow involved, and it was uplifting for all of us. Later Matt told me that his mom perked up a bit after that, for the day at least...and she lasted a little longer.

I can't say why THAT SONG of mine touched Ruby. I think it was because from what I know of her, she had a truly indomitable spirit. She was capable of "bouncing back" from anything. It was one of her great qualities.

Strong woman, Ruby. Wonderful woman, my dear Ruby. God Bless You.

PS. I think of Ruby when I hear Theolunius Monk's "Ruby, My Dear." We all live from song to song. JH

Click below to hear "Ruby's Song."


Bounce Back
(Words and Music by Jack Hayford)

I watched the cartoons on the tube with the kids
I heard the garbage men, slammin' the lids
I'm not always up this near the sunrise
Maybe I'm unlucky but I realize

That it's a full-time job keeping my life together
say I'm acting "kiddish" baby I say I would rather
I'd rather be more like the comics and kids
than be smashin' out my troubles on the trash can lids

Chorus:

Oh oh, you can call me old hat
You can say that I'm the king of tack
Not gonna pull out my pork-pie hat
but we have got to get the bounce back
Lord knows we gotta bounce

I've got it better than some others do
I got it better even maybe than you
Look at it this way, we're just rungs upon a ladder
no matter how unhappy we could always be sadder

'Cause it's life and death set up as two extremes
then there's reality, then there're dreams
and it doesn't matter that you don't feel fit
'cause if you're still alive you'll have to deal with it

Chorus:

Oh oh, you can call me old hat
You can say that I'm the king of tack
Ain't gonna drag out my pork-pie hat
but we have got to get the bounce back
Lord knows we gotta bounce

Ren and Stimpy would surely understand me
They take their lumps so well it's almost uncanny
I'd like to take the garbage thrown my way
knowing I could come clean at the end of each day

But it's a full-time job keeping my life together
say I'm acting "kiddish" honey I say I would rather
I'd rather be more like the comics and kids
But as I'm cookin' their breakfast I'm bangin' the lids

Oh oh, you can call me old hat
You don't have to listen to the rap
I'm gonna pull out my baseball cap
'Cause I have got to get the bounce back
Lord knows I gotta bounce!
Just like a rubber ball...bounce!

Just like I had it all...bounce!