I was driving home from Austin this afternoon, listening to KUT (our local PBS station) on the radio. 

Since the Texas Book Festival is this weekend, Folkways was playing songs related in some way to books.  I heard a song that I had never heard before, and it struck such a chord that hours later, after going to the grocery store, running errands, and feeding critters, I had to look it up.  I only had a couple of phrases out of it; finally thought to check the KUT playlist, and there it was. 

The song is Closing the Bookstore Down by John McCutcheon.  It describes eloquently what's happening to so many beautiful small towns in our country, and why the loss is greater than what we gain.  Our independent bookstores, hardware stores, grocery stores, and more are being replaced by chains that you can find anywhere.

I can't find a recording where you can play it online (unless perhaps Pandora has it), but it's worth seeking out to listen to - and think about.  While you're thinking, go down to your local bookstore and buy a book, or to your local hardware store and buy a hammer, or to your local music store and buy a John McCutheon CD.  Vote with your dollar to preserve the distinct personalities of our small towns; if you don't, who will?