Story Behind The Song

Phil Kimbrough's grand-daughter had given him some Jacaranda leaves for him to hold for her. He stuck them in his pocket. When Phil and Rex Poindexter sat down for a songwriting session Phil reached into his pocket to pull out a pen but pulled out Jacaranda leaves instead.

Song Description

An adult is going through their fathers things after he died and finds an envelope of things the father kept that the adult gave the father to hold as a child. The adult recalls the love for the father and the loving relationship they had. The adult remembers the things their child has given them to hold and vows to keep those moments forever. (A Pockefull Of) Jacaranda Leaves won Honorable Mention in the 2004 NSAI Song Contest.

Lyrics

(A POCKETFUL OF) JACARANDA LEAVES


GOING THRU MY DAD'S THINGS AFTER HE DIED
I FOUND A DRAWER, WITH A YELLOWED ENVELOPE INSIDE
LABELED... 'MY POCKETS, THE 12TH OF MAY, 1978'

I'D LONG AGO FORGOTTEN, THOSE CHILDHOOD DAYS
WHEN I WOULD TRUST HIM, WITH MY TREASURES TO SAVE
AND AS I POURED THEM OUT ON HIS BED
I REMEMBERED THAT DAY, AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HE'D KEPT--

A POCKETFUL OF JACARANDA LEAVES
A LITTLE GOLD ROCK, A COUPON FROM THE OLD TASTEE FREEZE
HAND-IN-HAND, WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL
HE'D HOLD ON TO THINGS I THOUGHT WERE COOL
BUT I NEVER DREAMED THAT HE'D KEEP
A POCKETFUL OF JACARANDA LEAVES

I'D RIDE HIS SHOULDERS TO THE PARK EVERY SATURDAY
TIL I GOT TOO OLD, AND I WAS AFRAID
THAT THE OTHER KIDS JUST MIGHT SEE
THAT I WAS EVERYTHING TO HIM, AND HE WAS EVERYTHING TO ME, WITH HIS--

(WITH HIS) POCKETFUL OF JACARANDA LEAVES...

THERE'S A BUTTON IN MY POCKET
MY LITTLE GIRL GAVE ME THIS MORNING
YOU CAN BET I'M GONNA KEEP IT
AND HOLD THIS MOMENT WITH HER, FOREVER... (WITH THIS)

(WITH THIS) POCKETFUL OF JACARANDA LEAVES
A PIECE OF BLUE CHALK, A BUTTON DROPPED FROM HER MOMMA'S SLEEVE
HAND-IN-HAND, WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL
SHE GIVES ME THINGS SHE THINKS ARE COOL
SO I PROMISE I'LL ALWAYS KEEP
THIS POCKETFUL OF JACARANDA LEAVES