Sept. 1, 2010 — The rain came in such abundance that it flooded most of downtown Olive Hill on May 2 of this year.

Five days later, a man walked through the downtown streets and was inspired to tell the story in a song. He's familiar to Olive Hill, being a lifelong resident of the small city where he grew up with his Dad and Mom and 10 siblings.  His brother, Tom T. Hall, is known across the country as “The Storyteller”, but on that day it was up to Larry D. Hall to find the words to tell the story. After all, this is where he still lives with hisneighbors and friends, the ones  he watched experiencing great loss, despair and heartache.

“Being a writer I wanted to tell the story because those kind of stories need to be told,” Larry D. Hall said. “I wanted to do it in a way to not offend anyone. That's the number one rule of song writing, you just tell the story...you don't judge or blame or anything like that.

On May 7, Hall drove a short distance from his home to get a close look at the downtown streets.

“When I was driving through town and looking around, I saw the water marks on the walls,” Hall said, referring to the dirty lines left after the flood waters started to recede.

“It just came to me, the title of the song, “The Writing's On The Wall”. I thought okay, there's a way to have a double meaning and get the message conveyed to the people that there's a problem that needs to be addressed and that is Tygart Creek and the way it floods downtown,” Hall said.

He said he thought if he wrote the song and could get it to the right people it would make them continue to think about the flood.

“I didn't write the song for my own personal gain or my own personal recognition,” Hall said. “If I get some recognition out of the song, that's great too. It's fun when people like what you do. But, I just wanted to do something that would keep peoples' minds on the problem that needs to be addressed. I think it has been ignored in the past and something needs to be done.”

Hall said just as he was finishing up his song, “The Writing's On The Wall”, something else happened.

“There was just a feeling came over me and I was compelled to write a hymn,” Hall said. “I thought well, if someone listens to the first song and it makes them feel bad, then they can listen to the hymn and maybe it will give them comfort and make them feel better and not give up hope.”

Hall explained, “You've got to keep the faith and not give up hope that the problem will get better. But, until something is done, it's not going to get any better. The problem is still there right now. It could happen again this weekend. We could get a hard rain. The problem is not going to go away on it's own.”

Hall said he usually just wrote and performed songs for his family and friends.

“I wrote the song to help my community and keep people focused on the problem,” Hall said. “I must be honest, I didn't think a lot of people had heard it but a lot of people have been commenting on it and I never expected to get the feedback on it that I have.”

“The Writing's on the Wall” was wrote on May 7. Olive Hill and some of the surrounding areas were plagued with another flood on July 21.

Following are the words to the two song Larry D. Hall wrote on May 7. If anyone is interested in receiving a copy of the songs, Hall can be contacted by calling 606.286.5625. Leave a message if there is no answer.



The Writing's On The Wall

(1) I drove through what was left of my hometown today

My heart was heavy laden as I went along my way

Total devastation everywhere that I looked

I could not believe what all the water took

I turned on Railroad Street with my eyes full of tears

Businesses were gone that I had patronized for years

In the gloomy darkness the water took it all

Life's memories replaced by water marks upon the wall

CHORUS

The writings on the wall

The writings on the wall

All our hearts were breaking as we watched the hometown fall

Oh, do we build it back  

Hey, it's up to you my friend.

The writings on the wall

It will happen again.

(2) Like a thief in the night the water came and went

Took away a way of life for many of my friends

Such a helpless feeling I haven't know in years

In a matter of hours downtown disappeared

On down to Scott Street, it was blocked I couldn't turn

I got out to look around, my eyes began to burn

Everywhere I looked the muddy lines upon the wall

A constant reminder that the thief had come to call

CHORUS

The writings on the wall

The writings on the wall

All our hearts were breaking as we watched the hometown fall.

Oh, do we build it back  

Hey, it's up to you my friend.

The writings on the wall

It will happen again.

(3) Oh, it 's not my intention to make people sad

Stories must be told whether they be good or bad.

We might forget the sorrow and we could forget the pain

But do we want to walk the floor every time it rains?

CHORUS

The writings on the wall

The writings on the wall

All our hearts were breaking as we watched the hometown fall

Oh, do we build it back  

Hey, it's up to you my friend.

The writings on the wall

It will happen again.

(Ending)

Yea, you could build it back

But if you do my friend

The writings on the wall

It could happen again.





He's the Reason

I believe there is a place

Where the sun always shines.

No sorrow grief or stress

Only peace and happiness.

Where the streets are paved in gold

Where we'll never grow old.

Waiting there for you and me

We can spend eternity.

And inside there is a king

Who once walked as a man.

But He had to die you see

Part of a greater plan.



And so they nailed him to the cross

Such a precious life was lost.

And as his life blood flowed form him

To wash away the worldly sin

And when the soldier pierced his side

Oh, how his sweet mama cried.

And when the pain began to burn

You know he had no where to turn.

But he's the reason,

He's the reason – you do.



Then they placed him in the grave

Oh, but it was not the end.

In just three short days

You know He rose again.

Now He's sitting on the throne

Up there in that golden home.

Waiting there for you and me

Christ already paid you see.



And so my friends I ask you please

Anytime you're on your knees

Thank Him for His love and grace

One day you'll look upon His face

Yes the young man had to fall

Just to answer God's great call.

Oh, what more could He do

To show His love for me and you

When he heard the angels voice

You know he didn't have a choice.

But he's the reason,

He's the reason – You do.