Philip Byrne was a father and grandfather who was a storyteller supreme. Here’s one example. Have you ever seen water reflect and sparkle on water? How would you explain the phenomenon to children? Philip, who lived on a creek just a few miles from Levi farm, had named one part of the creek Elbow Bend, a place visible from his house.

According to Leslie, Philip’s stepdaughter, "He told the children that up from Elbow Bend once rode a solid gold freight train that crashed into the creek. In the morning, if the light is just right, you can see the diamonds in the water. He said that if he were rich, he would buy Anne (his wife) a solid gold diamond freight train." Here’s the song I wrote and sang for Ms. Anne at his funeral.

Golden Diamond Train

Click to listen

Anne, he loved you and the children, he adored you till the end

A man of simple pleasures, grandkids, books, and friends

He loved to tell good stories, and we loved to hear him speak

Like the one he told the children, of sunlight on the creek

A very lovely story, of a golden diamond train  

That had a wreck in Mulberry Creek, where it sank and still remains

In the morning light, if you’re sitting still, and you watch the creek below

The diamonds dance down on Elbow Bend and they sparkle and they glow

Our storyteller has left us now, but his story still remains

When I think of Philip, I will see a golden diamond train

There was gold in Philip’s laughter, there were diamonds in his eyes

His heart seemed full of jewels, that made him kind and wise

He said if he’d been able, he'd buy a golden diamond train just for you

That’s the kind of thing a boy in love, will very gladly do

In the morning light, if you’re sitting still, and you watch the creek below

The diamonds dance down on Elbow Bend and they sparkle and they glow

Our storyteller has left us now, but his story still remains

When I think of him, I’ll see a solid golden diamond train

There’s a track that leads to heaven, Jesus came to lay it down

Did I see the everlasting train on Thursday leaving town?

When he told that simple story, do you think perhaps he knew

No train could be more real at all than the one he gave to you?

For memory lasts long after the gold and diamonds fade

His train will run each time the sun reflects upon the waves

In the morning light when you're all alone, and you watch the creek below

He’s will still somehow be next to you as the diamonds dance and glow

In some ways I guess he’s left us now, in some ways he still remains

His memory will always be a golden diamond train

He was yours and you were always his sweet golden diamond train …

(Copyright Allen C. Levi, 2000)