Here Becomes There

HERE BECOMES THERE is about Franklin, Tennessee. For years, Franklin was more than another fast-growing Southern town. It had its own character, history, scale, streets, architecture, and rhythm — the kind of place people moved to because it did not feel like everywhere else. Then the pressure never stopped. More development. More density. More traffic. More construction. More projects sold as progress. Piece by piece, the qualities that made Franklin worth protecting began disappearing under the very growth attracted by those qualities. The song is about that tipping point. When every special place gets developed into the same collection of roads, buildings, traffic, retail, and subdivisions, here becomes there. Franklin is the subject, but the idea is bigger. It is happening in towns all over the country. The song’s conclusion is not subtle: Franklin is gone. Put a fork in it. It’s done.

People keep moving in From all around Bringing their problems and attitude This town is going down This town is going down Going down, down, down Once a national treasure Unlike anywhere Laden with history Music And beautiful countryside Here becomes there When local politicians don't care Here becomes there Here becomes there Greed and taxes No concern for preservation Put a fork in it, it's done This town is going down Down, down, down Here becomes there When the local politicians don't care Here becomes there Here becomes there