Steve Cropper (In Remembrance of...)
by Michael Doyle

Cropper laid the template for rock-n-roll.
Green Onions made the Soul Man cry. 
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay consoled our souls
As Otis crashed and the rest of America cried.

He proved that sometimes more is said with less.
With each note in its pocket, no one had to guess.
A flashy solo isn't needed when you know what to say.
The language of rock-n-roll is to feel as you play.

Steve Cropper laid down rock's essential groove.
His licks made the world jump up and move.
Laid out in smooth touching bare necessities,
There wasn't a need to clutter it up with complexity.

With a chaotic bit of madness in its primal purity,
The best of players swagger with style and certainty.
Serving the song  just move the tunes along,
Steve stabbed the dissonance into right where it belonged.

Sometimes the best music is filled with just enough space,
Keeping it simple as notes fall into just the right place.
Chugging patterns make sure the timing is precious and tight.
Steve always played it succinctly and simply right.

(c) December 13, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved