Great song lyrics

[Mumbleypeg]

No need to post the entire song but here is enough to remember one of the greatest songs ever written. Its longevity is testimony to its greatness:

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss American pie."
Drove my Chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "This'll be the day that I die.
"This'll be the day that I die."

Learned scholars have written volumes about the subject. Aside from the obvious reference to the day the plane crash killed Buddy Holly and his companions, and the cultural changes of that time, controversy about the allegorical meaning of the song’s lyrics continues.

Ken

[Gtrclktr-351]

There are places I'll remember
All my life, though some have changed.
Some forever, not for better;
Some have gone and some remain.

[Mumbleypeg]

From Thirty years of Farming by Fred Eaglesmith

There's a little white note on a gate by the road
That a man put up yesterday
And when we saw it we all ran out
Just to see what it had to say
And when we read it our eyes filled with tears
And they fell to the cold hard clay
Something 'bout a mortgage
Something 'bout foreclosure
Something 'bout failing to pay

Oh, and on the post by the general store
They've put up a little sign
An auction sale, day after tomorrow
At the end of the Lincoln Line
Thirty years of farming
Thirty years of heartache
Thirty years of day to day
Oh, my Daddy stopped talking
The day the farm was auctioned
There was nothing left to say.


Ken

[eveled]

My cousin had a baby on Thursday. The lyrics from “Country Bumpkin” by Cal Smith popped into my head.

Into this wondrous world of many wonders, one more wonder came.

[Ridgegrass]

"I leaned on my left leg, in the parking lot dirt,
Kathy was closin' the light.
A June bug flew, from the warmth he once knew,
and I wished for once I was right."

John Prine, Far Far From Me

O'.

[wlf]

No need to post the entire song but here is enough to remember one of the greatest songs ever written. Its longevity is testimony to its greatness:

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss American pie."
Drove my Chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "This'll be the day that I die.
"This'll be the day that I die."

Learned scholars have written volumes about the subject. Aside from the obvious reference to the day the plane crash killed Buddy Holly and his companions, and the cultural changes of that time, controversy about the allegorical meaning of the song’s lyrics continues.

Ken

That it's played in entirety is a testament. It's longevity is a testament to it's longevity.
He played for the homecoming my first year at Marshall U.

[Mumbleypeg]

That it's played in entirety is a testament. It's longevity is a testament to it's longevity.
He played for the homecoming my first year at Marshall U.

You’re right. At over 8 minutes long, on the original 45 rpm single that was released it occupied both sides A and B of the record. That it was often played in its entirety on AM pop radio at the time is in itself a testament to its greatness.

McLean is a true poet. His songs Vincent and Empty Chairs among others are under appreciated. Probably due to being overshadowed by the popularity of American Pie. It’s ironic that American Pie with its refrain “The day the music died” probably in fact helped keep that music alive. (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, J.P. Richardson, and early rock and roll in general).

Killing Me Softly With His Song was written about Don McLean after its authors Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox attended a Don McLean concert.

I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him, to listen for a while
And there he was, this young boy
A stranger to my eyes

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly
With his song

Ken

[bestgear]

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)

And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It is another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)

People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way

Was true 55 years ago when Elvis sang it, still true today!

[Mumbleypeg]

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)

And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It is another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto
(In the ghetto)

People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way

Was true 55 years ago when Elvis sang it, still true today!

Written by Mac Davis, one of the many great songwriters from Lubbock, Texas.

Ken

[bestgear]

Written by Mac Davis, one of the many great songwriters from Lubbock, Texas.

I was 12 when Elvis sang this and I remember putting my AM radio shack transistor radio under my pillow at night with the volume barely audible (no ear plugs yet) listening to this song on WTOP in Hartford CT and thinking how good I had it but that there was another 12 year old out there who was living the song - I didn’t see a real ghetto until almost a decade later and the song lyrics hit me hard. What a blessing !

[wlf]

Amen Tom. We don't realize we live better than kings of old .

I liked that song too Ken.

[Ridgegrass]

"Long years have passed, and tho' he came no more,
My heart still skips a beat, with each footfall at the door.
And I gaze to the hillside, where he bid his last Adieu,
But no brave lad I see see there, in his faded coat of blue.

No more the bugle calls the weary one,
Rest noble spirit in your grave unknown.
We may find you and know you, among the good and true
When the robe of white is given, for a faded coat of blue.

'Faded Coat Of Blue": Civil War ballad, Recorded by Mother Maybelle Carter.
Tens of thousands of soldiers were buried where they fell or in mass graves. The places were not recorded so families never knew how or where to find their loved ones.
J.O'.

[bestgear]

Cat Stevens seems appropriate since today is Fathers Day.

It's not time to make a change
Just relax, take it easy
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to know
Find a girl, settle down
If you want you can marry
Look at me
I am old, but I'm happy
I was once like you are now
And I know that it's not easy
To be calm
When you've found something going on
But take your time, think a lot
Why, think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow
But your dreams may not

One of those songs you can’t get out of your head.

[Ridgegrass]

That is a good one. He was a strange one. O'.

[Mumbleypeg]

Listen to the blues they're playin'
Listen to what the blues are sayin'
Mine is just another scene
From the world of broken dreams
And the night life ain't no good life
But it's my life.
The night life ain't no good life
But it's my life.

-Willie Nelson

Ken

[Ridgegrass]

My buddy and band-mate, Mike Auldridge, recorded a very nice version of Willie's "Night Life" on Dobro with his laid-back vocal. Check it out. J.O'.

[Gtrclktr-351]

Killing Me Softly With His Song was written about Don McLean after its authors Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox attended a Don McLean concert.
Ken

WOW, I did not know that. “Killing Me Softly” is another tune with great lyrics.

[Gtrclktr-351]

Written by Mac Davis, one of the many great songwriters from Lubbock, Texas.
Ken

Mac was definitely one of the good ones.

[Gtrclktr-351]

I ain't often right
But I've never been wrong
It seldom turns out the way
It does in the song
Once in a while
You get shown the light
In the strangest of places
If you look at it right
“Scarlet Begonias” Grateful Dead
Lyrics by Robert Hunter

[Gtrclktr-351]

My buddy and band-mate, Mike Auldridge, recorded a very nice version of Willie's "Night Life" on Dobro with his laid-back vocal. Check it out. J.O'.

Mike Auldridge of The Seldom Scene?
If so could you, by chance, be John Starling?
And again, if so WOW!

[Ridgegrass]

Yes, Mike and I were in the Good Deale Bluegrass Band together and had a "limousine" Country act, (old 40's-50's ) with him on pedal steel, 6 and 8 string Resophonic. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I am not John Starling, as he passed away in 2019. He was an idol of mine. My name is O'Dell. For what it's worth, I have a website, johnodellmusic.com . Mostly "retired" from gigging but I still pick everyday and have some good folks with whom I jam regularly. Thanks for asking. John O'.

[Gtrclktr-351]

I knew Mr. Auldridge is no longer with us, but didn’t know about the other members of The Seldom Scene. I’ll check out Good Deale Bluegrass Band and Windy Ridge.

[Ridgegrass]

Yes. Duffy, Mike, and John have been gone a while and Ben Eldridge passed just recently on April 14th. Ben's son Chris is a member of the Punch Brothers
The only original surviving member is bassist, Tom Gray who still jams around in the area. They were a great band and a good bunch of guys. Their music is still some of the best ever. O.

[Gtrclktr-351]

Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I've known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving you
Or the kindness you've shown.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so
Help me Jesus I know what I am
Now that I know that I've need you so
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Tell me Lord, if you think there's a way
I can try to repay
All I've taken from you
Maybe Lord, I can show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to you.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so
Help me Jesus I know what I am
Now that I know that I've need you so
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Sorry to post the whole song, but it all is so personal to me, but that‘s an even longer story.

[Mumbleypeg]

Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I've known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving you
Or the kindness you've shown.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so
Help me Jesus I know what I am
Now that I know that I've need you so
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Tell me Lord, if you think there's a way
I can try to repay
All I've taken from you
Maybe Lord, I can show someone else
What I've been through myself
On my way back to you.

Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so
Help me Jesus I know what I am
Now that I know that I've need you so
Help me Jesus, my soul's in your hand.

Sorry to post the whole song, but it all is so personal to me, but that‘s an even longer story.

Kris Kristoferson. Credit where credit is due!

Ken