Forever and a Day - The Kruger Brothers

Recently my brother informed me that the Kruger Brother's have two new albums. I am so excited! The Suite is beautiful, but I have it memorized. It's time for more! Now I just need to figure out how to get my hands on them. ;-)

I was excited to actually find an official video on youtube too. This is the cover song to their newest album.

Enjoy,
Miss Pickwickian

Bed of Roses - Chesapeake

I have been so excited finally find Chesapeake songs on Youtube!

This is a lovely duet with Moondi Klein and Trisha Yearwood.

This has been my #1 love song for several years. So amazing!

Beautiful.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

High Sierra - Moondi Klein

I was so incredibly thrilled to find this video with Moondi Klein singing!
He probably has my favorite voice in the whole world. ;-) Okay, I like a lot of different voices for different reasons, but his is pretty awesome.

I like his later singing better (what he does with Jimmy Gaudreau and the Kruger brothers is amazing) but his time with the band Chesapeake has some wonderful songs too.
Anyways, I was just excited to actually find something of his that I could post! High Sierra has been a favorite.
The recording on the album called 2:10 Train is the best. The instrumentals are considerably cooler.

Moondi Klein sings numerous Eric Bogle songs for which I am inexpressibly grateful. I love Bogle's lyrics, but have a hard time coming to terms with his voice.

High Sierra has been performed by many talented musicians, but this one, obviously is the best. (This is not open to argument.:-)

Enjoy.

High Sierra

I've been higher than the high sierra
Lower than Death Valley must be
I've been right, mostly wrong
Wrong about you, right about me

The way I feel, can't explain
So much passion turned to pain
The sun still shines most of the time
Did you know the sun shines when it rains

I've been higher than the high sierra
Lower than Death Valley must be
I've been right, mostly wrong
Wrong about you, right about me

I've been cussed and I've been praised
And I've been nothing these days
But I'll come back, time will see
If I'm wrong about you, right about me

I've been higher than the high sierra
Lower than Death Valley must be
I've been right, mostly wrong
Wrong about you, right about me

written by Harley L. Allen

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

In Lonesome Dove - Garth Brooks

Okay...so Garth Brooks is amazing. Just to get that out there. :-)
I think his songs have a cohesiveness where a lot of country songs fail. However outdated his fashion choices, I think his music is going to endure. ;-)

In Lonesome Dove is one of my many favorite songs. Unfortunately there is very little Garth Brooks on Youtube. You can look this up and hear someone else sing it, but of course it's not the same.

If you've already heard it, you know what I mean. It's awesome. :-)

In Lonesome Dove

She was a girl on a wagon train
Haded west across the plains
The train got lost in a summer storm
They couldn't move west and they couldn't go home
Then she saw him ridin' through the rain
He took charge of the wagons and he saved the train
And she looked down and her heart was gone
The train went west but she stayed on
In Lonesome Dove

A farmer's daughter with a gentle hand
A blooming rose in a bed of sand
She loved the man who wore a star
A Texas Ranger known near and far
So they got married and they had a child
But times were touch and the West was wild
So it was no surprise the day she learned
That her Texas man would not return
To Lonesome Dove

Back to back with the Rio Grande
A Christian woman in the devil's land
She learned the language and she learned to fight
But she never learned how to beat the lonely nights
In Lonesome Dove, Lonesome Dove

She watched her boy grow into a man
He had an angel's heart and the devil's hand
He wore his star for all to see
He was a Texas lawman legacy
The one day word blew into town
It seemed the men that shot his father down
Had robbed a bank in Cherico
The only thing 'tween them and Mexico
Was Lonesome Dove

The shadows stretched across the land
As the shots rang out down the Rio Grande
And when the smoke had finally cleared the street
The men lay at the ranger's feet
But legend tells to this very day
That shots were comin' from an alleyway
Though no one knows who held the gun
There ain't no doubt if you ask someone
In Lonesome Dove
Back to back with the Rio Grande
A Christian woman in the devil's land
She learned the language and she learned to fight
But she never learned how to beat the lonely nights
In Lonesome Dove, Lonesome Dove

~Garth Brooks

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Love in the Media and Two Songs

Today's media is saturated in the culture's definition of "Love". I recently listened to an excellent lecture on Biblical Womanhood by Voddi Baucham. He had some excellent points on love. What it is and what it isn't.

I've attempted several times before to write some lyrics for what I think a real sort of love is like. They've all been less then mediocre. Never really felt like I got my point across. I have two more in the rough, maybe I'll post them tomorrow. We'll see.

Anyways, I just wanted to put that out there.
How often do we think of the biblical definition of love? How should effect art that Christians create? We should be able to show true love, which is really so much better then what the culture struggles with.

Here are two songs that have come to my attention recently. I like different aspects of both.



Chris Cagle's Look What I Found

(Brett James/Don Schlitz)

For so long, I searched in desperation
For one love, that would always be true
I came close, but there were always complications
I finally decided there was nothing I could do
So I gave up
And I let go
And as soon as I did
Wouldn't you know

Just look what I found when I wasn't looking
Look what I found when I was just being me
I turned around and love was mine for the taking
Look what I found when she found me

Now there's a lot of lonely people out there waiting
And there's a lot of lonely people searching too
But if you've got too many expectations
You might miss the one who's right in front of you
No telling when
No telling why
She'll say hello and you'll know
You'll never say goodbye

Just look what I found when I wasn't looking
Look what I found when I was just being me
I turned around and love was mine for the taking
Look what I found when she found me

And every single day I'm still surprised
When I turn around and I look into her eyes
I'm a like a kid who won a prize
Look what I found
Just look at what I found

Just look what I found when I wasn't looking
Look what I found when I was just being me
I turned around and love was mine for the taking
Look what I found when she found me


There are a lot of things that are awesome about this song. It seems like often in life when we relax and trust God about our right person coming along, they do!
I also love the line "Look what I found when I was just being me". These lines stuck with me too, "But if you've got too many expectations, You might miss the one who's right in front of you."

This song actually talks about several things I tried to incorporate on some lyrics I was writing several weeks ago. I was excited to find in on my Pandora station this week.


The second song also popped up on my Pandora station, song by Johnsmith. Johnsmith is certainly not my favorite singer, but I looked up the song and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was written by Darrell Scott. (Darrell Scott wrote a lot of awesome songs, some that Tim O'Brien performs, and is also a rustic Bluegrass artist. He has played with many well known bluegrass and country singers including Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, etc...)


I couldn't find a recording of it, so here are the lyrics.

Loves Not Through With Me Yet
Darrell Scott

Oh, I have seen the young girls cry

Thinking love has passed them by

They’re struggling with a heavy load

But if love’s not here, it’s down the road

And I have seen the young men run

Just like their father’s father’s son

They take the love and leave the shame

Oh, but one day love will call their name and say

Can you love without needing

Lift it up as a silent prayer

Can you open your heart without bleeding

Take that open heart everywhere

Can you hold a place within your breast

For someone you’ve never met

Well then, love’s not through with you yet

Well, I have climbed to lover’s lane

I felt the joy, I felt the pain

Asking for another’s soul

Thinking they could make me whole

Now I heard a voice from deep inside

Saying you’re not blamed for love you tried

Oh, you may think that love takes two

But love’s a gift from you to you

Can you love without needing

Lift it up as a silent prayer

Can you open your heart without bleeding

Take that open heart everywhere

And I have tried without ceasing

To give love without regret

I know love’s not through with me yet

Can you hold a place within your breast

For someone you’ve never met

Then love’s not through with you

I said love’s not through with me

I know love’s not through with us yet

I'm not sure what Darrell Scott meant exactly by it all, but I think it is a really cool song. It gives a lot of things to think about and, I think, has a lot of truth to say.
Wish I could find a recording of it.

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it. I always enjoy hearing your opinions and ideas.
Thanks,
Miss Pickwickian

Just a Dream - Carrie Underwood

In general I don't really like many country type girl singer. I don't like Carrie Underwood.
That said, I love this song. Maybe it's part of my sick obsession with sad things. ;-)

Verse 1
It was two weeks after the day she turned 18
all dressed in white, going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat,
six pence in her shoe
something borrowed something *blue*
and when the church doors opened up wide she put her veil down trying to hide the tears oh
she just couldn’t believe it
she heard the trumpets from the military band and the flowers fell out of her hands

Chorus
Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I cant even breathe
It's like I'm, looking from a distance, standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now,
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Verse 2
The preacher man said let us bow our heads and pray
lord please lift his soul and heal this hurt
then the congregation all stood up and sang the saddest song that she ever heard
then they handed her a folded up flag and
she held on to all she had left of him oh and what could’ve been
and then guns rang one last shot and it felt like a bullet in her heart

Chorus
Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm, looking from a distance, standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now,
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

(softly at first) Oh,Oh Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever, now I'll never know
(loudly) Ohh i'll never know
It's like I'm, looking from a distance, standing in the background
Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now,
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Oh this is just a dream
just a dream, oh!! [fading out]

~Carrie Underwood

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Ambiguity

Recently, especially with lyrics, I've been mulling over ambiguity in writing.

When can it be used well and when is it unsatisfying etc.?
I love written things, especially song lyrics, that give you a chance to do a lot of thinking. Ones that can sometimes have a deeper meaning beneath even though they are already telling an interesting story or point. This is one of the reasons I continue to listen to Bob Dylan (even though I can't even develop an acquired taste to his voice). Something that gives you a deeper something to meditate on.

I think this is one of the reasons Country will never be my favorite genre. It's plan and simple and enjoyable. It isn't confusing. It's obvious. It doesn't take itself very seriously. I love all those things!!! But....it hardly ever gives you another layer to chew on. (That doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot of good things to say or that it doesn't have some amazing songs!)

I've been having trouble with my own writing because I have trouble with it being clear enough even when I want it a bit ambiguous. I don't want my lyrics to only have one layer, but I want them to be understandable. I've been doing tests on different (very patient) people to see if I'm still getting my point across. As American Dream brought to light, I'm not exactly getting it all across.

What is the balance?

Does everyone even enjoy ambiguity? I sort of get the impression that a lot of people don't like it.
(The end of Great Expectations being a prime example. In my opinion a more obviously sad ending, like his original one, would have been best. What was published, however, doesn't bother me. Maybe we need to exercise our imaginations more anyways...)

Is ambiguity more of a problem because it doesn't transfer as well to movies? So many good books have been made into movies, but everyone has there own idea of what happens in the ambiguous parts.

One of my all time favorite songs is Across the Green Mountain. This song gives a lot to think about, but is this more randomness then ambiguity? I don't know. But I love it. :-)

And please don't get me wrong. Ambiguity is sometimes very annoying or extremely out of place. Some things should be stated very clearly. :-)

What are your thoughts on ambiguity?

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Some Beach - Blake Shelton

I couldn't embed it but here is the link to Blake Shelton's Some Beach.
The dentist is the best. :-)

Don't you have those days where everything is just not working for you? I always think of this song in those moments.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Hillbilly Bone - Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton

This is not my favorite song...but the video is pretty good. :-) And Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins are both great country singers and song writers.




Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Austin - Blake Shelton

If Something Should Happen - Darryl Worley

I couldn't get a version of this song to post on the blog, but you can see a good video of it on youtube.

If Something Should Happen

Buddy you and me go way back,
Camp Lejeune, all through highschool,
And before that
So I dont mind telling you I'm scared to death
The doctor's going in on the 25th
Its the same thing my daddy had
Thank God they caught it fast

But if something should happen,
Stop in sometime and say hello to Katherine
You and Mary Anne could always keep her laughing
She's going to need alot of that
Take her out to a movie
Its going to take some time before she's back on her feet
I know you think that I'll be fine and I'm talking crazy
But there's always that chance,
That's why I'm asking,
If something should happen

Little Nathan's growing up so fast
This november he'll turn 10
He wants to play quarterback
Im supposed to coach his team this fall
But I may not get to after all
He's going to need someone to catch a pass
And to throw it back

If something should happen
Oh promise me you'll take that boy out camping
Throw a line out in that water every now and then
Answer any question that he has
Maybe once he gets older,
You can sit and have that first cold beer together
And tell him a couple stories on his father
He's always known you were my best friend
That's why im asking,
If something should happen

I hope I live until I'm 80
And I get to see my son get married
And have babies
And make a million more memories with my wife
Yeah buddy I pray your right
But if its my time to leave
Would you watch over them for me?
If something should happen
If something should happen
mm hmm hmm

-Darryl Worley


Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Sounds Like Life to Me - Darryl Worley

Got a call last night from an old friend’s wife
Said I hate to bother you
Johnny Ray fell off the wagon
He’s been gone all afternoon
I know my buddy so I drove to Skully’s
And found him at the bar
I say hey man, what’s going on
He said I don’t know where to start

Sarah’s old car’s about to fall apart
And the washer quit last week
We had to put momma in the nursing home
And the baby’s cutting teeth
I didn’t get much work this week
And I got bills to pay
I said I know this ain’t what you wanna hear
But it’s what I’m gonna say

(Chorus)
Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasy
It’s just a common case of everyday reality
Man I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me

Well his face turned red and he shook his head
He said you don’t understand
Three kids and a wife depend on me
And I’m just one man
To top it off I just found out
That Sarah’s 2 months late
I said hey bartender set us up a round
We need to celebrate

(Chorus)
Sounds like life to me plain old destiny
Yeah the only thing for certain is uncertainty
You gotta hold on tight just enjoy the ride
Get used to all this unpredictability
Sounds like life

Man I know its tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
Sounds like life to me
Sounds like life

( Darryl Worley, Wynn Varble, Phil O’Donnell )

Long Black Train - Josh Turner

Happy New Years Eve!
I'm planning on several writing posts very soon, but we are about to have a big party at our house so we've been doing lots of prep. :-) So...I'm taking the easy route and doing another song.

"Long Black Train" is an awesome song. It is unusual because it focuses on victory over temptation. I think it was wonderful that this was a hit song for so long in the country world. We should have more songs like this filling up radio time then what is playing. This was Josh Turner's first hit song, and what really made his break.



There's a long black train,
Comin' down the line,
Feedin' off the souls that are lost and cryin',
Rails of sin, only evil remains
Watch out brother for that Long Black Train

Look to the heavens
You can look to the skies
You can find redemption
Staring back into your eyes
There is protection and there's
Peace the same, burnin' your ticket for that
Long Black Train

'Cause there's vict'ry in the Lord I say,
Vict'ry in the lord,
Cling to the Father and His holy name,
And don't go ridin' on that Long Black Train

There's an engineer on that Long Black Train,
Makin' you wonder if the ride is worth the pain,
He's just a waiting on your heart to say
Let me ride on that Long Black Train,

But you know there's vict'ry in the Lord I say,
Vict'ry in the Lord,
Cling to the Father and His holy name,
And dont go ridin' on that Long Black Train

Well, I can hear the whistle from a mile away,
It sounds so good
But I must stay away
That train is a beauty, makin' everybody stare
But its only destination is the middle of nowhere,

But you know theres vict'ry in the Lord I say,
Vict'ry in the Lord,
Cling to the Father and His holy name,
And don't go ridin' on that Long Black Train

I said cling to the Father and His holy name
And dont go ridin' on that long black train
Yeah, watch out brother for that long black train
The Devil's a drivin' that long black train.

By Josh Turner


Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful New Years.
Miss Pickwickian

I Just Came Back from a War - Darryl Worley

The first thing I did when that plane finally landed was kiss the ground
The next thing I did was to go find my friends down at the old hangout
Drank some beer and talked a lot about old times
But when the booze finally hit Billy Joe Grimes
He said I don't know what it is, but you seem different to me

I said I just came back from a place where they hated me
and everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
If I'm not exactly the same good old boy that you ran around with before
I just came back from a war

The very next morning I took a walk through the neighborhood
I thought it's been so long since I've been in a place where everything is good
People laughing and children were playing
And as I watched em I found myself praying
Lord keep em safe here at home in the land of the free

Cuz I just came back from a place where they hated me
And everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
If I'm not same little freckled face boy
That grew up in that house next door
I just came back from a war

I hope you cherish this sweet way of life
And I hope you know that it comes with a price

I just came back from a place where they hated me
And everything I stand for
A land where our brothers are dying for others who don't even care anymore
Chances are I never will be the same
I really don't know anymore
I just came back from a war

I just came back from a war

By Darryl Worley

Just wanted to share these lyrics. This song has a more unique look at the war, especially compared to a lot of country songs. Although I'm not a crazy fan of country, I do like some of Darryl Worley's songs, especially his patriotic ones. Wish he'd cut his hair...

Thanks for reading.
Miss Pickwickian