Sunday, April 6, 2008

Country Cajolings

As I contemplate the purpose of this blog entry, two primary motivations rise to the top of the neocortex with plenty of "pure amygdala" promptings. First, it's a fun-loving attempt to rouse the slightest bit of affinity for the genre from one of the most unlikely of converts. Whoever could that be? It may very well serve only to install the aversion even deeper in her psyche. We shall see. Secondly, it is a personally embarrassing recollection of my first-ever favorite song by the country boy extraordinaire, God rest his soul, John Denver. One Sunday afternoon, my Dad peaked into my childhood bedroom and found me crouched on the other side of my twin bed wedged between it and the wall with this album cover in hand and pressed firmly against my lips. After the blood that had bolted up into my face faded to a lighter shade of pink, I explained how I was pretending he was that really cute boy at church that my heart was seriously crushing over, hoping that would elicit some compassion and understanding. I don't remember anything more other than feeling pretty foolish. I listen to the lyrics of this song now and am struck by how obscure and random they are and how much I didn't know what on earth he's really singing about. But something about it touched something in me that I still love even if I didn't really get it then. So, here is my contribution to the all time favorite country songs collection. If you have one you'd like added just include the song title and artist's name in your comment and I'll see what I can find on youtube and we'll get 'er done.



Rob's tip o' the hat...









and Rob's was...


for bella and leo...


and one for gracie...


marcell's emmy...


and a funky reggae encore...


11 comments:

Rob said...

Here is mine!!! Oh so thoroughly country...the words...the twang...the steel guitar....yee haw! And a tip o' the hat to the former Mrs. Kistler! (It would kill her to hear that, she hated the name Kistler)

http://www.last.fm/music/George+Strait/_/All+My+Ex's+Live+In+Texas

Anonymous said...

Di
If you have followed any of my foolishness that i have used to poke at Terri over country music, you will know that this post is priceless to me.

I am sure that i have an entirely different focus for that song than you do. But i must commend you for appreciating the lyrics despite that whole stigma that country music carries.

I used to HATE country music, i guess since i have gotten older i can overlook the twang to find the heart. Thank you dear friend for this post i am forever in your debt and i will have to tell Dean about this one.

Dean said...

Yay Di!! This country thing is going places. That's what I like to see :)

Sarah said...

Hehe...I love John Denver...he reminds me of home (um...Denver...)

terri said...

ok, scandalous confession: i actually went to a john denver concert when i was thirteen years old. my best friend at the time was practically a john denver stalker (loved him to a creepy extent) and so i got dragged along. there were a few of his songs that i remember liking, but they were always the deeper tracks and i can't remember them anymore.

there! ;)

kirsten said...

hello beautiful di!!

while i wouldn't call myself a country music "fan", take me home country road was one of my first favorite songs. i actually made my friends do a lip-synch of it with dancing & motions to that song.

love that you shared it here!!! ;o)

Anonymous said...

Di i just came over here to hear that George Strait tune. Ha ha i know that song but i totally forgot the part where he says "i hang my hat in Tennesse!" A tip of the hat to Rob for that choice.

di said...

much obliged
y'all

Rob was thinking i should lower the bar to "first favorite song" period.

there's another song i remember liking so much...i would tuck my transister radio under my pillow at night and listen for hours for it. sometimes in vain. whatever that meant.

bella said...

I am a self confessed John Denver fan.
I still bring out the old records and play them for my four year old son. Hearing this little guy sing with joy Sundshine on my Shoulders Makes me happy. . .and West Virginia. . ., it makes me beam in happiness.
:)

di said...

sweet...thanks for dropping by and leaving some sunshine here bella, that makes me happy too!

di said...

[marcell's country choice]

Boulder to Birmingham, the incomparable Emmylou Harris.

(and I love Yellowman’s version of “Country Roads”, he performed on “King Yellowman”, also covered more recently, and well, I might add, by the great Toots and the Maytals)

"Boulder to Birmingham"

I don't want to hear a love song
I got on this airplane just to fly
And I know there's life below
But all that it can show me
Is the prairie and the sky

And I don't want to hear a sad story
Full of heartbreak and desire
The last time I felt like this
It was in the wilderness and the canyon was on fire
And I stood on the mountain in the night and I watched it burn
I watched it burn, I watched it burn.

I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace.
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face.

Well you really got me this time
And the hardest part is knowing I'll survive.
I have come to listen for the sound
Of the trucks as they move down
Out on ninety five
And pretend that it's the ocean
coming down to wash me clean, to wash me clean
Baby do you know what I mean

I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace.
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face.