I'm known for having a poetic touch to my lyrics. In this blog post I am going describe how it began - by reading and listening to the works of two national treasures of Sweden. It influenced my songwriting.
My mom and dad - but most and foremost my dad - had a deep connection with reading poetry and the appreciation thereof, most notably of the pieces by the skald Evert Taube and the poet Dan Andersson. In my parents' library, dad had a book with the complete Evert Taube collection and one with the Best of Dan Andersson. Andersson died in his sleep at a very young age (32) at a hotel in Stockholm, but he had already left a considerable legacy with his melancholy descriptions of life, living, people and knowing there was a Divine power.
The theme both poets had in common was their love for nature, but as Dan Andersson lived and worked in the heart of Sweden, his closeness to the land expressed itself in the fields and forests in his works, while Evert Taube's passion was the sea, the archipelago and sailing, since he lived on the west coast of the country.
Dan Andersson's poetry has had many a singer and songwriter putting melody to his words. A member of ABBA (Bjorn), was part of a band before the ABBA days that recorded and released a Dan Andersson song:
Here's a translation of the first, then the last two verses of "Omkring Tiggarn från Luossa" by Dan Andersson, (courtesy of Ola Wikander):
Round the beggar from Luossa people gathered in a ring, by the campfire they sat and heard his song. And of wayfarers and mendicants and every wondrous thing and of his longing he sang to them all night long.
May the black and salty waters cool the cheeks that burn with fever, let’s be miles away from life before the morning breaks above! Not of this world was I, brother; hardships without end I suffered for the sake of worries, faithlessness and of my burning love.
By a shore all dressed in seashells stands a gate of roses heavy, therein sleep the mouldered shipwrecks, and the tired men find rest. Songs unheard and high there sing like violins in distant echoes under arches where eternal children live forever blessed.
It was my dad's favorite and he asked me to sing it for everyone that came to our house.
I tried to find a good youtube video of one of Evert Taube's songs in English, but I couldn't find one :(
But, one of the songs that my class and I were singing at all summer graduation performances (yes, our school had a show each spring before school let out), was "Änglamarken", which translated into English would be "The Earth of the Angels", saying this earth and this life needs nature and its wonders for to have a place for children to play.
Here is Evert Taube singing himself in a ballad he wrote about a sailor:
When thinking about it, I do believe my song "When I'm Watching Butterflies" has drawn inspiration from both poets .... I did not think about it while writing it though.
The story is I had a song written by Glenn Tubb - yes, the nephew of Ernest Tubb - recorded and released, and it is playing in a tribute show to Glenn Tubb. The show is called Neon Music Country Legacy.
It is always easy to get inspired as a songwriter living in Nashville. One thing to do is to go to one of the Songwriting Sessions they have at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This time it was with Byron Hill, and if you are a country music fan, I know you have heard many of the songs he has written. Google/search Byron Hill on the web and see what you'll find ...
If you haven't searched/googled yet, here are some of the hits he has written: "Fool Hearted Memory" for George Strait, "Born Country" for Alabama, "High-Tech Redneck" for George Jones .... and there are more ...
Yaaay, I've been to my first fair! About time you might say since I've been living here for 5 1/2 years ... the fair was the Williamson County Fair. The weather was a little bit thundery-like, so they did not run the rides, but the BIG thing for me was that Bill Anderson was performing. Nadine (from Larry's Country Diner), Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius too, but we got there just in time to grab something to eat and then watch Bill Anderson's set. How much I enjoyed it ... I cried, I laughed and sang along. It felt like Christmas. More even so when Chase bought me the book "I hope you're living as high on the hog as the pig you turned out to be", that I had on my Christmas wish list last year, but didn't get, but I got it now :-) Chase remembered; he even kept my wish list until now, how sweet is that?!! So, even if it came a rain shower or two (the performances were inside though), my heart was full of sunshine.
A "frozen" Ferris Wheel.
Autographed Bill Anderson picture and my "Christmas" gift.
PS. When I walked up to Mr. Anderson, I wanted to thank him for singing a favorite song of mine. But I got a little tongue tied, so I said "Thank you for singing Tear Drops", although I very well know the title of the song is "I Love You Drops" ... I guess he now has a new story to tell ...
The question: "What do you think about today's country music?"
The answer is Jim Lauderdale's: "You can't judge country music by what's currently popular."
Meaning that music genres constantly evolve. He also pointed out that rock music is not the same today as it was when it started out. What is popular always changes. My addition: Looking at country music as a whole, think about how rich it is with different sub-genres to meet (almost) everyone's taste.
Jim Lauderdale at the Country Music Hall Of Fame's Songwriter's Session July 12, 2014
The guitar that with the owner started the transformation of the guitar as a solely strumming instrument to a lead role - the Gibson L-5.
The songwriter Harlan Howard's typewriter.
"Above And Beyond (The Call Of Love)". It has been on my repertoire since I heard the Rodney Crowell version. It was very interesting to read the original lyrics which differ some from the Crowell cut.
The Princess of modern traditional country music: Ashley Monroe. Her songs have life in them. This is from a show at the CMHOF this past weekend that I enjoyed very much.
