Sitting in an upright position on the couch, I am reading a popular national magazine that keeps readers current with all-things-bluegrass. Looking at one of the regular features that lists the top thirty songs which make their way to the top, middle, or bottom of the charts, I am overtaken by an involuntary nap. Afternoon naps can reach out and grab you, especially if you are suffering from PLFS (Post Lunch Fatigue Syndrome). A dream appears, I start using the top thirty songs from the magazine’s April 2015 issue, and my unconscious weaves these tunes in ascending order from #30 to #1. The dream starts to unfold.
“Man, this big city life is really getting to me. Too many cars on the roads, too many people, too much pollution. So I’m LEAVING CRAZYTOWN (#30-Steve Gully & New Pinnacle) for the wide open spaces. I know this decision to leave is AGAINST THE GRAIN (#29-Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time) regarding security and knowing what to expect, but ANOTHER DAY FROM LIFE (#28-Joe Mullins & Radio Ramblers) as I now know it is boring, and I need to turn another page in my life.
Bluegrass music helps get me through the day, but hearing the same old songs can get a person down. I need to introduce some new songs to this old brain, because hearing the same stuff all the time, well, THAT’s WHAT MAKES THE BLUEGRASS BLUE (#27-Nu Blu). Yep, time to put a brand new disc into the CD player in my four-wheeled vehicle, go for it, and get out of town.
Okay, I did it. I left the big city life, and I’m going down the road feelin’ good. It’s TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES (#26-Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper). Maybe I should have said good-bye to friends and family, but I didn’t. That’s just THE WAY I AM (#25-Donna Hughes), and from now on I’M A RAMBLIN’ ROLLING STONE (#24-Phil Leadbetter), and it’s BYE BYE LOVE (#23-Gibson Brothers) to what I’ve known before.
Driving south down this Highway 101 get-away, I’m thinking that I just might be THE KING OF CALIFORNIA (#22-Volume Five), but I’ll be DOGGONE (#21-Hot Rize) if I’m gonna limit myself to staying in this state. I’ve heard there is good bluegrass music over in the Ozarks, so I just may keep driving and then put on MY WALKING SHOES (#20-Crowe, Lawson, Williams) and have some fun. A person can get TOO BLUE TO HAVE THE BLUES (#19-Detour), but that’s not gonna happen to me. No sir, no ma’am.
I know that in some parts of the world NOW THE SUMMER’S GONE (#18-Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers), but where I am right now the summer hasn’t even started yet. The weather is good, so maybe I’ll find me a bluegrass festival and take some clogging lessons, and I’LL GO STEPPING TOO (#17- Earls of Leichester), just like the buck-dancers do.
Okay, now I’m in the old van going due west, crossing the big bridge, looking at the fast moving Colorado River, and I say outloud, ROLL BIG RIVER (#16-Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver). I’m looking up at the WESTERN SKIES (#15-Hot Rize) instead of the big city high rize, and I’m feeling good about it. Yes, I’m alone, but I’m NO MORE LONELY (#14- The Roys) than I ever was in the big city. In fact I’m not lonely at all, with the fresh air, blue skies, trees and wild critters to keep me company as I drive by em’.
It’s hard to keep my mind focused on driving now, and many other thoughts are going round and round in my head. Right now I’m driving and thinking, it’s FOLKS LIKE US (#13-Darrell Webb Band) who love this bluegrass music that keeps it alive by getting involved in festivals, jams, and just playing it when we are by ourselves. I met a guy the other day who said he was a musician, and when I asked him what kind of music he plays, he says, MY MUSIC COMES FROM BILL (#12-Spinney Brothers). I asked him, ‘You mean Bill Haley and the Comets?’ ‘No, no, no,’ he said, ‘Bill Monroe.’
Focusing back on driving I’m now thinking that if I continue west far enough I could see the MOON OVER MEMPHIS (#11-Balsam Range), but Tennessee would be a long drive in this old van I’m in. Turning on the radio to my favorite national bluegrass station I hear, “BLUE IS FALLIN” (#10-Hot Rize). Now this van is starting to act up, and I hear a noise from the engine that is not familiar. What if this hunk of metal breaks down? If it does I’m GONNA CATCH A TRAIN (#9-Spinney Brothers), and keep traveling. Maybe go to the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad of Colorado, and catch one of their Concert Trains for a bluegrass band.
Alright, that engine noise is gone now, maybe the van ran over some BITTERWEEDS (#8-Larry Sparks) and some of them got up in around the engine fan to cause noise. Driving into a small town now I realize I’m getting hungry. I sure could use a meal with some SOUTHERN FLAVOR (#7-Becky Buller w/Peter Rowan). Crossing the railroad tracks in this town I can see a BIG BLACK TRAIN (#6-Earls of Leicester) coming, and I long JUST TO HEAR THE WHISTLE BLOW (#5-Tim Stafford) to remind me of when I rode the train as a kid. If you’ve never been on a train this may mean NOTHIN’ TO YOU (#4-Becky Buller), but if you have been on a train you’ll know what I mean.
HER LOVE WON’T TURN ON A DIME (#3-Lonesome River Band) comes on the local radio station now as I come to a stop sign in the middle of a small Arizona town. On the corner there is a guy playing Sally Goodin’, with a sign around his neck, FIDDLIN’ JOE (#2-Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper). As I drive by him, through the open window I throw a silver dollar that lands right in his open fiddle case, and he gives me a thumbs-up. I’m still hungry, and in the next block is a building with a neon sign, ‘Cowboy Food, Live Western Music, Dancing, and Real Cowboy Beer for Cowboys and Cowgirls.’ But I pass it by because I’m HONKEY-TONKED TO DEATH (#1-Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice). I’ll just keep driving and try to find a place that has bluegrass and BBQ.”
And now the dream ends. Due, no doubt, to my neighbor who decides to start practicing his loud banjo. What a dream! I’m thinking of seeing my doctor about a medication change….
