Who wants to listen to (much less, sing) a bunch of old songs with a bunch of thee’s, thy’s, and thou’s? I mean, not only is that stuff not cool, it just sounds weird. Yeah, the old hymns lyrics say stuff that nobody even understands anymore. Right? Well, old hymns lyrics might be hard to understand. But not impossible. Most of the old hymns … Read the rest…
One day, way back when, as I sat in my college dormitory room in Manhattan, Kansas, I looked out the window and saw feathery, floating flakes of snow. An early Autumn snowfall had just started. So, I knew it wouldn’t last. Or maybe wouldn’t even stick around at all. So, as I did at just about every opportunity, I flipped open my nifty spiral … Read the rest…
It has been a wonderful day. Elgielene and I started this marriage journey 34 years ago, today. And we were able to enjoy some simple things we love in some new places. Plus, it was particularly special because it’s Friday. And our wedding was on a Friday. And it was cold. Not as cold as our wedding day. But the cold made the memory … Read the rest…
I can’t quite see myself writing them. But the memory of how it happened is crystal and clear. When I was almost 20 years old, I wrote a song called “Sparkling Salvation.” It wasn’t a great song. But the melody was nice. I can hear it in my head, right now, as I write about the experience. And I can remember the feeling I … Read the rest…
Ok, let’s take Wisdom from the top, on four. And uh one and uh two. What’s the matter? Never hoid o’ da song? Where ya been, Ben. It’s the cat’s pajamas. And the bees knees. So, here we go. Wisdom, from the top. On four. And uh one, and Uh, it looks like some of you didn’t come to play today. Matter of fact, … Read the rest…
Back when I used to perform, nightly, in an island-themed restaurant, one crowd favorite was a song by Jimmy Buffett. The lyrics talked about volcanoes erupting and what would happen when they do. Words like, “Ground she’s movin’ under me. Tidal waves out on the sea. Sulphur smoke up in the sky. Pretty soon we learn to fly.” And then the chorus said, “I … Read the rest…
This will be the third year I’ve shared the Doris story. And it probably won’t mean anything to anyone who didn’t know her. But to those who knew her, were related to her, and even worked with her, it might make you smile a sad smile. It was a cold day in January of 1938. In rural Oklahoma. FDR was in the first year … Read the rest…