Today has been tough for me musically and spiritually. It’s like I just can’t play or sing. I’m not flowing. Everything feels hard. That’s not normal for me.
I wasn’t going to post anything, but some on my other platforms look forward to my Sunday post. I prayed about it, and I need to get over myself.
Because it’s not about me and my best. It’s about Him.
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Mercy Came RunningForever Reign
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“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
You can teach someone to play an instrument or they can teach themselves and if the talent is there then they can become quite good depending on what they are willing to give to it.
But you can’t teach heart.
All you can do is tell them about it and it’s something they have to find inside themselves.
It’s a pouring out of yourself to the listener.
I’m not saying I have it but it’s what you want.
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He said, “Drifter, can you make folks cry when you play and sing? Have you paid your dues? Can you moan the blues? Can you bend them guitar strings?” He said, “Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside? ‘Cause if you’re big star bound, let me warn ya, it’s a long, hard ride”
A Dream I Had A Few Nights Ago & A Bob Dylan Cover
It was nighttime, and I was slowly driving along through an empty parking lot in a black full size pick up truck. It felt like maybe an 80s model Chevy.
When all of a sudden this zombie looking guy started throwing what looked like hatchets at me.
So I mashed on the gas Dukes of Hazzard style and got my ass outta there.
My heart was racing.
I made it to the main road then I relaxed and felt safe. It was a beautiful night with different colors through the sky and many shooting stars. They just kept coming, one after another. There were great mountains all around that were lit from the sky. It also felt really pleasant out. Like a late September night in Georgia.
I kept driving until I reached what looked like a small school or college nestled in the mountains. I parked my truck and jumped out and went inside as if I knew what I was doing and where I was going.
At the end of a long hallway was a room with the door open and a light was on. Inside was a super tall man. Like 8 feet or so. He was slender, good looking, with dark hair and well dressed.
I approached him as if I had business with him and we had a conversation but I can’t remember it. Then I told him that he was really tall and he just winked and nodded.
Then I left him.
As I walked back down the long hallway, there was a woman in front of me on her knees. She was very attractive with brown curly hair. I stood before her, then she reached up and took my hand, and with a burn in her eyes, she told me she wanted me, for me to pick a room.
I immediately thought of my real life girlfriend, and then I told her sorry, but I’m engaged.
Then I walked away and left the building. Once outside, I looked up, and the sky was just alive and incredible still with these shooting stars. They were dancing everywhere.
As I was about to leave, the woman cried out and stopped me and asked if I could give her a ride. I said yes, then she got in the back bed of the truck, and in a sensual way, she laid down, and I began to drive off.
Things are about to get really strange.
I fell asleep at the wheel while driving. I only found this out once I woke back up inside the dream, but there was a time period in the dream I couldn’t account for.
So I open my eyes in the dream, and I’m like, where the hell am I? I’m behind the wheel and flying down the road, and it’s now daylight. On each side of the road, there are huge mountains and these huge white stone statues of ram heads. The horns are black with gold and white stripes.
Then suddenly the road ends and we go sailing off this cliff and way far below was a broad river and we’re plummeting toward it. I was terrified. My heart was on its way out of my chest.
I knew I had to act fast. I looked behind me, and the woman was still with me, now in her bra and panties.
So I hurried and climbed through the back sliding window to get to her. I told her if she wanted to live, then she needed to listen to me right now because we are about to crash into a river. I told her that I’m going to pick her up and just before impact that we would leap into the water. She agreed. Then I scooped her up and held her in my arms, and I watched as we fast approached.
With her arms around my neck and just seconds remaining, we jumped from the bed of the truck into the murky water.
As she clung to me, I swam for what seemed like forever. It’s OK though, remember I told you before I’m a good swimmer 😁. Then we finally made it safely to a narrow shore.
But now there’s no way out because in front of us is a sheer rock wall hundreds of feet high.
So I told her that we must climb if we want out of this thing. I encouraged her. Told her she could do it. She agreed, and we started up.
It was a long way up. It was so hard. I wasn’t sure if she’d make it, but if she doesn’t make it, then I don’t make it because I’m not leaving her.
Let me take you where the dogwoods bloom, to the honeysuckle blue.
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Honeysuckle Blue – DNCOne – U2
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All pictures are of Georgia, and the river is the Chattahoochee. Drivin N Cryin is an Atlanta band, and the song “Honeysuckle Blue” mentions the river, the dogwoods, and the North Georgia mountains.
I have a lot of stories about my life still left to write, so I’m taking a break from my weekly Hidden Gems From The B-Side posts and the Friday Hank Jr. posts I’ve been doing.
At some point I’ll return to them. Eventually, I think I’ll move on from Hank Jr. and maybe do Bob Dylan next. And maybe in the future I’ll do some more of the Shakespeare & Me & Guest ones too.
Right now, though, I want to get some of my life stories written down so I’ll have them for my memoir down the road.
Oh, also… I have some of my song recordings from the bathroom that I would consider bloopers or just funny moments, and I plan on doing a special limited edition post. A lot of these were recorded before I ever decided to post them here. Most of them were just ones I did and sent to different friends and stuff in texts, just goofing off, trying to be funny, or just making funny mistakes while practicing or experimenting.
And to give you an idea of the atmosphere of how I record, I go into my little small bathroom and shut the door behind me. I either sit on the toilet or on a little stool that I have. I open my audio app, then sit my phone down on a roll of toilet paper on a small shelf above the toilet. Then I grab my guitar, press record, sit down, and whatever happens happens.
But I’ll be sharing these.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your support, also. I’m honored to be here on WordPress with you, and I love reading your blog. It helps me.
When I was a teenager, playing and singing, I would go for hours and hours alone in my room. I was passionate about it, and it brought me so much joy, peace, and healing.
Then I got older, and drugs and alcohol entered the picture. And people. Things changed.
Then, I kind of forgot about secular music for a while and had my Christian music ministry. Toward the end of that, I just felt burned out and dealing with these ongoing heavy things, it made me lose the fire.
So I quit playing for a handful of years and wasn’t sure I’d ever play again.
Well, I started playing again this year, as some of you know, and it’s just been amazing for me.
I feel like that kid again.
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Here’s 2 songs that are the epitome of great hidden B-side gems. I just recorded these tonight, a few hours ago.
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 