Habib Koite and his band performing recently in NYC.
music
Oh Lordy
Freight Train Blues, sung by Roy Acuff. Listen on YouTube. A seminal song of my childhood. On the reverse of the record was Roy’s great “Wabash Cannonball”.
If I Were A Carpenter
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, on Johnny Cash’s TV show in 1969, singing “If I Were A Carpenter”. Lovely guitar playing and bold singing. Listen on YouTube.
Oklahoma Wind
Oh the Oklahoma wind slides across the burning sand
Over double crosses mother nature made.
And nothing’s ever come as far as I’m concerned
From those dead tomorrows planted yesterday.
Listen on YouTube to Billy Joe Shaver and Waylon Jennings sing Oklahoma Wind
Live Forever
I’m gonna live forever
I’m gonna cross that river
I’m gonna catch tomorrow now
You’re gonna wanna hold me
Just like I’ve always told you
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
Nobody here will ever find me
But I will always be around
Just like the songs I leave behind me
I’m gonna live forever now
You fathers and you mothers
Be good to one another
Please try to raise your children right
Don’t let the darkness take ’em
Don’t make ’em feel forsaken
Just lead ’em safely to the light
When this old world is blown asunder
And all the stars fall from the sky
Remember someone really loves you
We’ll live forever you and I
I’m gonna live forever
I’m gonna cross that river
I’m gonna catch tomorrow now
Listen on YouTube to Joe Ely Singing Billy Joe Shaver’s I’m Gonna Live Forever
Two Things
Leonard Bernstein: “To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.”