In my life there have always been two important things, books and music. It is one of the great sadnesses in my life that I have zero musical ability. As they say, I cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Playing the radio pushes my musical ability to the extreme. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for those who can bring music to the world for our enjoyment and perhaps a little edification should we choose to use it that way.
From as far back as I can recall I loved Science Fiction books and sad songs. Despite growing up in rural Eastern Kentucky I was not a fan of country or bluegrass music. Those loves came about later in life. As a teen and young adult it was rock or nothing. I'm happy to say today I enjoy many genres of music. Take me from Ralph Stanley to Rod Stewart, from the Rolling Stones to Ricky Skaggs (I went to high school with he and Keith Whitley who's music I also love). Even throw in a little Wagner and Stephen Foster.
There are some people who just do not understand my love of sad songs. Heck I like happy songs, too but they are so fake. Life is filled with sadness and travails and sad music is more true to life. My life at least.
But there are some songs that are not quite sad but still true. Like this one from 1973.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNf3eHJGe70
Sometimes I wonder just how close I may have came to being like this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBsXywDAmh0
But growing up where and when I did one was exposed to a lot of country and bluegrass and I can tell you that bluegrass is built on sadness and tragedy. So many songs about death, loss and a man killing a girlfriend. Then my life was not the most cheerful so I guess something in the sadness called out to me and I responded to it.
Here is the very first song I can remember hearing and it was one my mother sang. Performed by a group from Eastern Ky called Goose Creek Symphony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE6cw4XY_ns
We lived way back in the sticks where "they had to pump in the sunshine". We listened to WSM on an old, battery radio. My brother had climbed the apple tree to put the antenna (which was just a long wire) up high so we could pull it in. It being in Nashville and the home station of the Grand Ole Opry. Always listened to the Opry on Saturday nights hosted by Wayne Ramey. I always remember that name. He stopped being on the show and my grandfather said he had a growth inside him. All I could picture was some kind of plant like corn or beans or something.
One of the big names in the Opry was the Stanley Brothers. Carter passed away long ago but Ralph is still (barely) kicking. Here is a song they sung that is still one of my very favorites. Sad but hopeful lat the same time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqpOdKMrZS0
Anybody who knows me at all can tell you I'm not at all a religious person and they would be telling the truth yet I grew up with country and bluegrass gospel music and I do for a fact love it.
I'm sure I'll continue with music as music and books are where my life has lain.
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