I came to them in middle age
the Ryman and the Opry
plangent plainspun songs
guitars with plaintive strings
family faith and flag
the anthems threading lyrics
penned to Nashville’s sound
this homely fusion blending
opera gospel blues and folk
verse-chorus-verse-refrain
laid down upon a simplified
progression three chords
dressed with drawl and twang
it parses pain and hardship
sins of pride grave wounds
of psychic injury incurred
by trying climbing falling
trying rising all to just get
knocked down flat again
it’s music made of leather
land and love and life it
finds the noble in our flaws
and celebrates small victories
it sings to me and I sing back
what else could I want better
from my radio than that
A fitting tribute to Nashville and Country music!
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glad you thought so, Carol
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Reblogged this on muddled musings of a mangled mind and commented:
love country….although i always wondered what happened to western? going to vegas next december to see reba and brooks and dunn.
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers – Vegas should be a helluva show
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‘It’s music made of leather’! Like a fine red it matures to the taste over time – I’m well and truly with you on that.
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I still enjoy my jazz and classical, but country really suits me
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Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
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most welcome!
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red neck . . .
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just call me Bubba
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WOW, Big and Rich–both the poem and the singers; and I like “dressed with drawl”.
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think they stopped performing
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Oh.
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Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.
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I grew up being forced to listen to the Opry. I hated it. Now I’ve been twice–once in the old Ryman Auditoreum and once in the new building. The Ryman was indescribably perfect. Like going to church after a long absence and being welcomed home with no judgement.
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oh, I love that description – a welcoming church, indeed
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Like you I, too enjoy jazz and classical but country is my birthright. Your poem reminds me again how much I have to be thankful for. Nice job, my friend!
Ron
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I’m pleased to have sparked pleasant memories
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The music I grew up with was country but just as I have done it has also changed. For me it is hard to relate the country of today to the country of then. I think what helps most is that when the music of today weighs heavy on my sensibilities I can always go back to the old songs: WSM, The Grand Ole Oprey and the Louisiana Hayride are never far from the times I enjoy now.
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the older we get, the more precious are the memories of youth
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