
Whether it's to escape the heat, or recover from a lousy day at work, I've always found the river can wash all of one's troubles away. Lately, I have been spending a fair amount of time on the river. Songsters have sung of the healing effect of water nearly as long as there has been song. The symbolism of the river, washing and carrying one's troubles away, is a powerful image. For several religions, Christianity and Hinduism in particular, the river holds a particularly important place as a symbol of renewal. Rivers also played a [...]

John Hartford started off like many songwriters, writing song after song trying to hit a big one. And when he did, with Gentle On My Mind (one of the most recorded songs ever), he hung out on those royalties, and all of his subsequent albums were exactly what you would expect from a bluegrass entertainer who did just exactly what he wanted to do. Of course, I must admit that the first time my buddy showed me his tattered LP with some goggled longhair singing hillbilly tunes I wasn't too interested (probably opting at that time for Trout Mask Replica [...]
In Wagamamas Getting up late, wandering around the North Laine, lunch in wagamamas, Carol concert at the local church (with real live donkeys), dinner at home, cheesecake for dessert, a film on TV, wrapping presents, early to bed.... Listening to Richard Swift and John HartfordRichard Swift - As I go mp3Richard Swift - Losing Sleep mp3John Hartford - Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do mp3John