Under the unfluence of Budweiser and struggling to grade Catcher in the Rye essay exams, I was caught short by Ernest Tubb's '40s honky-tonk classic, "Driftwood on the River." I'd programmed about 30 Tubb songs for Nicole and me so we could concentrate on edumacational stuff yet still enjoy toonage, and, though I'd heard this song several times, I was frankly amazed at how it dovetailed with my general life-state. Tubb had one of those early country vocal styles where you say, "Hell, I could sing that," then you try and fail (to hear a successful attempt, listen to Merle Haggard's autumnal The Way I Am). His best stuff is warm and real--where in today's country music can you hear a regular guy's voice just soulfully putting across home truths of life? Here's the complete lyrics:
DRIFTWOOD ON THE RIVER
I'M JUST DRIFTWOOD ON THE RIVER FLOWING DOWN THE TIDE
I DON'T CARE WHERE THIS OLD RIVER CARRIES ME
I KEEP DRIFTING JUST BECAUSE MY HEART IS BROKEN INSIDE
AND I'M TIRED OF WISHING FOR WHAT CANNOT BE.
I MAY MEET A BIT OF DRIFTWOOD LOST THE SAME AS I
SHARE A HANDSHAKE AND A TENDER TEAR OR TWO
BUT IT'S JUST GOOD LUCK, PAL, WE'VE GOT TO SAY GOODBYE
I MUST WANDER ON TO KEEP MY RENDEZVOUS.
THOUGH I DRIFT THROUGH TOWN AND CITY, I CAN NEVER STAY
'TIL I FIND A PLACE TO CALL MY HOME SWEET HOME
I DON'T ASK FOR HELP OR PITY, I JUST GO MY WAY
I JUST PRAY FOR PEACE TO DRIFT AND DREAM ALONE.
I'M JUST DRIFTWOOD ON THE RIVER AND I'M DRIFTIN ON
'TIL THE WEARY RIVER MEETS THE DEEP BLUE SEA
WHERE THE DEEP BLUE SEA MAY HELP ME TO FORGET SOMEONE
JUST THE CARELESS ONE WHO HAS FORGOTTEN ME.
IN MY HEART I DON'T FEEL BITTER OVER WHAT HAS BEEN
I FEEL SORRY FOR THE ONE I MUST FORGET
AND INSTEAD OF BEING SOMEONE WITH THE WORLD TO WIN
I'M JUST DRIFTWOOD ON THE RIVER OF REGRET.
Deep, or what?
Relaxin' with "The Golden Guitar"
In "The Womb," Hickman High School's Radio Station (KWPE 98.3 FM in Columbia, MO)
Possum Fat Compares Biceps in late '80s
Anthony, Rayhill, Overeem, Pelletier (l-r)
At work...
...with students directing me to www.chucknorrisfacts.com
Dead Moon
Modelling true rock hair
About Me
- Phil Overeem
- 23-year public education veteran; occasional Internet music reviewer.
1 comment:
well, gee, now I'm depressed- Hey glad to see you got the blogging bug, as it's so easy and takes little time and gives you a chance to spew when you feel like it and argue in almost real time with folks who are also avoiding working. This is Ken by the way, taking the high road (insert that annoying smiley emoticon here) to show you how easy it is to comment on other people's blogs (ahem!). See, that was between fifth and six period. Gotta go!
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