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| Apparently, there aren't many traditional country music fans out there.
Kudos go to Joseph McCauley for getting at least part of my "quiz" correct. He provided the only correct answers.
The writer of all three songs is Kris Kristofferson. Song one is "Me and Bobby McGee", first popularized by Janis Joplin. The second is "Sunday Morning Coming Down", which was a hit for Johnny Cash in 1970. And the third song is "Jesus was a Capricorn" recorded by Kris himself.
OK, I guess I'll have to go with more modern stuff next time around. | | |
| It seems that McCauley and Pearson are having lots of fun with having folks solve their lyrics mysteries. I'll throw in a few of my own to really challenge you folks.
If any of you can get all three of these, you'll get an A in one of my classes (and no cheating -- Google is off limits). I think that these are three of the best songs ever written (and they can all be considered "country")
If your one of my colleagues and you get these, you'll get a pat on the back and my eternal admiration and respect.
A hint: The same entertainer wrote all three of these songs and recorded all three of them at various points in his career. He didn't necessarily have top 40 hits with any of these.
The first (an easy one to get you started):
"From the coalmines of kentucky to the california sun,
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul,
Standin right beside me through everything I done,
And every night she kept me from the cold.
The somewhere near salinas, lord, I let her slip away,
She was lookin for the love I hope shell find,
Well Id trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday,
Holdin Bobby's body close to mine."
The second:
"I'd smoked my mind the night before
With cigarettes and songs I'd been picking.
But I lit my first and watched a small kid
Playing with a can that he was kicking.
Then I walked across the street
And caught the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken.
And Lord, it took me back to something that I'd lost
Somewhere, somehow along the way."
The third:
"Eggheads cussing rednecks cussing
Hippies for their hair
Others laugh at straights who laugh at
Freaks who laugh at squares
Some folks hate the whites
Who hate the blacks who hate the klan
Most of us hate anything that
We dont understand
Chorus:
cause everybodys gotta have somebody to look down on
Who they can feel better than at any time they please
Someone doin somethin dirty decent folks can frown on
If you cant find nobody else, then help yourself to me"
OK, you guys, have at it. I'm waiting to be impressed.
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| Today has been one of the most surreal days I can ever remember. It certainly is one of the saddest, most melancholy days I can ever recall. We bid farewell to many special individuals who have become a wonderful part of our existence and send them on to the next phase of their lives. We hate to see them go because a part of us goes with them. We've grown to love them and care for them and then they leave us. Like proud parents, we send them on their way, but, unfortunately, we don't get them back. But, we rejoice in their accomplishments and are happy for the opportunities that await them. Still, though, it's hard to let them go.
Sadder still is the news that we have lost one to the finality of death. Everyone, I'm sure, is still in shock over the news. I, as well as everyone else connected to this dear girl, is terribly saddened and heartbroken. Words can't express how I and so many others feel right now. Shadow is gone from us. We'll never get her back and there's not a damn thing we can do about it. All we can do is grieve for her and think about what might have been. It's such a tragedy to lose one so dear and who had such a bright future ahead. We'll all get through this, but a part of all of us died with her today.
I'm reminded of an article that Mitch Albom wrote. In it, he talked about losing our loved ones who mean so much to us, and how we should never pass up the opportunity to tell them so. I think Shadow's passing should at least make us aware of that. Treasure each and every moment of your time with your loved ones. Tell them how much they mean to you and how special they are to you. Make sure that your friends know that you love them by word and deed. Also, if you have a friend in need, for heaven's sake, reach out to him or her. Your gesture of love might be the one thing that brings a bit of joy and comfort into their world of hurt and despair. I'm sure Shadow knows she was loved by many, but I wish I could have told her. So do so many others.
In the same article, Albom also wrote that throughout our lives, we grow to deeply love and care for those special people around us. They bring us joy, comfort, pride, and provide us with a sense of belonging. But, in the end, they pass on and all we can do is miss them.
We miss you Shadow. Rest in peace. | | |
| I just wanted to send a quick message to all of you graduating science majors, and all of the non-majors that have also been in my classes. Also, I will extend this message to those of you who have graced my classes and are transferring to somewhere else.
I wish each of you the very best in whatever paths you choose. I will keep you folks in my prayers, and I hope for the best for each of you. Each of you has brought something special to my classes and I consider it a privilege to have gotten to know all of you. Many of you have become special friends to me, and I am going to miss you dearly. You have made my tenure here at Shorter extremely enjoyable and rewarding (especially in light of all the behind-the-scenes crap that I and my colleagues have had to endure).
If I can ever help any of you in any way, don't hesitate to contact me. I will do whatever I can to help you out if you are ever in need; just get in touch with me. Don't think that because you aren't at Shorter, I've forgotten you. Like many other professors and instructors at this school, we really do care about you. And that doesn't stop once you are no longer our students.
Best wishes to all of you and I pray that God will richly bless your lives always.
Sincerely, Doc Adams | | |
| Well, I'm happy to see that my Indianapolis Colts finally found their offense today. Peyton Manning threw 4 TDs today and Marvin Harrison moved into third place all-time for career receptions (two spots below my favorite player of all-time, the Great One himself, Mr. Jerry Rice). And, the defense continues to be impressive: they only gave up 10 points today. With the looks of their schedule, they could easily go 8 - 0 by midseason. Something special may be brewing here. I hope this is the year that Peyton gets his Super Bowl ring. I often find it hard to root for Tennessee alumni, but how can you not root for this guy??
Speaking of UT, I hope everyone is starting to get excited about seeing them get thrashed by the Bulldogs this weekend. I hope GA puts up about 30 or 40 points on the Vols and squash all this "possible National Title" nonsense once and for all. My beloved KY Wildcats play South Carolina this weekend. Of course, we'll probably lose, but I'll still be praying for a victory. Especially since they are playing Steve Superior. I could take KY losing every game for the next five years if they could only beat Spurrier this weekend. I guess I'll just have to keep dreaming.
Can anyone who is sane believe that the Cincinnati Bengals are 4 - 0?? Nope, me neither. I'm about to jump on the Bengals bandwagon. Back in the early and mid-90s, my family and I would go to see the Bengals play once a year. I went 7 times and only got to see them win once. They stunk so bad that we finally lost interest and stopped going (coupled with the fact that a mid-level seat is now about $50). However, it now is beginning to seem like this might be the year that they finally get back to the playoffs (gee, it's only been 15 years). But, until they are in the playoffs, they will still be the Bungles to me.
Speaking of bungles, my all-time favorite team, the 49ers are leading Arizona 14-6. However, there is still plenty of time for the Niners to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The offense is sputtering and looks pretty lousy. But, what's new?
On to other matters. My mother called tonight and informed me that her uncle, James, had passed away. That's the first of the siblings in my grandfather's family that has passed away. There are 8 of them in the family, and, until today, none had passed on (the youngest of the 8 is about 62). I feel sorry for my grandfather b/c he was especially close to this brother. Their closeness has an interesting story. James was born in 1934 on the night that their grandfather was murdered. When James' mother (my great-grandmother) went into labor, she sent her other children (including my grandfather) to stay with their grandparents. My grandfather and his two brothers were sleeping in the bed with their grandmother. Their grandfather was sleeping in another room. Two men broke in to rob them and one of them shot my great-great grandfather. My grandad and his brothers heard the shot. Fortunately, the rouges fled and didn't harm the wife or her grandkids. But, their grandfather died soon thereafter. So, my grandfather always had a special link to his brother James -- he was born on the night their grandfather was murdered.
Anyway, James had suffered through a long bout with Alzheimer's Disease. He was in pretty bad shape as he had the disease for about 5 years; he couldn't recognize any of his family and was basically an invalid. Alzheimer's is a sad, sad disease and a horrible way for a person to live out their remaining years. The pictures my grandfather received from his brother's family told the tale. You could literally see James wasting away, both physically and mentally. One of my high school teachers died the same way. When I was in school, he was a big, strong man with a vibrant personality; everyone loved him. When he died, he was just a shell of his former self; he weighed probably no more than 100 hundred pounds and couldn't even feed himself. My heart goes out to anyone who has a family member suffering from this horrible disease. I hope that's not the destiny that awaits me.
Anyway, on to happier topics. The 49ers are in the process of choking once again. Arizona is now up 18-14 and the 49ers continue to look hapless. Oh well.
OK, that's enough for tonight I guess. And, I promise, part 2 of the Gnome King saga will be coming later this week. So, stay tuned. | | |
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