what I forgot

It amazes me sometimes; knowing what I've forgotten. After I remember it, of course.

I listen to CBC Radio often, as many who know me are aware. I’ve blogged about listening to the CBC in the past, I’m sure of it. And I know I’ve blogged about my favourite CBC Radio host, Jian Ghomeshi; the object of my not-so-secret crush.

Last week, Jian broadcast an interview with Rosanne Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash. They spoke about Rosanne’s new album called The List, which features some of the 100 songs her dad said were the quintessential country songs.

I spent the past week listening to Rosanne’s new album (great listening) and lots of Johnny Cash songs. As I wrote (and went through the eleventh edit of a novel on which I have a fragile hold at the moment), I was taken back to weekends of my childhood. I could almost smell the farmers fields in Renfrew, hear the rushing water of Temagami.

During gospel sessions on Sunday mornings and over impromptu pickin’ around the campfire, The Man in Black had an impact on our bluegrass weekends that I’m now realizing. My tacit knowledge that these songs were old Cash songs and remembering dad pickin’ Tennessee Flat-Top Box on his old Gibson...well, these are two different things.

One song took me back to the Sunday gospel stage and those nights around the campfire. We weren’t religious - for me, the strongest pull here is the sense of family. Something makes me think Johnny wouldn’t mind.

Thanks, dad, for giving me such great memories to get me through. I think your pickin’ would hold up next to Johnny’s in a heartbeat.

I can't wait to remember what else I forgot.


~ Jeannette



Daddy Sang Bass

I remember when I was a lad,
times were hard and things were bad.
But there's a silver lining behind every cloud.
Just poor people, that's all we were.
Trying to make a living out of black land dirt.
We'd get together in a family circle singing loud.

Daddy sang bass,
Mama sang tenor.
Me and little brother would join right in there.
Singing seems to help a troubled soul.

One of these days and it won't be long.
I'll rejoin them in a song.
I'm gonna join the family circle at the Throne.
No, the circle won't be broken.
By and by, Lord, by and by.

Daddy sang bass,
Mama sang tenor.
Me and little brother would join right in there.
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.

Now I remember after work,
Mama would call in all of us.
You could hear us singing for a country mile.
Now little brother has done gone on.
But, I'll rejoin him in a song.
We'll be together again up yonder in a little while.

Daddy sang bass,
Mama sang tenor.
Me and little brother would join right in there.
Cause singing seems to help a troubled soul.

One of these days and it won't be long,
I'll rejoin them in a song.
I'm gonna join the family circle at the Throne.
Oh, no the circle won't be broken.
By and by, Lord, by and by.

Daddy sang bass,
Mama sang tenor.
Me and little brother would join right in there.
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.