Two Old Men & Some Songs

Happy Freaking New Year

2012-01-01T16:18:00.000-06:00

Ponderings by Swampfox AKA Earl

It's New Year's morning and all through the house.

Everyone's sleepy, hung-over, or soused

Granddaughter Jasmyn came home from a friends
And said "you all are depressing me to no end".

Nothings open so there's little to do.

I'll be glad for tomorrow when it's all in the past,
I suppose the holidays are good for some folks
But I'm just glad they don't last.

Polly and I joined a health club up the road

I'm hoping the membership helps
Because we probably won't go
Our will is weak and our bodies are old.

My hearing's worse on the right side

And hers is worse on the left,
But when I'm driving
That is a big help.

Still I'm propelled forward

To new fields to plow.
And I just keep on hoping
For more somehow

But I sit hear in wonder

More ragged and worn
And I know even less
Than the day I was born.

Happy Freaking New Year Everyone!

Jerry Mungle on ReverbNation

2011-12-22T14:47:00.001-06:00

My Song Won First Place!

2011-07-06T14:32:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone, I competed in the music festival in Guntersville this past 4th of July weekend.

I won first place in the country category with my song "More Than A Name On The Wall". I competed with 28 others in the Country/Bluegrass Category, but I got it. First prize was a nice check, a certificate and a painting by a famous artist who sold one of his paintings for $50,000.00. I wonder what mine would be worth! Channel 48 and 31 were there so we should be on TV. Also, watch the newspapers ... there will be things in the paper about it. I'm really thrilled with it. I was hoping for it, but you never know. It's a lot of fun and down right exciting right now.

I thought I had a shot but the competition was pretty stiff. Our friend Ken Cooper put this video on Facebook.

Thanks to everyone for all your support.

Earl

Nashville Comes To Huntsville, Alabama

2011-05-08T23:01:00.007-05:00

Hello Everyone This is Earl Watts. Jerry Mungle and I are hosting a show at The Coffee Tree with some pretty big name Opry performers.

Sunday, May 15 from 1:00 to 5:00

Kayton Roberts played steel guitar with Hank Snow for around 30 years. Hank Snows bass player will be there as well along with Rob McNurlin who has a TV show; I think it's in Carolina but don't remember for sure. These guys just like to play so they will be playing along with and Jerry and I as well as hopefully a couple of other local performers.

Jerry, Patsy and I played a little place outside Tullahoma a few weeks ago called The Tater Box and we got invited to play for the Grand Ole Opry fan club which lead to more possibilities and Jerry contacted Kayton and he agreed to bring his troup here.

Kayton can literally make a steel guitar talk. If you haven't seen him play a steel guitar you have truly missed something. You will be amazed. It's going to be a great show. We hope you can come and will tell others about it.

Admission is free but tips are welcome.

The Coffee Tree Books & Brew
7900 Bailey Cove Road SE
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 880-6464

Tonight!! Coffee Tree Books & Brew Showcase!!

2011-02-18T10:54:00.008-06:00

Two Old Men & Some Songs (Earl Watts & Jerry Mungle) were called in to rescue and keep alive the Friday night showcase at Coffee Tree Books & Brew Friday night. The performer originally scheduled is sick and cannot perform; that's why Earl and I got the call. We'll be playing some good ole songs from several years ago, and we might throw in some original songs too; we may even play a few funny songs.

I know it's awful short notice (it was for us too), but if you live in the area, and you don't have anything planned for Friday night (Feb 18), come down to the Coffee Tree at 7900 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville, Alabama, and join us. We usually have a lot of fun when we play at the Coffee Tree.

For those of you who like to follow the activities of Two Old Men & Some Songs, we were a little busy in December. We played a NASA Christmas Party at the Ledges on December 2, a Friday night showcase at the Coffee Tree on December 3, and we played the Old Time Country Radio Show in Lynchburg on December 18. On January 9, we went to Gallatin, Tennesse (just outside Nashville) to play for the Grand Ole Opry Fan Club meeting (Country 101). We had a real good time playing with some great Grand Ole Opry musicians and singers who played and sang with Hank Snow and Roy Acuff. We are currently working on booking some joint performances with Two Old Men and the Grand Ole Opry/Nashville musicians. I'm working on possible shows in my hometown, Hartsville, Tennessee as well as Athens, Alabama, and Huntsville, Alabama. If you have some ideas where we could schedule a country/comedy music show with Two Old Men and some Grand Ole Opry musicians, please let me know.

From Earl’s Desk

2010-12-15T20:40:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone. I just got back from taping a TV show with Cookie Stoner. It will air on station http://www.jamiecooper.com/ which is (Athens, Alabama) local TV station ZTV-11 the 22nd of this month (next Wednesday) at 7:00 or 7:30 PM. We can't remember exactly what time slot it's going to be. It's a 30 minute show and I come on about half way through. I do my song and then Cookie and I talk for about four minutes. It's simulcast live if you want to see it as it's being played on TV. She calls her show Cookie Logic. I just love her. She's a force to be reckoned with.

Cookie emailed yesterday late to ask if I wanted to come and I said, “Sure.” She's promoting my song on CD baby plus the TV audience will hear it as well. We just love Cookie. We're headed to Birmingham tomorrow night for a birthday bash and she's going to be the M.C. for that.

Thanks to Cristina Lynn who's one of the hardest working most talented, helpful, unselfish writer / singer / performers I know - Patsy, Jerry and I are playing station WLIJ which is a Shelbyville TN station this Saturday at 10:00 AM. I think it's simulcast on computer as well. You can probably Google the station. It's being broadcast live from "The Caboose Cafe" in Lynchburg, Tennessee. By the way Cristina, I gave you a special thanks on the show and Cookie had nice words for you as well if you can tune in for it. I know you've done her show a couple of times.

Anyway it's all great fun and who knows what might happen with the song. Patsy, Jerry and I are playing for the Grand Ole Opry Fan Club in Gallatin, Tennessee on the 9th of January. I'm really looking forward to that because some Opry stars have attended that function from time to time. Maybe Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, or Tim McGraw might stop by. Or maybe their cousin, or personal trainer, or wife's personal trainer, or someone who has a third cousin who once used their personal trainer or maybe their kids or grandkids who once used that personal trainer or their dog or cat or pet turtle. LOL! You get the message! It doesn't cost a dime to dream; if it did, I'd be broke.

Anyway, just giving a heads up in case you want to watch the TV show or tune into station WLIJ on Saturday at 10:00 AM.

Special Notes: to "Doug Budzak" and "The Coffee Tree Books & Brew" Cookie gave me an opportunity to plug anyone I wanted, so I gave a heads up to Rockit Juice Studio and "The Coffee Tree". I even spelled R-O-C-K I-T Juice for everyone and said what a great job Doug Budzak did with the song so your studio and your name gets another great “plug” Wednesday. I told them they could probably Google for your website. I also said The Coffee Tree was a great place to try out new material and how everyone there was supportive so they will have a plug on the air as well. Last, but not least to my darling, beautiful Grand Daughters, I said hello to you on the air at the end of my spot. So, listen up. - Love Grandpa

Announcing A Really BIG MUSIC SHOW

2010-11-30T18:40:00.001-06:00

Two Old Men & Some Songs, AKA Jerry Mungle and Earl Watts, with featured guest Patsy Trigg, are performing this Friday night (December 3) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at

Coffee Tree Books & Brew
7900 Bailey Cove Rd SE
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 880-6121

Patsy will be singing her platinum record hit, “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” (Patsy recorded this song with Elmo in 1979 and it has been in the top ten Christmas songs for 30 years in a row). Two Old Men & Some Songs have played several shows with Patsy lately, and we look forward to playing with her again at the Coffee Tree.

If you don’t have anything planned for this Friday, come out to the Coffee Tree and enjoy some old songs being played by Two Old Men & Patsy. We have been referred to as Two Ugly Old Men and a Good Looking Woman, Two Old Roosters and a Chick, etc.

We will be focusing on old country songs, but we will also play some of our original and funny songs. We plan on having a lot of fun, and we hope you can join us.

Jerry

Live On TV!

2010-09-26T08:27:00.007-05:00

TV Debut

Keep your guitar tuned ... never know when someone will want you to play it!

~Two Old Men~

Announcements, Philosophical Thoughts & Ramblings

2010-09-20T12:34:00.002-05:00

This is Earl Watts and I wanted to let you know I will be making my big TV debut this Friday - I think that's how you spell "debut" … along with Jerry Mungle, my partner in “Two Old Men & Some Songs” and Patsy Trigg, the original singer, arranger and publisher of "Grandma Got Run Over By Reindeer". We can be seen on "The Jamie Cooper Show" Friday morning and I believe noon on WTZT-TV out of Athens, Alabama. I don't know what channel that is but I don't think we get it. I'm starting to realize there are lots of things I don't get.

Patsy Trigg literally arranged, cut and was the original singer of "Grandma Got Run Over By Reindeer" … pushed it, distributed it and frankly when you hear it, it's because she put it on the map period. She has a platinum record and has been drawing royalties on it for over 30 years now. I said Platinum - which is way past gold. I'm just happy to say I know her. Jerry and I have been lucky enough to have her play base with us from time to time so as you can see I like to brag about it. We love her big time. Jerry has a great song called Diarrhea Blues and we're trying get him to put it on YouTube. I'm auditioning for the acting part of the video. I'm practicing facial expressions and running to the bathroom hoping to get the part.

Thanks to George Wells … (George helps everybody)… who has made arrangements for the show. It looks like we're going to actually be on TV. I'm excited and a little scared as well. I hope I don't fall apart. I'll be doing my song "More Than a Name on The Wall" as well as one other song I wrote called "Man On The Mountain". I'm hoping to get Jerry to play along with me on that song. George has written a song called "Look Into Their Eyes" with Robin Stewart singing and it has hit the air waves and just keeps rising to the top. It's going into it's 12th week on the charts at WAGS-AM and is listed above many big name artist on other charts. I don't know if it's the singer or the song or both but there's some sort of magic going on with it. If there wasn't it wouldn't have gotten this far for this long. Great job, George and Robin!

I've been working on a project by the river all day and it's been hot. I got through about dark, and as we often do, Polly and I sat out front on the swing to discuss the meaning of life and other general topics. I was hot and tired and some wonderful soul from a party way back somewhere had left some beer in the refrigerator in the main part of our little house. I don't usually drink much at all but like I said I was hot and tired so I started working my way through a six pack and am doing a damn good job of it, I'm proud to say. Sooo I'm about three or maybe even four sheets in the wind right now. I was going on and on about how the world has basically been a big disappointment to me and Polly raised her hand right in my face and said, "Hail Caesar!” or maybe it was "Hell, Caesar!" … or maybe it was "are you having a seizure?" Either way, she hurt my feelings. Like I said, I'm about three sheets in the wind and my ego is a little delicate at the moment. Now I'm feeling all crushed and wounded and she's asleep. Do any of you ever feel like nobody actually gives a damn how you feel?? Am I the only one?? Does anybody else out there ever feel that way. IS ANYBODY OUT THERE - HELP ME, HELP ME, HELP ME! That's what I think when I see a man pushing a baby carriage through the mall along with a wife and kids. I feel like I can just see that "caught like a deer in the headlights" look in his eyes that says HELP ME, HELP ME - SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME.

Well, I'm about two thirds through the last beer in the six pack so I guess I'll go watch TV till I fall asleep. I'm sure I'll be peeing all night and I'm truly looking forward to that. Polly goes to sleep within 5 minutes of laying down; maybe I'm just boring her to death with my endless need to define, name and understand everything under the sun. Ever been talking to somebody and then the only sound you hear is a snore??

Well, halleluiah, I just found another beer in the bottom tray. HAIL CAESAR!

Anyway, for those of you in this area, this Friday is our big TV debut. I don't know the number for the channel but it's ZTV or the Jamie Cooper Show which ever is easier to find. I told Polly's brother-in-law, Billy about the show and he just said "I'll have to take your word for it, because I ain't getting up that early". He was really impressed.

Love, Earl (shhh, Polly's asleep)

Still Busy!

2010-08-23T06:43:00.002-05:00

Two Old Men & Some Songs have been busy lately. We played for the Huntsville Optimist Club Aug 12 at the Downtown Holiday Inn and for a group of multi-state Optimists at the Airport Sheraton on August 20. We also played at the Coffee Tree on August 18 and at the Daily Brew in Decatur on August 19. We've been pretty busy for two old men.

Drop by the Coffee Tree on Bailey Cove Road in Huntsville most any Wednesday night and you'll probably find us there!

Jerry

Hey, Gang!

2010-07-09T17:18:00.001-05:00

I just checked and my song. "More Than A Name on The Wall" is now number two in the progressive country genre and number three in the patriotic genre. It's been listed on CD Baby's Top Songs list in the top four in two genres for about two weeks now. It's moved up to # 2 in the progressive country genre and up to # 3 in the patriotic genre. You can just Google CD Baby in those categories and it's right there. I'm done crowing now.

I emailed CD baby to ask what determines the positions of various songs in what genres and they will probably email back basically saying…. it don't mean anything. However, anything that puts mine on the list of TOP anything can't be all bad.

A few years ago, I got a new players card at Sam's Town Casino and it said "Golden Gang" on it. (Yes I should have known) - but I had played there quite a bit and I thought I was a big time gambler or something. I was running around telling people I had a Golden Gang card. When I presented it to the dealer at the black jack table, I ask him what it meant and he just said, "It's because your old." I hope CD Baby has better motivations for song placement than that. LOL!! I'm a little slow on the up take sometimes. As Forrest Gump says, "Life is just like a box of chocolates - you just never know what your going to get."

Earl

Bill Mauldin got his own postage stamp!

2010-07-05T22:59:00.003-05:00

Mauldin died at age 81 in the early days of 2003. The end of his life had been rugged. He had been scalded in a bathtub, which led to terrible injuries and infections; Alzheimer's disease was inflicting its cruelties. Unable to care for himself after the scalding, he became a resident of a California nursing home, his health and spirits in rapid decline.

He was not forgotten, though. Mauldin, and his work, meant so much to the millions of Americans who fought in World War II, and to those who had waited for them to come home. He was a kid cartoonist for Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper; Mauldin's drawings of his muddy, exhausted, whisker-stubbled infantrymen Willie and Joe were the voice of truth about what it was like on the front lines.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/07/greene.mauldin.stamp/index.html (Full Story)

I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. I'd known about Bill Mauldin and what he did for a long time. The Military is the best thing that happened to a lot of young men. I'm certainly not for war, but the experience is something I wouldn't trade for anything. When you go in, they just strip you of everything that was important to you on the outside before you went in.

There are jobs in the military that aren't that hard, but we were infantry and everything we did was on our backs and feet. It was the roughest thing I've ever been through in my life. I was never in combat and I've never shot at anything that could shoot back, but I've seen them walk and run till they fall. I've shivered all night in wet freezing foxholes with them. I know the kind of men they are. We all had to soak our socks off with water from our canteens at one time or the other. It creates a bond like no other you will ever have in life. It was the first time a lot of young men ever really had to do as they were told, when they were told. You do things you thought you couldn't do. … It builds confidence. It's the first experience a lot of young men had that didn't allow them to make excuses of any kind. You do the job walking and if you can't do it walking, you do it crawling, but you're still going to do the job. I've fell asleep standing up because I was so tired so many times, I got good at it.

This cartoon showing one soldier giving the other a dry pair of socks … it really does get down to where those socks would truly be a great gift. When your feet are so numb you can barely feel them for hours, all you can think about is trying to find any comfort you possible can under the circumstances.

We were in Norway playing war games with the Norwegian soldiers for about two months towards the end of my time in the service and we were running through an old farm house hog lot. It was full of pig dung and mud and a kid about five men ahead of me had saved a piece of mint candy from one of his C rations. He was unwrapping it as he was running and he fumbled and dropped it. I saw where it landed and picked it up and hit it about one swipe on my pants to wipe it off … and ate it. He was looking back when I did it. I know it sounds funny, but I promise, that piece of C ration mint candy was going to be a real treat for him. I know he didn't blame me for eating it because when you're running, you don't stop for anything. The point is, you just get down to where you feel like "If I could just shut my eyes for five minutes it would be the greatest gift in the world."

Bill Mauldin told it like it was for those guys and they knew it. Again, I was never in combat so I don't want to even pretend I know what it was like for them. They’re in a class some where way above me.

Earl

THEY’RE BACK !!!!

2010-06-21T23:25:00.001-05:00

– Two Old Men & Some Songs are coming back to Coffee Tree Books & Brew.

Where: Coffee Tree Books & Brew

7900 Bailey Cove Road

Suites A & B (across from Grissom High School)

When: Friday, June 25, 2010

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM

It has been rumored that they are kicking off a world tour with this performance.

If you don’t have anything else planned for Friday night, June 25, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, please join us at the Coffee Tree for a fun-filled night of entertainment. We’ll be playing country, comedy, gospel, patriotic, and political songs.

Special Guest Performers:

Patsy Trigg (the same Patsy that sang and recorded “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” with Elmo) will be joining Two Old Men as a special guest. Yes, Patsy will perform this Platinum Award winning song (six months before Christmas) plus some more songs during the show. She will also being play bass with Two Old Men.

Stan Moore will also be playing some of his original songs. Stan has a Nashville background; he worked with Earl Thomas Conley and wrote a song that was recorded by Hee-Haw’s Hagger Brothers.

A lot has happened since Two Old Men’s first performance at the Coffee Tree – see below.

Earl and Jerry have played as a group or as a single performer at
- Coffee Tree Books & Brew (three more times since original performance)
- Ardmore Pickin’ and Grinnin’ (many times)
- Berkley Bob’s in Cullman
- Flint River Coffee Company
- Nashville Palace (four times).
Earl has recorded a new patriotic song, More Than A Name On The Wall, and it is being played on several radio stations. It’s also available for purchase on internet; search for Earl Watts on CD Baby.
Jerry has completed recording a set of political songs and hopes to start selling them soon on internet, at performances, stores, etc.The title of the CD is The RIGHT Songs.

Live At The Flint River Coffee Company!

2010-04-13T23:28:00.012-05:00

Friday April 16 ~ 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Come on out and join us for a fun-filled evening of music ranging from Americana to Pop presented by:

MaryJustice

WITH

Two Old Men & Some Songs

Jerry Mungle

Earl Watts

We predict great coffee and food and standing room only for this event. Something is sure to tickle your fancy with this wide variety of original music and some old-timey favorites.

LOCATED AT:

1443 Winchester Road
Huntsville, Alabama 35811
Located on Winchester Road, just West of Shields Road
or 1 mile East of Moores Mill Road in NE Madison County
256-859-0109

THEY PLAYED IT ON THE RADIO!!!!

2010-03-08T10:39:00.005-06:00

Hello, to all my fellow songwriters and friends. Thanks to George Wells, they played my song "More Than A Name On The Wall" on Station KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota today at 4:00 on the Veterans hour.

It was broadcast on the internet as it was being played on the radio, so I heard it on the computer. Ed, a retired Veteran, gave the song a really nice introduction and made several nice comments about his old friend George Wells as well. ED made some really good comments about how the song affected him after it was played. He commented on what the lines, "It's your brother on your left and on your right" meant to him.

It's a pretty big station and as radio stations with wide ranges go, it's up there with the best of them, reaching up into Canada. So this is pretty big stuff for me and the song! It's so exciting to have a disc jockey think enough of something you've written to play it on their radio station. Now I can say I've had a song I wrote played on the radio. It's all little steps in the right direction but it is another step and it's all very exciting to me for sure.

It's a good thing I wasn't driving! I'd have had a wreck! I was yelling at Polly, "They’re going to play it! They’re going to play it.”

For those of you who have not heard “More Than A Name On The Wall” here is a video. Please leave comments at the comment link.

Thank you so much, George Wells.

Love, Earl & Polly

About Jerry….

2010-02-28T16:56:00.006-06:00

This is one of the four buildings where Daddy had his feed store in Hartsville, Tennessee. I spent many days and nights in this building. I got my first guitar while Daddy's store was in this building. It's where I got so frustrated that I threw my guitar chord diagrams into a pot-belly stove and burned them!!

I started writing songs as a by-product of playing the guitar. It just seemed like a natural progression to write songs, after I learned how to play songs, on the guitar. I just dabbled in songwriting (and didn't write many songs) during my early adult years. My writing didn't really take off until I went to Nashville (about 15-20 years ago) to celebrate a birthday; we went to the Opry and the Nashville Guitar Show (where I maxed out my credit card and bought a Martin guitar). For some reason, the purchase of that guitar motivated me to sit around and play a lot more, and write songs.

Jerry sitting around but not playing…hmmm something has Earl’s attention…(observations by Webmaster)

Initially, I just sat around the house, and played my songs in private; I rarely played them in public. Then, after my wife told me I was chicken for not playing my songs at the North Alabama Songwriter jam sessions (at the Coffee Tree)

(hmmm...) and driving through the parking lot an extra time to get up enough courage, I went into the Coffee Tree and started performing my songs.

Recon Jerry really is shy? (Webmaster observation)

Ever since that night, I have been going strong; a high percentage of my songs have been written since the fall of 2008.

Jerry Mungle

Keep your guitars tuned!

Two Old Men At The World Famous Nashville Palace

2010-02-12T17:05:00.017-06:00

Two Old Men and Some Songs AKA Earl Watts and Jerry Mungle were a big hit at the Nashville Palace Thursday night. We trekked up to Nashville with a bunch of other Huntsville songwriters for the North Alabama Songwriters Showcase, hosted by James Breedwell.

Two Old men shared the stage with Ken Cooper, MaryJustice, Uncle Bethel, and Ron & James for an hour and half of music and fun with the crowd. Thanks, James, for the invite to the Palace and thanks to Doug Budzak of Uncle Bethel for putting the group together.

Performing at the Palace will be a regular thing for us, so stay in touch and drop in when we're there. Oh! yeah, you can find us most Wednesday nights at the Coffee Tree in Huntsville. Jerry is in Ardmore for Pickin' and Grinin' most Thursday nights.

Keep your guitars tuned!

Earl

2010-02-11T07:25:00.000-06:00

My entire family was born in Texas. I was born, more years ago than I like to think about, in a little town called Wheeler which lies up in the Panhandle in the top of Texas. We moved from Texas to Tennessee when I was around nine. My father felt he was called to preach so we moved to a little town called Daylight just outside McMinnville. During the summer months, for the next five to six years we traveled around the country with tent and two hundred chairs while Daddy preached his own version of the gospel. I like to call it "Saving Souls & Damning Sinners". I like to think of myself as a spiritual person although I've never thought of myself as a religious one. I don't worry about eternity and am content to let what ever powers that be take care of that. I'm not concerned with what any one religious belief, or preachers, or prophets version of what it is, or isn't.   My belief is that only the master understands the master plan and I'm thankful for that. I've always felt very fortunate and comfortable that bigger hands than mine are at the controls. I've always felt like a passenger sitting in the coach car of a train on which I have no idea about it's origin or destination. All I know is it leaves me free to enjoy the ride and let those bigger hands run the train. I don't try to figure it out. I'm just thankful for each day and for the ride.
Spending two years in the Infantry was a great turning point in my life and restored my faith in people. I was never in combat but have the greatest respect and gratitude for those who were; what we went trough was tough enough. I can't imagine doing what we did and getting shot at too. I've seen them walk till they fall and shook all night long in freezing foxholes with them. It creates a bond like none other you will ever have as long as you live. Your grow very close with each other because when the chips are down, each other is all you have.
I've always enjoyed music as most of us do. I enjoy writing more than performing although performing is fun as long as I feel what I've written is something others might find worth while. I like songs that say something about life and our experiences with it. Although there are great songs about love, living down on the farm, drinking and prison, I just feel they have been done to death for the most part. My favorite writer of all times is Kris Kristofferson. It's always amazed me how one man can come up with so many great songs when so many of us struggle to come up with just one. Hank Williams Senior was probably the greatest country song writer of all times. His songs are so together and simple. It amazes me he was able to do that so well on so many different subjects from wooden Indians to lonesome blues and at such a young age.
It generally takes me a long time to come to terms with, or actually "like" anything I've written. I'll work on it and polish it for weeks sometimes. I've heard others say they wrote ten songs in a day. My hats off to anyone who can write something good in a hour but it's never been my experience to do that. It took me almost two months to get "More Than A Name On The Wall" to come together. It was so emotionally charged for me. I'd be laying in bed just before going to sleep (a good time to write) and when I'd change a line tears would fill my eyes. It's still hard for me to sing without getting emotional.   However, having said that, there are times when it's coming so fast you can't seem to get it written down fast enough. There are few things I enjoy more than seeing an idea come together. I've never been that good at co-writing as I like to write what I feel and it's just hard to get with someone who has the same feeling for the same thing.

If I have a philosophy on song writing it would be to tell the truth. It has to be emotionally honest lyrically and musically. I'm not into form, fancy riffs, lengths or how many chords and instruments you can use. The simpler the better. It has to be from the heart to touch another heart. I truly believe you can't disguise anything in a song; if you try, people will sense it. If your trying to write, it sounds like your trying to write. If you use a "crip" or "filler" line it sounds like a "crip" or "filler" line. A song can be funny, silly, serious, and about almost any subject you can name. It's not about the subject matter as much as how you say it. Hit songs have been written about "A dead skunk in the middle of the road". The world is full of things to write about, it's all a matter of how we frame it to make it interesting and meaningful. That's the challenge.
In the end, song writing is self expression and therefore spiritual in it's heart and soul. Your basically reaching out to others with music and lyrics with how you feel and see things and it has to be honest. It's exposing your heart and soul and ability; or lack of it, in expressing that. As Harland Howard said, all you need is "three chords and the truth". I think a good way to write any song about almost any subject is to pretend your writing a letter to a trusted friend. Pour your thoughts and honest heart felt feelings and soul into it; then you can start trying to say it in a song with lines and syllables hopefully coming together.   I know every song doesn't need to be written on such an emotional level and doesn't require soul searching, but I like the ones that do.
Earl D. Watts

Snow Really Does Fall On Alabama

2009-12-10T10:48:00.001-06:00

This is the first one I can remember in many years so I rushed out to get pictures. Everything just looks so nice, crisp and clean.

Instead of a joke which I don't have at the moment - Polly and I got to discussing our relationship last night. The subject came up about how we felt so comfortable with each other: and Polly Said: "You don't feel smothered do you"? and I said; "Well yes I do, but it's because my belly's pushing up on my diaphragm". She just thought that was sooo funny.

I hope you’re having a great day.

Earl & Polly.

Bluebird Experience

2009-12-02T14:11:00.003-06:00

By Earl Watts

A few weeks ago we made it to Nashville for open-mic night at the famous Bluebird Café. I did manage to get on and do my song. I was doubtful that I would at first, since my number was 39 out of about 42 total. Luckily, some people left and it allowed me to get on with about 10 minutes left before the 9:00 closing time. Please remember, this was for a Monday night open-mic night and anyone from anywhere can get on to do their song. It runs from the worst to the best and every writer, including myself, likes to think we have something worth listening too. You have cowboys and cowgirls and suits and jeans, hats, country, pop and rock. It's just one of the places in Nashville where fantasy and reality is all mixed up in a batch of people like me who enjoy writing songs. It was nice to have Gary Glover ride along with Polly and me for support and good conversation.

Some of you who have progressed enough and are good enough to be invited back to play in "the round," like Jim Parker, Cristina Lynn and Jessie Smith, already know how the Bluebird works, but I'll give a little detail for those who don't: Since the Bluebird is so well known (Yes, I am proud to say I used the same urinal as Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine etc. etc), Barbara who is running the show has worked out a system to get the most people on in the shortest time. So you’re basically standing by the stage waiting for the performer before you to finish so you can hop right up, plug up and do your song. It's run very efficiently. There isn't a lot of time for conversation, introductions to songs before you perform or accolades after you perform. On the plus side, it's a good place to play with great atmosphere and you’re performing before a house full of writers who are baring their souls in a song just like you are so you have a lot of support. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in song writing. It's a good experience and sort of a little right of passage for "song writer wannabes" like myself.

I felt good about my song and although I was a little nervous, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be. I remembered all my lyrics and picking stuff without a problem. The exposure and experience I've gotten at "The Coffee Tree" has been the best stage freight therapy I could ever get. It was a real test for my song in as much as I was in a crowd of people who were from every age group and no one knew who I was other than Polly and Gary. When I'd finished I got what I felt was a better and louder than normal response. However, as I told Polly and Gary, the most encouraging thing was that a couple of people reached out to shake my hand as I was coming off stage (probably veterans since it's a soldiers song) and a couple more made it to our table to shake my hand. I really didn't see them doing that with anyone else. The last guy who came by had long hair and he shook my hand and just stood there for a moment like he wanted to say something but never did. I got the feeling he had a lump in his throat. It was like a connection that didn't need words and that made me feel really good. It made me feel like the song really does touch people on a feeling level. I'm very encouraged about the song. It's the first time it's been played to total strangers of all ages.

Anyway, it was a good experience and I'm glad I did it. However, although I left feeling like it was a good experience, I'm not so sure it's the best way, or even a stepping stone to getting something cut, or even getting it heard by an artist who might be looking for material. It is, in my opinion, a real mirror into the Nashville song writers scene and gives you a glimpse into what you’re looking at in the way of competition. While standing in line we spoke with people from New York and Boston who had moved to Nashville to be song writers. You have to come away realizing you’re in a crap shoot of monumental proportions against people who are better at the craft than you are, who will never have anything published or cut. It's not because they aren't good enough and even better than some of those who do make it big, it's simply because there isn't enough room at the top for everyone to be heard no matter how great they are. In my humble opinion, it all boils down to what I've said all along; "If you’re in it for any reason other than your love of doing it, you’re in it for the wrong reasons". If you’re in it for the love of doing it then it doesn't matter if it pays anything. Kristofferson once said that if selling shoes paid a million dollars and song writing paid nothing there ain't no way he would sell shoes. It's therapeutic and spiritual; that's the reward, and to be honest and realistic, the only one 95% of us will ever get, no matter how good we are.

Having said all this, and in all honesty, I'm not the least bit discouraged and in fact I'm encouraged. I feel like I've seen a glimpse of what's out there and I've come away thinking, "Hey, I'm not that bad at it, after all". It's like shooting craps. Every roll can be a loser or a winner, but that's what keeps it interesting. We're all gamblers in our own way.

Under Construction

2009-12-01T23:58:00.000-06:00

Watch this space!