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Red River Mud
Song is on my page, cut #2
Several great historical topic songs in the forum recently - Here's one about us Swedes moving to Minnesota. Loosely based on my wife's family WAY up on the Canada border. The little towns are dying up there now with big agriculture and less small farms. Any/all feedback welcome! Ross
Back in 1880, Great Grandad had a plan
Followed vague directions
to a promised land
Just a Swedish Fishboy,
never steered a plow
Never saw a bison, never milked a cow
But his heart was young and strong,
and it didn’t take him long to turn the river clay
and the River rolls north, and it always will
I might leave the valley,
but it’s flowing still
Try hard to forget it, but it’s in the blood
There’s a strong attraction
to Red River mud
Granddad raised pigs and cold wheat, Gram was a German bride
Built a barn and farmhouse down on the riverside
The farm went bust in ’30,
but no one bought the land
My Mom she paid the bank notes –
baking bread and married Dad
My Mom and Dad they stayed on, ‘til the auctioneers were gone, and lived
right off the land…
and the River rolls north, and it always will
I might leave the valley,
but it’s flowing still
Try hard to forget it, but it’s in the blood
There’s a strong attraction
to Red River mud
Dad died in the great war, Mom passed in ‘64
Me and my brothers left home, looking for something more
The land is solid green now, nine miles of sugar beets
The house and barn are grey ghosts, where land and river meet
Floods try to wash it away, but the barn stands to this day,
and will be when I’m gone…
and the River rolls north, and it always will
You can leave the valley, but it’s flowing still
Try hard to forget it, but it’s in your blood
Remember where you come from…
Views: 4
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kirk Mathew Gatzka on -
Ross,
Just gave a listen. Good tune, very memories based, family history is a great subject. With past histories it is sometimes hard to remember where you come from, if the memories aren't the best kind. But this has a great feel to it and there are some good memories to hang on to. I liked your chorus and the finish too! Thanks for sharing!
Kirk -
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Permalink Reply by ZHMMY HARPER on -
Hi Ross,
Enjoyed your song. I too was born on Red River, but on the border of Oklahoma and Texas - Oklahoma side. The red clay dominated there also. Real squishy nice to squirm your bare toes in.
Zhmmy -
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Permalink Reply by Walt Pilcher on -
Ross,
Enjoyed this very much. Excellent story, and I like the contrast you build between what's transient and what's (relatively) permanent, Well written and performed (Who's the back up singer? - very nice sound.).
Walt -
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Permalink Reply by Ross Johnson on -
Thanks Walt - the female harmony os a friend who has a BA in vocal performance but works in marketing - lots of frustrated performers out there. Me included! She is also on City Kids and does the lead on Between the lines on my page. Glad you liked the song - it was one that came fast once I got going on the idea... Ross
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Permalink Reply by goodenough on -
Good stuff Ross, the story is epic and personal, the playing and vocals create a landscape that is authentic, giving space for lyric that directs the listener to identify shared experience with the story. Touches that common nerve we like to reach.To my ears the backing vox aren't quite there, I wonder what you think? Just a little disonnected in the mix. Think nothing of this,cos I've no idea what chance/inclination you have to do anything about this sort of nit picky opinion. I bet this works well live.
All the best.
Chris -
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Permalink Reply by Ross Johnson on
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Thanks Chris - strangely, the mix is much different in the MP3 compared to a much better sound on the Protools work file. My audio buddy and I are still playing with what happens when we squash these files. Funny things happen now and then. Glad you like the tune. It appears my UK trip is heading north to Edinburgh and then possibly Isle of Arran for a couple days, then back to London. Looking forward to finding local live music and possibly mixing it up with some players while there in Edinburgh especially. Still wrestling with guitar transport/safety issues - we'll see! Ross
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Permalink Reply by SteveO Mallis on -
Hi Ross, Nice song Red River Mud, Good story, sounds very personal. I hope you are enjoying your trip to England.
Greetings, Steve -
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Permalink Reply by Ross Johnson on
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HI Steve and thanks for the kind words. The trip actually starts tomorrow. Yahoo! I have located a number of pub "Song Circles" and jams I hope to join in on. I am STILL can't decide whether I should take a guitar or not. We're moving about Scotland a bit and it might be too much to carry. We'll see. Keep cool in VA - sounds nasty hot all along the east.
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