Philosophical message aside, this week's release is a song about love and intimacy. Years ago, shortly after I met the girl of my dreams, she went away on a trip to the Okanagan which was surrounded by terrible smoke in the famous 1994 Garnet Valley fire. It was a hot summer and I was missing my gal. Things were happening in the world around me that I couldn't fix and my dad's voice was in my head telling me to leave it alone. So, what did I do? I wrote a song of course.
That year the fires were devastating! Lea's (leasheldan.com) parents were hosting her brother's wedding in their backyard when they nearly got evacuated. The recorded size covered over 5500 hectares, evacuating 3,500 people, destroying 18 homes around Penticton. I rode the Greyhound there for the wedding and saw the overwhelming power of this out of control wildfire. It was hard to breathe with ashes falling on everything. The magnificence of fresh air is heavenly until the sky turns on us like a dark stranger with the smell of burnt trees and regret. We witness this destruction each year as mother nature and stupid humans set the forests ablaze. But in the midst of chaos and disaster, hope springs up, bringing people closer together. As always, the Earth comes back stronger after being leveled and we should take comfort that we can too.
Lea and I attend many weddings, to be guests or to sing and entertain the guests as Smokeywine, the Duo. (smokeywine.com) Love makes the world go around as they say and so there must be love songs. In 'Maggie and Me' (the names have been changed to protect the guilty) I explore this new flame in my life, fanning the embers; chasing the blues away. It's sweet and steamy with soft acoustic guitar picking mixed with the beautiful sounds of my hundred year old mandolin. Lea puts down harmonies that melt your soul making this one of the more tender songs on our Country Love album. Folk enthusiasts will enjoy the classic, soothing sound that is easy on the ears and kind on the mind. Thank you to my readers and listeners - I appreciate all your support. We are six months ahead of schedule but I am proud to announce that our goal is achieved and we have already released 60 songs to date. We passed our initial goal of 52 songs in 52 weeks! It is indeed the 'Year Of The Great Release'! It has been quite a learning experience, this blogging adventure and it will continue, but every two weeks instead of one. Look for my upcoming post to appear on August 11th. Until then, pray for rain and wind to blow that dark smoke out of your lives. Mark Sheldan
#YearoftheGreatRelease #ListenToThis #SingerSongwriter #SmokeywinetheDuo #MarkSheldanBlog #FolkSongs #LoveSongs #ForestFires #DaddyAdvice #MaggieandMe #CountryLove
To listen to 'Maggie and Me' right now, click here:
https://twistedgitarco.wixsite.com/marksheldan/my-songs
To hear Lea Sheldan's new release, click here:
https://twistedgitarco.wixsite.com/leasheldan-1/songs
If you have Spotify, please download here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/45WDymq494DRIiIB0Nvwpb?si=jEjf6oHTRSOgv3iy08QVuA
Sing along with the lyrics below:
Maggie and Me
Maggie and me were talking
Lying on the living room floor
We took off our clothes on a hot afternoon
And started to explore
All around us a fire was blazing
With everyone praying for rain
And some wind to blow the dark, black smoke
So far, far away
And daddy always told me
If you can’t fix it then put it away
Maggie and me we chased off the blues
Like lovers often do
She said to me “Mark, you need lots of love
I’m not sure I can give it to you”
All around us a fire was blazing
With everyone praying for rain
And some wind to blow the dark, black smoke
So far, far away
And daddy tried to teach me
If you can’t fix it then put it away
Maggie and me we showered
And I massaged her back
She gave me a kiss which made my heart miss
A beat that ain't coming back
All around us a fire was blazing
With everyone praying for rain
And some wind to blow the dark, black smoke
So far, far away
And daddy he taught me
If you can’t fix it then put it away
written by Mark Sheldan
copyright 1994 Socan
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