The Shade and The Shadow

I am back on the long road. All alone on the endless journey with the scorching sun burning my back. The big tree I had called my own has been chopped off. My only chance of finding a momentary shade is gone.

My shadow wants to leave me too. The shadow is following me only because of the sun, cruel though the heat may be. But who will stand by me in the dead of the night? Can I start a tenuous friendship with my own loneliness?

I walk alone, with just my tears to call my own. Alone again, for ever, on the endless journey of life. The desert is limitless, and the sea shore is too far away.

Be Happy, And Stay Happy

It is not your fault. Maybe it's just that we no longer seem to have anything in common. Your horizons have broadened. You have achieved so much in life at such a young age. And I stayed the same old man, still driving the same old car. Maybe moving back with me is nothing but a step back. Into an arena where you don't feel the same happiness you do in your new world.

I feel the tone of resignation that creeps into your voice whenever we talk about settling back into the old routine. Maybe you need to be away from me to be happy. And I think we should all do whatever we all need to do in order to be happy. Please go back again and again as many times as it takes for you to be a permanent resident of the wonderful land of opportunity. Each time you need to return for a limited amount of time to find your moorings, I shall welcome you back.

Be happy, and stay happy. Thank you for whatever you have done for me. And thank you for having once let me dream of paradise.

25 Rock n Roll and Country Rock Songs

Time to wind up the song season. This time it's my list of the greatest rock n roll and country rock numbers. This list is slightly longer than the other two, primarily because the King kept on making too many appearances in the list, and I just could not keep out any of his best stuff.

25. Elvis Presley – Love me Tender: Sung to the tune of "Aura Lea", a sentimental Civil War ballad, this has Elvis singing with little or no musical accompaniment. And yet manages to sound just awesome.

24. George Jones - She Thinks I Still Care: Anne Murray also has a cover version of this song, and even that one's really good. I think it's probably the lyrics.

23. Elvis Presley - It's Now Or Never: The King's take on "'O Sole Mio" makes the Neapolitan song sound incredibly romantic.

22. Anne Murray - You Needed Me: Murray's rich alto voice breaks the boundaries between country rock and pop, but who cares? For those of you who haven't heard this Canadian lady, you don't know what you're missing.

21. Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing: I know many of you think this song should belong to my rock list, but I insist that this earliest of their hits is more rock n roll.

20. The Beatles - All My Loving: Paul's inspired vocals and Harrison's Nashville-influenced guitar solo on this country-ish Beatles number makes it special for me.

19. Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock: For me, this is the quintessential rock n roll number, and the best from the early Elvis era.

18. Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock: the companion piece in spirit to the one above, this is heady rock n roll.

17. Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes: Try listening to this song in conjunction with the two above. Pure old rock n roll magic!

16. The Beatles - You Really Got a Hold on Me: This Beatles cover of a hit from The Miracles has outlived the original. Reason perhaps is the vocal superiority. Features Lennon on lead vocal with George on close harmony.

15. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode: This song arguably had much to do with the establishment of the guitar as the lead instrument in rock and roll, rather than the piano or the tenor saxophone, both of which had been in the running since the emergence of the genre. The riffs and guitar licks are truly memorable...

14. The Beatles - Love Me Do: The Beatles first single has some funky bluesy harmonica by John, and some fantastic high-energy lead vocals by him and Paul with George cheerfully donning the harmony vocals part again.

13. Elvis Presley – Don’t Cry Daddy: This little-known number (by Presley's standards, not by anybody else's!) is hauntingly beautiful.

12. The Beatles - Let it Be: This is Paul at his balladic best. God know why John was not so fond of it...

11. Don McLean - American Pie: Don's allusive song about Buddy Holly's death is an epic song of the spirit of America. This is high poetry, not some soon-to-be forgotten love lyric.

10. Elvis Presley - The Girl of My Best Friend: Another rather obscure number by the King, this song inspires amorous feelings about other people's wives and girlfriends...probably because of the hypnotic vocals.

9. Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds: How can this man sing so well?

8. Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door: Over 150 covers of this song have been sung, including one rather good one by G 'n R, but the greatest living poet in the English language deserves to be in this list if only because of what he's done to music over the years.

7. Elvis Presley - In The Ghetto: Another great one by the lord of all he surveys...what more can I say about him?

6. John Denver - Country Roads: John Denver's ode to West Virginia is really good, in spite of all it's popularity!

5. Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight: "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair?" the man asked in a concert, showing the versatility of the lyrics!

4. Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy: Hmmm...everyone know the refrain to this one and joins in gustily, after forgetting how the rest of the lyrics went!

3. The Beatles - Hey Jude: Now what can you say about an eight minute song with a two minute fade? Don't bother, there's a reason why this is by far the most popular Beatles song.

2. Elvis Presley - She's Not You: This is my favourite Presley number, and I can't really tell you why. But it rocks...

1. John Denver – Annie’s Song: Probably the single most romantic song ever written. The song has become a standard expression of love for many people, due to its grand imagery and the fact it could apply to anyone - after all, Annie Denver is not mentioned by name in any part of the song.