Some of you may have witnessed this mash up that I keep in my back pocket for solo shows usually. The first time I remember doing this was at a memorial for friend, Wally Williams whose wife, Judy had passed. Also incidentally, it’s the first time I remember meeting Alice spencer. I remember I was sort of the centerpiece of the music for the memorial, but I was in bad voice. I had a cold or allergies or something so my voice was rather limited as to what I could sing. I didn’t think I could pull off the song by myself, I wasn’t sure a sing-a-long with this audience was appropriate. So I asked Alice if she could get all the singers in the room together on stage and she did. She put together a great group and guided them through the arrangement as I explained it to her, though she had never heard this arrangement. I should say that Wally Williams ran a production studio that specialized in creating music for advertising. They did all kind of music for all kinds of commercials. They were called Tequila Mockingbird, a famous place in Austin, where the music community often gathered, hung out, worked, drank, laughed and played and got paid. He and Danny Levin were partners who between them knew just about anyone who was anyone in Texas music at the time. This is why there were so many great singers in attendance. Alice, having worked there for a while, knew them all. What we had was a choir up there. It was magnificent, healing music for the family and those close to Judy.
When I sing it now it has the same healing power. These two songs together have a kind of synergy. When directing the audience how to sing it the trick is that i’m not singing the whole “I’ll fly away” chorus, we’re just singing the first half of it. So if you’re ever in an audience and I do this song, you can help me convey to those around you to just sing the first half of the chorus, don’t sing the last half because it won’t work, at least I don’t think it’ll work. It’s strictly alive song because I just don’t see what the point would be to record this. It was made for congregational singing. I ended with it on this show at the cactus Café because it felt like something was being healed by singing in that legendary room again I’ve told the story before about one of the first times I played in Austin was next door to the cactus at the Texas Tavern, opening for The Wannabes, a legendary local band. After my set, I wondered the hallways of the university of Texas student union where it’s located and saw this iconic door opening and closing. It was pitch black inside, but I could hear a lot of people and someone singing. I peaked in and saw a guy named Darden Smith on stage. I remember thinking to myself man it would be great one day if I could draw a crowd like this, in a place like this. Lo and behold dreams do come true. Thank you all for being part of my dream and tomorrow on my birthday, my 58th, I will be reflecting on this incredible life. This incarnation, a journey with music as my constant companion, has been a blessing that I don’t feel like I deserved, but I wish it for everyone, to find a life’s purpose and follow where it leads. That has made all the difference. Yes it was risky for me to devote my life to music the way I did. My parents were not thrilled with that decision when I left home after high school to pursue my dream. And I totally understood why they were concerned, because I was concerned too that I would fail. But the love and the inspiration that I felt so deeply for what I did, writing, singing songs, playing music with a group of friends, I just didn’t see how I could not pursue that and do it as often as possible. All I ever wanted and still doing it now at 58 years old I feel like I’ve had the best of both worlds, having raised a family with my wife, Robin, our kids, Guthrie, Lilly, and Harlan, the wholesome home and a troubadour’s calling. I’ve had the white picket fence and the “pink Cadillac” waiting outside, a magic carpet that I could ride around this world singing my songs with a peaceful, soulful home to always come back to.
Though this song says not to worry about a thing we all know there’s always plenty to worry about. Thank you all, each in your own way for helping me worry a little less with your support and encouragement. And thanks to my family for supporting me all these years, this crazy man with an impossible dream that he stubbornly refuses still to give up on. Because you never know what the next song is gonna be, you never know who you’re gonna meet, where the music is going to take you. This adventure still is just beginning. Let’s go.
Mason-Bass
Mark Creaney-Recording & Mix
Video- Don Ray
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