There are many things that make this country great. Some will argue which is better at making the country great, mom or apple pie, west coast or east coast or somewhere in the middle, the little mermaid or Jessica Rabbit, country music or western music, college football or Pro football or Australian Rules Football but two things that I think all Americans can agree that are great and belong at the top of any American list are circuses and soap operas. I remember as a kid when we lived out on the farm and had the old faithful three stations beaming into the house in “snowy” quality. Mom’s program was The Young and the Restless, which came on right before lunch. As she was getting lunch ready, I was able to catch some of the show, at least enough to keep up with the storylines. I caught the show some 10 years later and was able to catch up in about half an hour as the same story lines were still being played out. Never one to make you think, but still riveting TV nonetheless. I know some of the “city kids” spent their lunch hour at home watching soaps. I believe it was As the World Turns that they were keeping up to date on. I know that the maintenance crew where I work schedules their lunch break to watch that one. And then there are the nighttime soaps that are even better. Dallas, (my favorite) Knots Landing, Babe Watch, I mean Baywatch, and even one of Kelle’s favorites, Beverly Hills 67054. (wait, that can’t be right, that’s my hometown’s zip code) But I always loved the stories, all of the betrayal and back stabbing, why it almost prepares you for a day at work. My favorites are when two people are going after one member of the opposite sex, a love triangle you might say. Now that’s good TV, and a great soap opera. You could say we have a nation of soap opera fanatics. And who didn’t go to a circus as a kid. If you never got the joy of going to one, my condolences because going to a circus should be a right of passage for all kids. The flying trapeze, the cotton candy the clowns, the elephants, the high wire act, the cotton candy, the fire eater and so mush more make this one of America’s great spectacles. And think how the circus permeates our society. I would think that we all could agree that Republicans and Democrats in congress act like clowns most of the time. So, in an act of bringing the country together, Lonesome Traveler has a song, The Fire Eater, about the circus, but it reads like a soap opera. What a Country!
The Fire Eater is a song about a circus love triangle (soap opera part) from the fire-eater’s point of view. (circus part) He’s in love with the gal that stands bare foot on the horses (and honestly, who doesn’t love her) but she’s with one of the clowns, even worse, one of the bad clowns. I bet it’s the same one that squirts his squirting flower on you in Carney Man. (I hate that stupid clown) Anyway, this is one of many great songs on the self-titled CD by Lonesome Traveler. This CD has songs from classic country songs, to more upbeat songs that make you want to get up and boogie. That’s right, boogie. On of the great songs on here is Money to Burn. I love the lyrics in this one.
Whiskey for everyone
Loneliness ain’t no fun
He’d buy some friends
If he had money to burn
I also love Land of Broken Hearts. The song is about exactly what the title implies. It’s one of those real good sad songs that you don’t hear on FM radio anymore.
I wish I could run my fingers through your hair
I wish there was some way I could keep you home
Smell of whiskey on my pillow
And I want to hold you again
I miss you as a lover
And I miss you as a friend
There are a lot of songs here that you could say are cautionary in nature. If you listen to them, and apply some of the messages in some of these songs to your every day life, you may be able to avoid the mishaps that others have gone through. Another Chip off the Heart, A Couple of Hours, Money to Burn and even The Fire Eater can be a cautionary tale to those that work in the circus industry. I was thinking that the only thing that was keeping this from being a truly great country and western CD was the lack of a train song. But the final cut is a train song. And one of the best train songs I’ve ever heard. Told from the brakeman’s point of view, where he puts whiskey in his coffee. It’s the perfect ending to one of the better and more under appreciated CD’s to come out lately.
So, what have we learned today:
- Circuses have made the country great
- Soap operas have made the country great
- Lonesome Traveler’s have a great CD out
- And never trust a clown
I’ll give this CD 4 and a half out of 5 J.R shady dealings.