On
New Year’s Day, 1953, my mother and father were pulling the car into the
driveway of the home of my maternal grandparents in Newton Heights, New
Brunswick, when my grandfather, our pépère,
came quickly out of the back door to greet them. They could tell by his
expression that something truly momentous had occurred. As soon as
Dad began to roll down the car window, Pépère, with his thick French accent
told them, “Hank Williams died today.” That was huge news back then especially
in our home with our great love for what was then called ‘Country and Western’
music. We came by it honestly. My mother’s uncles and aunts each played
numerous instruments, most notably fiddle, accordion, and guitar. They
performed at barn dances and County Fairs throughout Southeastern New Brunswick
in the 1930’s, 40’s and early 50’s. My mother remembered how as a little girl
she would listen to her aunts play fiddle and accompany a young singer/songwriter
named Hank Snow who would come by the house to play music before heading over
to do his show on Moncton’s CKCW radio.
Mum’s Uncle Arthur not only performed songs but
wrote them as well. She recalled helping him with a song he was writing during
the Second World War called ‘I’ll Miss You When You’re Gone.’
When grey skies are as blue
As when I first met youAnd city lights are shining once again …
I enjoy writing lyrics. It’s my principle hobby. I play the guitar but am not a musician and would much rather listen to someone play and sing my songs than perform them. I
suppose the great age of lyric writing was during the Big Band era with singers
like Sinatra ready to give them voice. That was also the age of Musicals. Even
the Beatles did a cover version of Meredith Wilson’s ‘Til There Was You’ from The Music Man (my favorite musical)
because they just couldn’t resist a great song.
Getting
back to 1953 and the death of Hank Williams, I’ve always had a hard time
grasping that he was only twenty-nine years old when he died. He wrote so much
in such a short time it’s no wonder he was called ‘The Hillbilly Shakespeare.’
Did you ever see a robin weep when leaves
begin to die?
That means he’s lost the will to liveI’m so lonesome I could cry
My
own songwriting has surprised me over the years. As a teenager I listened
mostly to the Rock and Pop music of the day tuning in to the radio’s top 40.
Then disco came along and I turned off the radio and haven’t listened to
popular music since. As an adult I’ve been a devotee of folk and baroque. I
wasn’t expecting that so many of my recent songs would have a Country feel to
them. Oh well … I blame Hank.
It takes a while
to think some things over
It takes a while
to see some things throughBut then you know the world won’t stop turning
When you stand up and say ‘I love you.’
It takes a while to sail every sea
But then you know even when your heart’s broken
How beautiful this world can be
To see every season come call
It takes a while for some hearts to open
Until it takes no time at all
It takes a while to say some things right
But then you know how feelings lie buried
And true love brings all things to light
It takes a while for loved ones to mourn
But then you know it’s only in dying
That we are forever reborn
To see every season come call
It takes a while for some hearts to open
Until it takes no time at all
© 2015 Dale
Petley (Oklahoma City)
