Drop A Line

The Story behind the Songs Newsletter Series
October 30, 2004 Issue #25

Drop A Line – written by JR Still 1991

It was my first year in college in Claremore, Oklahoma when I got my first ever letter from my dad. I was truly moved because I never thought of my dad as being the letter writing kind. He seldom would even call anyone to keep in touch let alone take the time to write a hand written letter. No email back then. He and I as one I suppose were always the lone wolf or black sheep. Always moving and never really settling down in any one place long enough to make lasting friends. But this letter showed a whole other side to this man I thought I knew so well as my dad. He was different. Perhaps he felt alone in some way. Our team of two was no more. I was growing up, leaving him behind and taking off to make my mark in the world.

I kept the letter as a cherished document and rediscovered it a few years later after I had moved to Nashville, Tennessee and was really starting to grow up to the ways of the world outside of the simple life in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. Big city, big dreams and all alone. Now, I was missing that father and son bond we shared. I was homesick for the simple pleasures of ‘dropping a line’ and going fishing with my dad.

And so became the song: “Today I got your letter asking how I’d been, you say that mama’s wondering when I’ll be home again; You say the folks are missing me but everyone’s doing fine; Since you hadn’t heard from me thought you’d drop a line.”

Let me back up just a little. My dad had gotten re-married to a lovely woman and I was accepted as part of that family, thus the reference to ‘mama’ and the ‘folks’.

The song continues with my reply: “Daddy your letter brought some tears to my eyes, I know it’s taken me a while but now I realise. In my quest for success I never found the time; to call you and mom to say ‘hello’ or just drop a line.”

Chorus: “So let’s drop a line, just like ole times. Get the fishing poles down and daddy don’t forget mine; so you, me and mama can drop a line.”

I thought I was being cleaver with the double meaning of ‘drop a line’ when I wrote the song. It seems to work though.

The last verse is a nice trip for me down memory lane in the fall (autumn) and that holiday time of year when the pull of going home and being with family is stronger than ever. “The leaves are changing colours; summer’s almost gone. Holidays are around the bend; I can’t wait to get back home. Nothing’s gonna slow me down or hold me back this time. It feels so good to go back home and just drop a line.”

Family and fishin’. What can really be more important than that?! I hope you’ve enjoyed yet another story behind the song.

The Story behind the Songs Newsletter Series
September 20, 2004 Issue #24

Working Vacation – written by David Crawford

When I was looking for songs to record and songwriters to work with I was going through my Jimmy Buffett lifestyle wannabe phase. I was a young single over 21 male fascinated and driven by freedom and the excitement of adventure. Buffett songs just seemed to perpetuate that hunger for wider horizons and a dreamer’s way of life.

I figured it was time to go into my young adult life semi-retired. After all I had just spent my whole life working and learning to be yet another well-conditioned contributing tax paying member of the working class society. I was fresh out of University with two pieces of paper (BBA & AA degrees) that proclaimed I was an educated man fit to take my place in the corporate workforce of America. So, when I heard the song ‘Working Vacation’ I thought I could go for that. But, in reality I didn’t even have a sailboat and my island was actually a continent and the real ocean and palm trees had been a lifetime away.

What I had was a motor-home. I was the captain of a twenty-two foot sleep six Chevy Cruise Master RV. The United States was my ocean, the wide-open roads were my sailing channels and the AA road maps were my navigation charts. Truck stops and Wal-Mart parking lots were often my lagoons and ports of anchor. My sails were powered by a 350 horse powered small block unleaded engine. Which way the wind blew for me was just a choice each day. The same I guess but different somehow I’m sure.

As I explored the high-seas (hi-ways) my guitar was always right there with me. My guitar and I would make new friends and acquaintances and little extra cash wherever we’d land (park). Sure enough there were no clocks to punch and no bills to pay (except for that little student loan). I was living the ‘Working Vacation’ life-style. Working hard not to work at all. That’s not easy but is sure is a lot of fun.

Well, I had to record ‘Working Vacation’ song for my demo EP that I was going to shop around Nashville to try and get some industry support. (It was titled Jimmy Ray’s Album Sampler). I thought the writer of ‘Working Vacation’ must be on a similar journey as me so maybe we should meet and maybe write some songs together. So, I was off to find my friend of kindred spirit.

Edisto Island South Carolina was where I found my friend David. What a little paradise this place was. I didn’t realise that I could actually drive to a real island but with the modern marvel of bridges it was possible. There I was in this most interesting place of places on the east coast of the US watching the big blue Atlantic ocean pushing her waves upon the golden sand right up to the swaying palm trees. I could see where David got his inspiration for the song. It was everywhere. David and I spent so much time making the rounds to all the bars and hot spots on the island that we never actually wrote a song together. But, I did get his permission to change some of the lyrics in ‘Working Vacation’ to fit me.

Life is an adventure; live it!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the story behind the song. If you’d like other information you can check out the CD credits at www.jamesray.info/cdcredits.html