02/02/2020

Family photo of a picnic at my Grandmother’s house. She is in the plaid shirt looking toward the camera. 1965

I wrote an earlier blog about a workshop I attended centered around the poem “Where I’m From” written by George Ella Lyon. You can read that post by following this link.

I finally have my first version of that poem complete and as promised, I am sharing it here. It definitely gives you a taste of the way I grew up. After writing, I realized I could write this poem ten times over because it is impossible to include all the aspects of who I am in one short poem. But this does give you a window into what makes me who I am.

Maggie – Where I’m From

I am from worn-out Bibles and divinity fudge
From mimosa trees and bumblebees
I am from stringin’ beans and shuckin’ corn
and huddling around the Siegler stove.
I am from black walnuts
whose shells hid tiny faces with big eyes.

I am from valley creek and the baptizing hole
From Bertha Rose and Walter.
I am from minding your manners
and counting your blessings.
from hard workers and tall tale-tellers.
I’m from Peace in the Valley and Steal Away to Jesus

I am from Big Jim and Freida Mae
angel biscuits and chinquapins
from walking home after Sunday preachin’.
Faded faces of my family kept
tucked away in a Whitman’s Sampler box
still smelling of old chocolate.
From heart attacks and mistletoe and
stereo images of well-appointed ladies.

I am from those moments slowly slipping away
but forever in my DNA.

Jim’s inspiration words for today’s song choices are Babe/Cutie/Doll/Honey/Sweetie. Several songs popped up. Some went way back. Some more contemporary. I chose this song quite by chance.

A few years ago my husband bought me an internet radio receiver. I listen mostly to his Sirius radio, but yesterday I was interested in generating my own playlist on Pandora. I was in the mood for some Neil Diamond tunes. Of course, the way Pandora works is by generating a playlist of songs related to the song or artist you choose.

I was cleaning house and singing along to the likes of Neil Diamond and Jim Croce when “Danny’s Song” came on. I decided then I would choose this song. It took me back.

The song was written by Kenny Loggins for his brother Danny on the occasion of the birth of Danny’s son, Colin. Danny Loggins and his new wife Sheila along with their son were moving to California with very little money. The idea and spirit of the song came from a letter Danny wrote to Kenny. The line “And even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you, honey” are words that are understood universally.

”Danny’s Song” was first released when Kenny Loggins was in the band Gator Creek on their only self-titled album “Gator Creek”. It did not receive much recognition until released on the Loggins and Messina album “Sittin’ In” in 1971. The album did not chart, but “Danny’s Song” received a lot of air play. The song was released by Anne Murray the following year and reached #7 on the pop charts, #10 on the country charts and #1 on the easy listening charts. It reached #1 on the Canadian charts.

Anne Murray received a ‘Best Female Pop Musical Performance’ Grammy nomination for her recording of the song, but she lost out to Roberta Flack for “Killing Me Softly With His Song”. Pretty tough competition I would say.

Colin Loggins for whom the song was titled, went on to join the now defunct band Tappan Zee and now records under the name Full Catastrophe Living.

Enjoy these three versions of the song.

Danny’s Song
Lyrics from Songfacts.com

People smile and tell me I’m the lucky one
And we’ve just begun
Think I’m gonna have a son
He will be like she and me, as free as a dove
Conceived in love
The sun is gonna shine above

And even though we ain’t got money
I’m so in love with ya honey
And everything will bring a chain of love
And in the mornin’ when I rise
Bring a tear of joy to my eyes
And tell me everything is gonna be all right

Seems as though a month ago I was Beta Chi
Never got high
Oh, I was a sorry guy
And now I smile and face the girl that shares my name
Now I’m through with the game
This boy’ll never be the same

Pisces Virgo rising is a very good sign
Strong and kind
And the little boy is mine
Now I see a family where there once was none
Now we’ve just begun
Yeah we’re gonna fly to the sun

Love the girl who holds the world in a paper cup
Drink it up
Love her and she’ll bring ya luck
And if you find she helps your mind
Buddy, take her home
Don’t ya live alone
Try to earn what lovers own

Song Lyric Sunday is generously hosted each week by Jim Adams. It is a great way to sample new music and revisit some favorite old classics. Why not join in?