8/15/07: T for Tricky 777

37 arrived early this morning. I have high hopes for it, and the number seems a good omen. Three sevens has to be lucky right? A clear improvement over its predecessor if you do the gypsy math. That said, 36 gave me a mild cold as a parting gift. Monday was a long day and I got to feeling rundown. And today is a long work day, so not the most memorable actual birthday. But as I get older I don't care much about the actual day, I just appreciate the chance to celebrate a little with family and friends. Which I got to do last weekend and will do again this weekend.

Thanks all of you for your friendship. It is a large part of my happiness.

In Nashville we made a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. I enjoyed it. I don't care much for today's country music...ok, I despise it mostly, but I sure do dig some older stuff and the history is well represented in the Museum. We also saw a good western-swing band at the Station Inn called The Time Jumpers. The whole thing got me back listening to some country music and I bought a Jimmie Rodgers boxed set (quite cheap too at five discs for less than thirty bucks). I'd never really been familiar with Rodgers but it only took one listen to realize that he'd influenced lots of stuff that I liked and knew well, like Hank Williams and Merle Haggard. Good stuff: it has that great discordant mix of lyrical material that I love in country music. Some cheesy clowning, some crooning, and some chilling murder. Most all delivered with some yodeling. Here's a classic that deserves its status:

Blue Yodel by Jimmie Rodgers

T for Texas, T for Tennessee;
T for Texas, T for Tennessee;
T for Thelma,
That gal that made a wreck out of me.
[Refrain (yodel)] O-la-ee-oo La-ee-oo La-ee.

If you don’t want me, mama, you sure don’t have to stall;
If you don’t want me, mama, you sure don’t have to stall;
‘Cause I can get more women
Than a passenger train can haul.
O-la-ee-oo La-ee-oo La-ee.

I’m gonna buy me a pistol just as long as I’m tall;
I’m gonna buy me a pistol just as long as I’m tall;
I’m gonna shoot poor Thelma
Just to see her jump and fall.
O-la-ee-oo La-ee-oo La-ee.

I’m goin’ where the water drinks like cherry wine;
I’m goin’ where the water drinks like cherry wine;
‘Cause the Georgia water
Tastes like turpentine.
O-la-ee-oo La-ee-oo La-ee.

I’m gonna buy me a shotgun with a great long shiny barrel;
I’m gonna buy me a shotgun with a great long shiny barrel;
I’m gonna shoot that rounder
That stole away my gal.
O-la-ee-oo La-ee-oo La-ee.

Rather drink muddy water, sleep in a hollow log;
Rather drink muddy water, sleep in a hollow log;
Than to be in Atlanta
Treated like a dirty dog.
O-la-ee-oo La-ee-oo La-ee