Music You Need To Know - John Prine

Very few musicians have the songwriting gifts of John Prine, he see's a world we all see and comments on it with great wit and clarity. If you have not listened to him do yourself a favor and go out and buy one of his cd's.

Please Don't Bury Me

Woke up this morning and put on my slippers

Walked in the kitchen and died

And oh what a feeling!

When my soul went thru the ceiling

And on up into heaven I did ride

When I got there they did say John, it happened this way

You slipped upon the floor and hit your head

And all the angels say just before you passed away

These were the very last words that you said

Please dont bury me down in that cold cold ground

No, Id druther have em cut me up and pass me all around

Throw my brain in a hurricane and the blind can have my eyes

And the deaf can take both of my ears if they dont mind the size

Give my stomach to milwaukee if they run out of beer

Put my socks in a cedar box just get em out of here

Venus de Milo can have my arms

Look out! I've got your nose

Sell my heart to the junkman and give my love to rose

Give my feet to the footloose careless, fancy free

Give my knees to the needy dont pull that stuff on me

Hand me down my walking cane it's a sin to tell a lie

Send my mouth way down south

And kiss my ass goodby

John Prine

What a great letter

This will never be published in the main street press but it is a great sentiment.

Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support
their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.

Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father
fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan.. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a
disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here.. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl. And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry,
that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the
United States just yet.

Rosemary LaBonte

Jimi Hendix, RIP, 09/18/70

This day in 1970 the greatest guitarist to ever walk this earth, Jimi Hendrix died. The man who awed Eric Clapton, the Beatles and the Stones was gone as fast as he arrived. He played in the early 60's with the Isley Brothers and King Curtis before shooting to superstar status. He brought us "Angel", "All Along the Watch Tower", "Purple Haze", "Vodoo Child" and many others. Then he became a victim of his time, sex, drugs and rock and roll. The doctors say he died of a drug overdose, when in fact his death was a result of it all. He burned bright and went out with a flame. His music will always be remebered and listened to, therefore he will always live. Just remember to say his name.

September 11, 2001

It was five years ago that America experienced the worst attack on U.S. soil in the history of the country. The attack was of a horrific nature and the shock was felt across the country. I have a couple of questions.

What happened to the patrisom we saw after the attacks, the pride in being American, the united congress singing God Bless America on the steps of the capitol? The flag waving, the song singing?

What happened to our desire for justice, to see those responsible brought down?

Where the hell is Osama Bin Laden? How can we put men on the moon, split the atom, map the human genome and have the greatest military in the world and not find this guy?
(Note to the government, get a couple of good ol' boys from Louisiana to volunteer, drop them in the Pakistan mountains and tell them if they catch him they get a free hunting licence for the rest of their lives.)

So what if Iraq had nothing to do with 09/11, do you really think they had our best interest in heart?

Why does the greatest military in the world sacrifice over 2,000 American lives in a vain attempt to run a politically correct war?

Hey, I am just asking, these questions you should answer yourself.

Quotes By & About The Beatles

About The Beatles -

"Michael Jackson can sell records until the end of time, but he'll never matter to people as much as The Beatles did." (Elvis Costello)

"From 1962 to 1965, the guitar became this icon of youth culture, thanks mostly to the Beatles." (Pat Metheny)

"And I said, 'Why not? It's the truth! Why can't I say I'm a Beatles fan?' I used to get criticized for that." (Buck Owens)

"My favorite artists have always been Elvis and The Beatles and they still are!" (Johnny Ramone)

By The Beatles -

Press: Does it bother you that you can't hear what you sing during concerts?
John: No, we dont mind. We've got the records at home.

Press: Can we look forward to any more Beatle movies?
John: Well, there'll be many more but I don't know whether you can look forward to them or not.

Press: What did you think when your airplane's engine began smoking as you landed today? Ringo: Beatles, women, and children first!

John: I'm not the beatles. I'm me. Paul isn't the beatles...The beatles are the beatles. Separately, they are separate.

Paul: The hardest act to follow is yourself.

John: My defenses were so great. The cocky rock-and-roll hero who knew all the answers was actually a terrified guy who didn't know how to cry.

"We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on one hand and of overwhelming force on the other." General George C. Marshall

The question for today is are these words as true now as they were during World War II when they were spoken. Clearly we still the symbol of freedom around the world, why else would thousand of immigrants enter our shores daily both legally and illegally. Many of them risking their life and limb just to taste the freedoms we offer here. The real question is the "overwhelming force" part, are we viewed that way and do we want to be? We certainely have the qualifications and the power, but do we do what needs to be done and do we do it equitably? We appear to be always on the ready when countries with major oil supplies need policing, but where are we when tribal warfare and genocide wipes out thousands of innocent civilians in an African nation. Thinks about it.

Hey, I'm just asking the question. You have to decide.