Come on in; the whiskey's fine

Mark Chestnutt was singing the lyrics to the song in my headline this morning while I was finishing up on Lily's stall. Have been at the barn cleaning routine for about two weeks now, and that means I'm getting caught up on my country music.

My horses could tell you a whole lot more about country songs than I can. They listen to it from 4:30 p.m. to 6 the next morning. And, they never seem to mind whether the whiskey's fine or if it does someone in like the situation described in the melancholy "lullaby" sung by Brad Paisley and Allison Krause when the jilted lover puts the bottle to his head and pulls the trigger.

She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette.

She broke his heart; he spent his whole life tryin' to forget

We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time

But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind

Until the night

1st Chorus: He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger

And finally drank away her memory

Life is short but this time it was bigger

Than the strength he had to get up off his knees

We found him with his face down in the pillow

With a note that said I'll love her till I die

And when we buried him beneath the willow

The angels sang a whiskey lullaby
(Sing lullaby)

The rumors flew but nobody know how much she blamed herself.

For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath.

She finally drank her pain away a little at a time.

But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind

Until the night

2nd Chorus: She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger

And finally drank away his memory.

Life is short but this time it was bigger.

Than the strength she had to get up off her knees.

We found her with her face down in the pillow.

Clinging to his picture for dear life.

We laid her next to him beneath the willow

While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby.

Playing music for horses keeps their minds off from all the other scary creatures that go bump in the night. I'm hoping that too many hours of listening to lyrics like those above doesn't turn them into psychological wrecks and give them ideas about how nice it would be to go visit a bar where they can graze on a bowl of alfalfa chunks and chase 'em down with fine whiskey.

I like listening to country music too. It's been a passion since I went to college. Hated it up until then, except for the Marty Robbins albums we listened to by the hour while growing up with my dad, the cowboy. Harold loved Marty, and we gained an appreciation for his beautiful voice and the great stories he told.

Of course, everyone's favorite was the classic "El Paso."

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Night time would find me in Rosa's cantina
and . . . .

I'd have to fake it there, but for the most part, I could make my way through the song cuz I heard it enough times.

I couldn't hold a candle to the Parkins/Bopp family though. I remember a few years back when they asked me to go along on their family reunion for the day to take pictures and to write the story.

The families involved wore color-coded T-shirts. They even started the day with a special Mass where Patsy and Doug's baby daughter got baptized. GOSH, that was a long time ago. Is she in high school now?

They left the church and headed off to Ponderay where Catherine, Janet and the other siblings had lived in the brick house in the middle of downtown Ponderay. I took the family portrait in front of that building.

They also had a specially-produced family feature at the Panida Theater where as Irish music played, the crowd giggled like only the Parkins/Bopp clan could do, and they shed a tear or two as "Oh, Danny Boy" reminded them of beloved family members who had passed on.

The day ended at the Edgewater cantina where whiskey and beer flowed along with the lyrics of Marty's wonderful ballad. Until that moment, I thought we were the only family who had listened to Marty hour after hour, just like my horses listen to K102.5 for half of their lives.

The Parkins family, who didn't even live in the country, had "El Paso" down to the last word and some even sang it in tune. Maybe it was the whiskey!

I don't know what it is about country music, but I've loved it most of my life. Maybe it's the reminder of the past that most of us never got to live. I always thought I was born a hundred years too late. Maybe it's because of moments we've all experienced, happy, sad, crazy, that are reflected in the songs. Maybe it's the history.

Whatever the draw, I know that every morning, I can escape while doing those barn chores, and folks like Vince Gill, Marty, Brad, and Allison can make my day with their gifts of great songs and stories.

So, here's the assignment. What's your favorite country song? Why? And, do provide the lyrics.

And, in honor of my dad, who unwittingly instilled in me a love for country music and for all the folks who've loved Marty Robbins and memorized "El Paso," sing along:

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso

I fell in love with a Mexican girl.

Night-time would find me in Rosa's cantina;Music would play and Felina would whirl.

Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina,

Wicked and evil while casting a spell.

My love was deep for this Mexican maiden;

I was in love but in vain, I could tell.

One night a wild young cowboy came in,

Wild as the West Texas wind.

Dashing and daring,

A drink he was sharing

With wicked Felina,

The girl that I loved.

So in anger I

Challenged his right for the love of this maiden.

Down went his hand for the gun that he wore.

My challenge was answered in less than a heart-beat;

The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor.

Just for a moment I stood there in silence,

Shocked by the FOUL EVIL deed I had done.

Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there;

I had but one chance and that was to run.

Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran,

Out where the horses were tied.

I caught a good one.

It looked like it could run.

Up on its back

And away I did ride,

Just as fast as I

Could from the West Texas town of El Paso

Out to the bad-lands of New Mexico.

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless.

Everything's gone in life; nothing is left.

It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden

My love is stronger than my fear of death.

I saddled up and away I did go,

Riding alone in the dark.

Maybe tomorrow

A bullet may find me.

Tonight nothing's worse than this

Pain in my heart.

And at last here I

Am on the hill overlooking El Paso;

I can see Rosa's cantina below.

My love is strong and it pushes me onward.

Down off the hill to Felina I go.

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys;

Off to my left ride a dozen or more.

Shouting and shooting

I can't let them catch me.

I have to make it to Rosa's back door.

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel

A deep burning pain in my side.

Though I am trying

To stay in the saddle,

I'm getting weary,

Unable to ride.

But my love for

Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen,

Though I am weary

I can't stop to rest.

I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle.

I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

From out of nowhere Felina has found me,

Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.

Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for,

One little kiss and Felina, good-bye.