Gobble

Whelp. I drew the pre-Thanksgiving post. I sorta figgered I'd bow to convention, and offer up my list of things I'm thankful for, HickoryWind-style. In the manner of William S. Burroughs' "A Thanksgiving Prayer", but with less piss and vinegar. I hope.

Thanks for Hank Williams, the lonely, lost highway to the heart of Country.

Thanks for Johnny Cash, the dark soul of Country, and the craggy, stained voice of America's conscience.

Thanks for Jimmy Rodgers and his blue yodel, chasing ghost trains through the night.

Thanks for Merle Haggard, the poet of the working class, the grizzled sage of ragged but right. And especially thanks for confusing the Right and the Left with "Okee From Muskogee."

Thanks for Townes Van Zandt, the Laureate of Sadnes, the wandering, drunken seer of forgotten things. And leaving things.

Thanks for Bob Wills, who made us dance, swing, and stay all night.

Thanks for Roger Miller, the Country court jester, the do wacka do, the chug a lugger, the King of the Road. Dang me.

Thanks for Harry McClintock and "Big Rock Candy Mountain", the greatest hobo song ever.

Thanks for Emmylou Harris, the beauty with the voice of angels. The Goddess to Gram's devil.

Thanks for Steve Earle, who drop-kicked his shit-kickers square in the ass of Nashville, and reminded us that Country music was the voice of the people, not the machine.

Thanks for Woody Guthrie. Fascist killer, merchant marine, writer of children's songs, hard traveller, land giver, and American hero.

Thanks for Willie Nelson. Bearded mystic, shaman, smoker.

Thanks for Charley Pride, who broke down barriers with bravery, grace and dignity.

Thanks for the Louvin Brothers. Creepy, otherworldly brothers bringing the word of God, theology be damned.

Thanks for the Carter Family, the Appalchian gothic granparents of Country.

Thanks for George Jones, Hank Thompson, and Johnny Bond. The Holy Trinity of the Country drinking song, bar none. And I'll wrassle any one of ya what disagrees with me. If I can just get up off my stool.

Thanks for Dave Dudley, Red Simpson, and Del Reeves. The finest mothertrucking, rig rockin', gearjamming daddies of them all.

Thanks for Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, Red Foley, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, Spade Cooley, Pee Wee King, Tex Ritter, Uncle Tupelo, Bill Monroe, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Montana, James Hand, Don Gibson, Moe Bandy, Vern Gosdin, Freakwater, the Waco Brothers, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Kitty Wells, Hank Penny, Merle Travis, Gene Autry, and countless thousands of other twangers, sobbers, honkytonkers, drinkers, and pickers, whether they blazed trails, held the line, played the clubs, rocked the Barn Dance, or simply bled on their guitar strings for the sake of the song.

Thanks for visiting. We'll try to do better next time.