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Leaving Arkansas
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A Ray Bertram and Glen Spayth collaborative production.
ray wendell wendell ray bertram ray bertram bertram a tourist in the land of reason
Artist picture
Just me. Just songs.
I was born with an undiagnosable brain dysfunction, having seizures, and with blue skin dur to oxygen deprivation. I would spend much of my youth on strong, mind-altering medication, I would ultimately end up being declared fully disabled on psychiatric grounds, and I've had to be committed to five different psychiatric facilities in three different states. These days, the primary thrust of my overall creative efforts is the advocacy work that I seek to do for the mentally ill and the mentally disabled. These are my songs.
Song Info
Genre
Country • Traditional Country
Charts
Peak #234
Peak in subgenre #31
Author
Ray Bertram/Glenn Spayth
Rights
(c) W. Ray Bertram, Glenn Spayth
Uploaded
March 04, 2012
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.3 MB • 128 kbps • 3:35
Story behind the song
I love working with singer/songwriter/musician/production Glenn Spayth (Tennessee, U.S.A.). Glenn and I completed this piece together back in September 2009. Between friends and family, we’ve seen our share of funerals and passages up here on the mountain. I actually wrote the bulk of the lyric behind this song on the way from Arkansas to Kentucky for my grandfather’s funeral in August of 2009....he passed on at 103. All of my writing is drawn from “the fabric of my days” in various ways, so I guess this lyric represents my way of channeling these things. Plus, whenever the beautiful Mrs. Bertram asks me what I’d like to have done when it comes my time, I usually smile and say, “Just put me in a pine box on a slow train back to Kentucky and plant me next to my dad.” So I guess finally writing a lyric about it seems like the proper thing to do in a way. Glenn's production gives the lyric pretty much the exact same emotional feel that I had in writing it and his vocals give it just the right touch. And the subtle changes that he gave some of the lines and arrangement really had the effect of lifting it up in just the right ways, too - Glenn really is a highly skilled songwriter. We hope that you enjoy the piece…and make sure that, wherever you are, you’re treasuring and making the most of your days - because we all only get so many. Ray Bertram
Lyrics
Leaving Arkansas Verse 1: It’s such a pretty day To go for a ride You know how much I love The open countryside From somewhere up ahead I hear a whistle call And I slowly start to move I’m leaving Arkansas Verse 2: I’m just a country boy From old Kentucky So Arkansas always Seemed like home to me All those rolling hills? The green trees ev’rywhere But my fav’rit part Was finding you there Chorus: It’s not a bad way to go I can’t complain Inside this pine box On this slow movin’ train And my next stop will be My last point of call Yeah, it’s time for me to be Leaving Arkansas Bridge: In a Kentucky field Under a shady tree A spot next to my dad Is waiting for me Chorus: It’s not a bad way to go Yeah, I can’t complain Inside this pine box On this slow movin’ train And my next stop will be My last point of call Yeah, it’s time for me to be Leaving Arkansas Chorus: It’s not a bad way to go Yeah, I can’t complain Inside this pine box On this slow movin’ train And my next stop will be My last point of call Yeah, it’s time for me to be Leaving Arkansas Leaving Arkansas (c) 2009 W. Ray Bertram, Glenn Spayth
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