You guys better watch out, or you might have an up-to-the-minute country radio anthem on your hands. Not a day passes where I don't weep inside and fear for my beloved country.

Be back later to comment, but for now just one word....Amen.

Move over Keith & Greenwood, make room for Durge.  You actually cover a lot more than just patriotism here.  What happened?....I think Boomer’s fault – we grew up with love of country everywhere, but failed to realize our children didn’t – they needed more guidance.  Telling sign was when pledge banned from schools.  Sadly, worsened since 2016 – the word Patriot actually scares some people now.

Bruce Springsteen comes to mind Durge, I'm not American but after listening this i wish i was ..American Irish :-)))) Right on Man a new American National Anthem i can hear it being sung at the Superbowl. Johnnny

Right on indeed Durge. Sung with conviction and intent,  to the bone. Kudos on a fine piece of writing my friend👍

Beautiful patriotic song, here in France there is a singer who paid tribute to you Americans. It's Michel SARDOU and the song is called "Les ricains".

great track Durge, great singing, and harmony i love it.

Kinda got a Waylon thing going on. I dig it!

A great country voice with powerful musical allies delivering compelling lines like: "all our customs are like fossil fuel" and "I pledge allegiance and I pledge it proud" Right On Indeed!

hey my friend Durge, beautiful song, i love it.

...Nevertheless, I'll go on flying.

Thank you.

North Pole Highway

Back with some electronic psyche-krautrock with little sound additions out of the few analog sound gear I kept :=(

About the chosen title, you may know what I'm refering to... simple observations of mine!

Enjoy!

The third day syndrome

"Route 66" by James Lawrence Nesser

There are hundreds of covers of this classic, written by Bobby Troup in 1946 and first recorded by Nat King Cole that same year.  Here is one more, a version that is influenced by a number of different artists, but mainly by The Rolling Stones on their self-titled 1964 album.

Fender Tele
Epiphone Casino
Epiphone Viola Bass
Addictive Drums 2

Route 66

"Route 66"

As each November approaches I try to make my own little Remembrance-time tribute.  Seems more relevant as each year passes...

Following the huffing and puffing empire lunacy in the summer of 1914, the next four years would see 40 million casualties, half of them deaths and of those, half were civilian.  

40 million.

40 million tales of poignancy, pain, grief and human tragedy, through times that can often seem littered with coincidence, symmetries …. bookends and mirrors.

In the Military Cemetery of St Symphorien near Mons rests John Parr.  At only five foot three inches and several years under age he (amazingly) managed to enlist in 1912 - hoping to see the world, and get the advertised “two square meals” a day.  He was the first British Army casualty, killed in the battle of Mons aged just 17, his body left behind, fate unknown until much later in the conflict;  the army unable to answer his mother’s letters of enquiry about her “silent” son.

By pure coincidence, John lies just a few yards from the last British soldier to die in the great war.  George Ellison served for four long years including at the same first battle of Mons as John, and most of the famously grinding, attritional infantry battles of the conflict.  His working life bookended by military service, George had first enlisted in 1902, leaving the army in 1912, just as John joined, he became a coal miner, re-enlisting at the outbreak of war to dig mud not coal and fight from trenches he helped excavate.  George was killed just 90 minutes before the armistice took effect at 11:00 on the 11th day of the 11th month.  The futility of the conflict was cruelly illustrated by the fact that George’s war had started and ended at exactly the same place, Mons in Belgium.  They had literally gone nowhere.

As a postscript to progress since "the war to end all wars" the human race is currently reckoned to be engaged in 7 major wars, 15 significant ongoing conflicts and 21 “minor” conflicts (the latter defined as up to "only” 1000 deaths per year).  By way of another macabre bookend, the longest of these has been going on, unbelievably, since the year .... 1918.

As always, this simple ballad is offered as a live one mic one take effort - please excuse the fluffs and gaffes.
_______________________

Bookends and Mirrors

Sun turned cold ‘cross every sky in the summer of ‘14
The Good Lord shook his head, and he placed it in his hands
Braided declarations flying, whose like was never seen
Lunatics in feathers stockpiled lead, bagged their sand.
Slapstick Mephistopheles, unleashing of his flame
Spiral minds lobotomised in the waltz of the insane
Simple lives unknowing of the mud that would become
A mirror in the resting place of two Holy Mother’s sons.

Signed the line, five years young, fingers crossed behind his back
Chance to see the world, grab a future, two square meals.
At 17, John’s angels sung, first to fall in dawn’s attack
Abandoned and forgotten, deaf to all his ma’s appeals.
Never knew the miner, his bookend pal to be
Fighting down the line, many battles that he’d see
Full four years in trenches, George’s hell lived through them all
Cruelty was smiling wide at England’s last to fall.

In service time they travelled nowhere, nothing to achieve
Embracing 40 million weeping mothers left to grieve
The crime of puffing chest bravado beggared to believe
Hall of mirrors seeping others’ blood of the innocent naive.

Now John and George lie facing each to seek their mirrored peace
Raise my eyes and brim a tear for the lessons never learned
Pray God, don’t ever let them know man’s insanity but increased
The war to end all wars a mere sequel oft’ returned 
By comedies of leathered fools stuck on infinite repeat
Bemedalled and bejewelled, they prosecute their moral defeat
But here, on sallow turf twixt heroes, broken mirror in my broken hand
Met by my own broken eyes, I still fail to understand.
_________
Photo by Michael Yuan on Unsplash

Bookends and Mirrors

Halloween Tune

I wrote this one just before July 4th, 2016 as I was troubled by how patriotism seems to be fading these days. Frequently equated with nationalism, or expansionism and other more aggressive, negative concepts relative to the global community. Pride and values for our traditional ideals and foundations have been well battered. It's often an unpopular and uneasy position for a person to show true love for America. So this song attempts to declare it indeed very cool and very important to hold onto the basic and good principles that make America uniquely wonderful. Right on!

Remixed and produced with many thanks to Nat Daniels to help improve my rough original track.

All music written and performed by Craig Durgy
Produced by Nat Daniels of Gentle Rain Records
Copyright 2023

Lyrics
Right On by Craig Durgy

I passed somebody on the street today, he said how are ya and I said OK
I never saw the guy before or since but he’s my brother, we’re Americans
Right On, we are Americans, Right On

But lately we’ve been getting pulled apart, 
Testing our constitution and our heart
Some people make and others take too much 
And now we’re hunted down, we’ve had enough
Right On, it’s time that we get tough, Right On

Right On, sea to shining sea, Right On, trying to keep it free
Right On, brother you and me, let’s pull together
Right On, when we fought for days, on Iwo Jima till our flag was raised
Right On, when only God was praised, Right On

These days I guess our country ain’t so cool, all our customs are like fossil fuel
So many people that don’t give a damn,
For Old Glory and our Uncle Sam
Right On, for our Uncle Sam, Right On

Right On, freedom must be won, Right On, we can’t turn and run
Right On, till the fight is gone, we must stay together
Right On, say the words out loud I pledge allegiance and I pledge it proud
Right On, just like my grandpa vowed, Right On

Although the world wants everything we’ve got, 
They pile upon us till we start to rot
But we can’t forget that we’re still free 
Or those white crosses left in Normandy
Right On, way back in Normandy, Right On

Right On, for the farmer’s hand, Right On, for our firemen
Right On, if you understand God and country
Right On, for our men in blue and for Thanksgiving and Park Avenue
Right On, bleed red, white and true, Right On

Right On, may our flag yet wave, 
Right On, for all our veterans and soldiers brave
Right On, for every life we gave, Right On
Right On, say the words out loud I pledge allegiance and I pledge it proud
Right On, just like my grandpa vowed, Right On
Right On, love it then and now, Right On

Right On

This is a song inspired by a wonderful poem of the same title that I came across on the web recently.  It's written by a guy named Christopher without further information (not me though).   I eventually took the liberty & converted it into a song.  I gave it a bit of a country feel and hope you would enjoy listening.  

[CREDITS]
Music / Vocals / Arrangements / Programming – Michael C. Lynn
Lyrics – Christopher 
Fiddle - Andy Leftwich @Band_in_a_Box
Guitar Solo & Fill-ins – Brent Mason @Band_in_a_Box

[LYRICS]
She looks into air, herself falling rain
Dripping coldness past, memories old pain.
Drops fall, the puddling her damp water-life.
Spiraling a mirror, self-lonely strife.

Clouds a-whorl, dark sky sheltering fair heart.
But how can she joy, while taking no part?
Covering cold soul, corona of defense.
Defying the stab of her fate's intents.

This is madness, she thinks in plaintive cry.
I'm here, on the cusp, of lay down and die.
What my destiny, but an empty-off dream?
A plaything with which gods and angels scheme.

Am I doomed then to live, time never-free?
Subsumed wholly 'neath life's scattered debris?
Is justice outside this torrential doubt?
Perhaps more than sorrow,  painful fall-out?

Instrumental break

Personal paradise, which I can own,
Evoking happiness, hither unknown?
She raises from streets of lonely no more.
Light slicing through darkness, hopes washed ashore.

Her withered gait now straightening with pride.
She glides like an angel 'cross future's tide.
Caressing the ground, sing the beat of her heart.
Into the sun seeking love's brand new start.

Into Every Life

Well, my body was aching, all the time
Well, my body was shaking, all down the line
The desert heat was burning me up
The rattle snakes were fine
So it comes to this 
Every single time

Will you be mine?
Or are you fine?

Is your life sublime?
Or is it time?

The train comes chugging past
It's never on time
The rain never lasts
The soil is dying
Just like our relationship
But not for want of trying
Never underestimate
Your other half's lying


355. will you be mine (harding).mp3

When I look around today, most people that believe in a religion tend to be happier than those that do not, no matter what riches they hold. So wrote this song to reflect on the power of empathy and understanding. Inspired by the idea that we should avoid mocking others for their religious beliefs—because we may not fully grasp the significance it holds for them. Let's embrace kindness and respect for diverse perspectives. 🎶✨ #Empathy #Respect"

Don't Moke What You Don't Feel

Acapella Fella - Don't Mock What You Don't Feel - Instrumental

Please visit the following link and listen to the latest collaborated version.
https://soundcloud.com/david-marconi-917184705/a-shade-of-blue-revisited-collaboration?si=f76ff153884b45738e4f2c6cbd97742d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Just me having a little fun playing the blues.
Guitar instrumental by David Marconi

Aroused from Slumber

A Shade of Blue - Legacy Demo Version

Child of the Green Wood

Singer/Songwriter concentrating on traditional country, folk and pop rock. Working as part of the duo Daniels & Durgy; https://soundcloud.com/danielsdurgy

Right On

Durge

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