Tapestry: My life in song

ALBANY — My life in song? There isn’t just one song, but many songs that have meant a lot to me in this journey called life. I have always loved music and the words that tell stories: stories of adventure, hope, dreams, compassion, encouragement, love, beauty, despair, and downright joy. Here are the songs that I can relate to that tell my story.

“Coat of Many Colors” written and sung by the phenomenal Dolly Parton. She wrote the song in 1969 while on a tour bus with Porter Wagoner. She didn’t have any paper, so she wrote it on a dry-cleaning receipt of his. She released it in 1971, and he had that receipt framed.

Now what does this song have to do with me? No, my Mama didn’t make me a coat of many colors, but she did make my clothes, as well as my siblings. We were poor just like Dolly. I remember in particular that in sixth grade, Mama made me a mint-green shoulder cape. You see, our class was to perform a play about the solar system. My favorite teacher, Mrs. Lewis, had cast me as Venus, the planet of beauty. I cannot tell you what it meant to be this poor country girl playing Venus. I felt beautiful in my cape that Mama had made me.

In 1971, “Tapestry” by Carole King was my favorite song from her album of the same name. I was 16 and would listen to it over and over.

My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue

An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view

A wond’rous woven magic in bits of blue and gold

A tapestry to feel and see impossible to hold.

The seventies are my favorite decade, and “Tapestry” defined me and helped me to dream about what was to be.

“Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum made me want to dance in my soul. We had a local radio station, and one of my friends was a deejay there. You could call in and he would take requests. I remember calling in and asking for this song to be played. It was about having a friend in Jesus and where you would go when you die.

Norman Greenbaum wrote this one-hit wonder in 1969. Oddly enough, he wasn’t a Christian but a Jew. He wrote the song after hearing Porter Wagoner perform a Christian song on TV. Greenbaum based the song on Westerns and where the cowboys would go. He said that the cowboys wanted to die with their boots on. Apparently, Porter Wagoner had a lot of influence on people. This is a timeless song and has been played in many movies, TV shows and advertisements.

“Annie’s Song” was played at mine and Connell’s 1974 wedding. John Denver penned and sang this song in July 1973. While skiing down a mountain, the beautiful colors and scenery inspired him to write this song about his wife, Annie. We had an outdoor wedding and two of our friends, David and Jimmy, sang and played guitars for us.

You fill up my senses, like a night in the forest

Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain

Like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean

You fill up my senses, come fill me again.

This is “our song.” This past July, we celebrated our 50th anniversary. The words are prettier now than ever before.

“Amazing Grace” written by John Newton in 1772. He was a slave trader who nearly died in a shipwreck that changed his life. He became a minister and shared a sermon based on his conversion.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I am found, Was blind but now I see.

How does it relate to me? Connell and I both became born-again Christians. We were raised by Christian parents, but we rededicated our lives to Christ in 1975.

This hymn has been sung worldwide by many generations of believers and artists. My favorite rendition is done by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Their album “Spirit of the Century” highlights this song. They sing it to the tune of The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” The Blind Boys took this song and made it their own. With Clarence Fountain as the frontman for the group, they sang this song with sincerity and passion. It has a haunting electric guitar intro with guitar riffs throughout.

We were able to see the Blind Boys two times in the early 2000s, once in Americus and then Columbus. I can still see Jimmy Carter (one of the members of the group) walking quickly and loudly up and down the aisles singing about God’s grace and love. God’s amazing grace has been with me throughout my life.

“Born to Be Wild” was written by Mars Bonfire and performed by Steppenwolf in 1968. This song was in the movie “Easy Rider.” It’s a great rock and roll song. I have always loved it. The song is about adventure, making things happen, and taking the world in a love embrace.

It reminds me of our son, Levi. He was born in California. We moved back to Georgia when he was almost 2 years old. He’s always been a free spirit with a gypsy feel. After marrying Alana, they moved to Oregon, where he attended Western Culinary Institute in Portland. He earned a LeCordon Bleu Culinary Arts degree. Afterwards, they returned to Albany.

We gave him a ’70s party for his 30th birthday. Alana, Connell, and I performed “Born to Be Wild” at the party with the music soundtrack and a fog and smoke machine. It was so much fun. As we were singing, he jumped right in and sang it with us.

“Sunshine on My Shoulders” came out as a single in 1973, written and sung by John Denver. He wrote it on a dreary, late winter day, and it’s about being outdoors and how the sun makes you feel good. I love the sweet, simple melody of this song. I know that I also love being outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. To see the beauty of nature, plants, birds, butterflies, and the blue sky. Sunshine on any water is a beautiful sight.

“If I Were a Carpenter,” a folk song, written by Tim Hardin. He performed it at Woodstock in 1969. Various artists have performed it, but my favorite is by Johnny and June Carter Cash. They won a Grammy for their duet version.

It’s a simple love story about devotion to one another. Connell and I sung this song for Levi and Alana at their wedding rehearsal dinner. It became one of Alana’s favorite songs.

“Proud Mary” written by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. He wrote it in 1967 on the day he was discharged from the Army. It’s about living on the ever-moving river of life. It’s a reminder to keep on rolling through life with courage. CCR recorded it, but my favorite version is by Tina Turner. Fogerty even said that Tina could sing circles around them.

There has never been a better singer or performer than Tina Turner. Her passion and drive carried her and swayed people all over the world. Her music got people moving. I love to sing this song in Tina style. I cut loose and forget about everything else. I have been known to sing it at family gatherings. With my head and hair moving up and down and my feet moving, I just rock and roll to the beat.

“In the Ghetto” written by Mac Davis. He was inspired by the civil rights movement and one of his childhood friends. Elvis Presley recorded it in 1969 for his comeback album “From Elvis in Memphis.” The song is about a deprived child born in Chicago. Some of the words are:

People don’t you understand, a child needs a helping hand.

Take a look at you and me, Are we too blind to see?

Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?

To me, this is humanity’s song. What can we do to make this world a better place? It all starts with one person at a time willing to bring peace to racial inequality and to break cycles of poverty and violence. Each of us can shine a light all over the world wherever we are so that we can make things better. One act of kindness can go a long way.

I was also born into poverty. Someone helped our family along the way. I remember my Aunt Posey, who gave us things, and Mr. Palmer, who let Mama charge groceries until we were able to pay. I became a teacher for 26 years. Some children that I taught were poor. I tried to love each child and help each child learn how to read and wished them continued success in future years.

My tapestry of life has been magical and blessed. It’s been touched by family, friends and people that I’ve met along the way. My experiences have been matched by others who put theirs into words and then into songs. Songs that have touched my life and made it beautiful, rich, and everlasting. May your life songs be as beautiful to you.

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