Mr. Muddle's Befuddled Universe

Great song: Tracy Nelson's ``Drowning in Memories"

What's the promise of hopelessness and despair? Future happiness?

Even while we remain in the deepest depths of our own despair, we can be swept up in a holy ``spirit" that blesses us with joy. It is an act of grace.

Some singers can bring about this transformation. Some singers can fill us with a sacred awe. It doesn't matter if the singer has blue or brown eyes, because our ears are color blind.

I am nearly always ready to immerse myself in the experience, when a singer can transform hopeless despair into a hopefulness that reaches mystical proportions. Tracy Nelson is a singer capable of causing such a transformation. She causes such a transformation within me, whenever I listen to her singing ``Drowning in Memories."

Tracy Nelson's 1974 LP Tracy Nelson had a huge impact on me. It is one of those rare albums. It is perfect. It is just that simple.

Tracy Nelson's song ``Drowning in Memories" is simply perfect as well. (Composers: Gary Nicholson/Chick Rains.)

You can listen to a clip of ``Drowning in Memories" here and here. (If you discover you aren't that fond of Tracy Nelson's ``Drowning in Memories," then you will most definitely need to modify the amount of ``salt" you add to all my other reviews and comments.)

``Drowning in Memories" is on Tracy Nelson's 1996 Move On LP, which has been rereleased as a CD, and is available at many locations, including Amazon. ``Drowning in Memories" can be downloaded digitally at many fine locations, including the Apple Music Store.

Technorati Tags: music, people

Post Script — I haven't had a conversion. I'm still a heathen (look it up). But don't worry about saving my soul. It's been saved. I just can't remember where.

It's Friday: Let's get some ``Real Love" with Ruthie Foster

I am a heathen, it's true, but I don't evangelize. When it comes to religion, I'm willing to let almost everyone make their own choice. (But don't start me talking about cats and tattoos!)

On the other hand, I'm not one to get wound up in a tether if someone decides to head down a path towards ``righteousness"; that is, as long as they don't expect me to tag along.

As I see it, if there are gods, they must have had a good reason for pulling the curtain on the afterlife, and there's probably a No Peeking Rule in effect. So I figure religious folks are just sticking their noses into a place where it ain't welcome. Nobody likes a Peeping Tom, you know. And, if there are gods, I don't want to be the one that is annoying them!

But that's just the way I see the landscape. You probably see things differently. And if you decide to head down a different path, that's  just fine with me—the view from here won't be any less glorious.

But I digress! I was going to talk about Ruthie Foster.

I guess my point is that when Ruthie Foster sings (she was at the Kerrville Folk Festival), even I get all goopy and spiritual. When Ruthie Foster sings, I feel like I'm back at Crystal Springs singing about heavenly watermelon on my grave with the juice trickling on down onto my bones, and all that other good stuff that's supposed to happen in the afterlife.

Actually, when I listen to Ruthie Foster, I feel real love in the here and now. And I think that might be my point. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about salvation and such. Stuff like that can probably work its own self out. Instead why don't we see if we can't spread some love in the here and now, like this weekend?

Put on Ruthie Foster's ``Real Love" and become filled with the spirit, then spread the spirit of love around. Maybe it will become more contagious than the bird flu. Let's hope! That would be one epidemic we could all live with.

Ruthie Foster's ``Real Love" is on her Crossover CD and her Stages CD. You can listen to a clip here. The live version (the version from Stages) can be downloaded from the Apple Music Store. ``Real Love" is also included in Ruthie Foster's  2003 Austin City Limits performance.

Updated 16 SEP 2007

Technorati Tags: religion, music, people, festivals, television

Water Melon Song: Just plant a little watermelon on my grave and let the juice (slurp slurp) trickle through. Just plant a little watermelon on my grave That's all I ask of yooooouuu! Well Southern fried chicken Tastes mighty, mighty fine But nothing tastes as good As a watermelon rrrrriiiiiinnnnnd. So plant a little watermelon on my grave. And let the juice (slurp, slurp) trickle through. (Unknown authorship)

By the way, to answer queries, Mrs. Muddle will be home this weekend. Perhaps the gods do exist!