America = 50 states / Music about US

[ajblakejr]

My sister, an Army Specialist at the time, had a coworker, Karl, also an Army Specialist, that volunteered to go to IRAQ as a postmaster.

I worked for Coca Cola.

This was before email.

In 1991, it was all about sitting down and writing a letter.

Working for Coke was fun. I took a case of Coca~Cola flying disc's to a grade school and the students all wrote a message inside with a Sharpie along with an addressed postcard. I sent these to Karl and he just passed them out or should I say, tossed them about the desert.

Within a month, the postcards came pouring in back to these kids.

I sent Karl a tape recorder because I had this new item, a CD player that taped!!!

Whitney Houston just finished nailing the Star Spangled Banner at the Superbowl. I went out and purchased the CD and taped it over and over for Karl.

I found out in a letter, that they took his taped copy and played it every morning over the PA system.

Two very simple things, I did and a bunch of fifth graders from Lakeview School, made a difference for a bunch of guys during the first Gulf War.

I still have those letters. Someday I will give them to my sister's son.

 

[ajblakejr]

 

[Big Babooba]

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the elusive video of Arlo performing his ode to the Commonwealth. This will do.

words and music by Arlo Guthrie

Like a dream in the night
As the snow settles white
There's a fire burning bright
In Massachusetts
And there's a house upon a hill
That keeps us from the chill
And by the grace of God
We will be in Massachusetts

CHORUS:
You can tell me about the times you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains,
Please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same

The sun comes up to meet the dawn
And there's a day that must go on
There's another night that's gone
In Massachusetts
And I could spend all of my days
And remain each day amazed
At the way each day is phrased
In Massachusetts

CHORUS

Now if you could only see
I know you would agree
There ain't nowhere else to be
Like Massachusetts
And there's a house upon a hill
That keeps us from the chill
And by the grace of God
We will be in Massachusetts

Come on tell me about the time you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains
And please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same as Massachusetts

 

[Big Babooba]

 

[ajblakejr]

 

[ajblakejr]

To really feel the power of this song, you need to be in the audience.
I have been in the audience and I can tell you it is powerful and emotional.

 

[ajblakejr]

 

[ajblakejr]

Arlington.
In the end, could this be what it is all about...all about US.

 

[fxdwg]