Country Music's Finest

A Tribute to a Country Great

By Josh Watkins

         

          Here I sit On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful, pondering a certain thought; a thought that Makes Me Wonder quite often. I sit on this beach with a Pirate Flag and The Good Stuff, along with Dreams dancing in my mind. These images are of someone who I could say that You Had Me From Hello. As I relax in an Old Blue Chair I could honestly say that Life is Good and I Never Wanted Nothin’ More.

I think about my future Down the Road, but first I Go Back and I see myself In a Small Town. It’s Summertime, there are Guitars and Tiki Bars, and around here Time Flies. I’m Living in Fast Forward while wearing nothing but a pair of swim trunks. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems. This must be How Forever Feels.

An old man sits in the corner of a nearby bar, playing a guitar and singing about life Somewhere in the Sun and his glory days with Beer in Mexico and a Keg in the Closet. I toss a few bucks into his guitar case and say “Sing Em’ Good My Friend.” He nodded his head in gratitude and when he finished his song he motioned me to Come Over. I pulled up a pile of sand and he offered me some advice I will never forget.

He told me of his story of a love long ago; a beautiful girl who dreamed of being a Big Star. He met her on El Cerrito Place and said “From the moment I saw her, I knew she was Anything But Mine. She was ambitious, a go-getter, and was destined for California. Yet, I was determined and a good friend of mine told me the only thing I could do was ‘Be As You Are.’ Soon after, she let me become a part of her life. Like most kids, we were Young and dumb and I was facing the Reality of becoming a father. All I could think was ‘There Goes My Life.’”

He then told me that the mother chose Hollywood over her child and that she was Better As a Memory. The only thing that mattered to him was his blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl. The old man had a twinkle in his eye and said “My advice is this; keep that lass over there close, Live a Little, and most importantly, Don’t Blink.”

Those words still ring throughout my heart as I daily Live Those Songs. Now whenever I look into those twinkling eyes and see that loving smile, I tell her that it’s Always Gonna Be You.

I wrote this piece this past summer in tribute to one of my favorite country music artists of all time...Kenny Chesney. This story is completely fictitious and is composed of his song titles and some of my favorites. 

If you don't like country music, fine. Just read it for the writing. And hey, if you let me, I can change your mind about country music. I've successfully done so to three people. 

As a special treat, here's the link to my favorite Chesney Christmas song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwojekKN9OE Merry Christmas!