SONGS - JOHNNY CASH - "RUSTY CAGE"

A cover of a song by Soundgarden. Johnny was like all of us eventually - a young man trapped in an old, decaying body. Well, don't ever pin us old-timers up against the wall, we ain't dead and useless yet. There's a guy at church I just love - George is his name. Just turned 96. Fought a number of years in WW2, chasing Rommell if I am not mistaken. Or maybe he was in Italy. Doesn't matter, he served his country well. This morning when I saw him the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face tells me that George is young at heart. This one is for you, Happy Birthday!

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #3

This song is by Garland Jeffreys. Great songwriter and performer - I wonder why he never made it big. I have followed his career for years and hope to see him sometime. This song talks about pure ignorance. Ignorance that compels small people to use racial slurs and it makes me sick. Last year, before the Presidential election, I was delivering mail and thought I would try to catch up with a former customer, on another route, who's wife had passed away. I drove my postal truck by his house and he was out front raking leaves. I stopped and asked how he was doing, expressing my condolences, just small talk, then he got all red in the face and asked me what I thought of the election. Before I could even answer the question he said, "There is no way America will ever elect a nigger president. They'll shoot that black bastard before he ever gets into the White House." Well, I got out of there asap. And what makes this even sadder, if that is possible at all, is that if you don't know I am Canadian, so why would a Canadian get so worked up and hateful over another country's election. Just goes to show you, racism is based on stupidity, lack of reason, and pure hatred from the depths of hell. This song is called "Don't Call Me Buckwheat". There are very few videos avaiable of Garland Jeffreys.

SONGS - JOHNNY CASH - "DRIVE ON"

Whenever I get unsettled inside, whenever I feel like things I strive for are unravelling, whenever I feel like I am going backwards instead of forwards, I do 2 things. I read the Bible, it connects quickly to my spirit and I settle down. And I turn to music. Music is my language, music has made me who I am today, for the good and bad. One man I turn to often is Johnny Cash, especially his latter work released by American Recordings. This song, Drive On, is a tribute to the men and women who fought, who fought courageously, in Vietnam. A friend of mine lost a brother in Vietnam. I looked him up, online on the wall in washington, and I cried when I saw my friend's brother on there. I had another friend who fought in Vietnam with the Americal Division. Billy survived that, never talked too much about it, and died a few months after he got home when his car hit some black ice and smashed into a tree. It was Christmas Eve, 1971. Almost 40 years later, and I still get a lump in my throat and my eyes get watery when I think of Billy. It's funny how I remember the Mohawk haircut he had, and how he loved Terry Sawchuck, the hockey goalie. Though this song is of Vietnam, it reminds me of spiritual battles that we are all in. Drive On.

RIP Gary Wade

A friend of mine passed away a couple of days ago. His name was Gary Wade.He worked for over 40 years at Fleet Industries in Fort Erie. He was an avid fisherman and in my books was a real straight shooter. Most people you can't ever get a handle on. You just never know if they are being straight or playing you for a fool. He told you, sometimes very bluntly, what was on his mind and you grow to appreciate that in a person, though sometimes a little more tact would be nice! We went on a fishing trip once and I was to bring the beer. Someone mentioned that I should try Brava, which is similiar to Corona, but made in Canada. So I bought a couple 24's and Gary let me know after a sampling what he thought of the "no good simulated Mexican beer." His wife Brenda, whenever I see her, always asks me, "Hey, are you still drinking that cheap simulated Mexican beer?" Gary was also very tight-fisted with the almighty dollar. His sister told me a story today that was all Gary. He had a bottom feeder fish that died, and the warranty had expired by 2 days. So he stuck the fish in a freezer bag and froze it. He went to the store and bought another fish, waited a few days, thawed out the dead one and went back to the store for a refund. This is a picture in happier times, I think in a motel room in Orillia, before he tasted the Brava. Gary, may you rest in peace.

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #2

I had two opportunities to see Bob Marley way back when. The first time was in the early 70's and my friend Richard was bugging me to see Marley at Buff State. I hadn't heard too much of Marley at the time, and was too wrapped up in Dylan and Zappa (how is that for a combination) to bother exploring Marley. The other time was in the latter 70s, and I had purchased tickets for Bob Marley at Maple Leaf Gardens, but the show was cancelled due to his illness, and I never was able to get a refund. Their are two versions of this song I enjoy the most - this live one by Marley and the other was by Sinead O'Connor. That was at the BobFest concert where everyone booed the snot out of her (for saying the Pope was the real enemy on SNL) and she retaliated by singing War.I thought that was pretty ballsy.

DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #1

There are many videos asociated with this song, but I think this captures the spirit best of Happy Xmas (War is Over).

WORKING CLASS HERO