When I look back at my musical history, there is a certain point where I start to cringe. It's the place where I begin to say, "what was I thinking!?" I don't like to actually listen back to my early recordings. They are far too painful. I usually can't make it through an entire song.
I do, on the other hand, fondly remember those days. I remember buying my first guitar. All of the guys I had been playing with and learning from, played Fender Strats. And, of course, that's what I wanted and set out to purchase. I drove over to the old McFayden Music store on Independence Blvd. My salesman was a guy named Van Sachs. Little did I know, he is a well known guitar player here in Charlotte. He was very accommodating. He asked what I was interested in and I confusedly said, "a Telecaster, sir." Stratocaster... Telecaster... They sound the same, right? Well, they are not the same at all, nor do they sound the same.
He would pick up a guitar and play it. Then he would hand it to me. I remember feeling so embarrassed to play in front of him. I had just started playing and only knew a few chords (not by name, but by finger position.) Alas, I fell head over heels for one. It was a slightly used, cream yellow, American Telecaster with a rosewood fretboard. I told Van I would have to think about the purchase and get back to him soon. Soon turned out to be the next day. I had to have her. She needed me and I needed her. I talked him down a little on the price and walked out the door with such excitement.
I was stoked to show my friends my new obsession. When I did, I realized that I had bought a Telecaster, not a Stratocaster. What a huge mix up. I am pretty sure I felt stupid for about half of a second. Then, I started making music. Good times.
This week's song is from that era. I wrote "A Remembrance" in a time where everything was golden. I didn't know pain. I'd never met loneliness. I had only dreamt of love. It touches on the enduring question of, "can we go home again?" Looking back, it almost seems prophetic. With the trials I have endured in my life, I can reminisce and laugh at my former self. But maybe my former self knew what awaited me in the future.
Enjoy,
Christopher
Recorded March 5-6. I hadn't played this song in a decade or so. My ring finger on my picking hand cramped up on me something fierce.
lyrics
This house seems small. The trees are shorter than I recall. I've still got the sap on my hands from back in the day. I will return to you. I will return to you. Chase like the wind. Without a fear inside my head, but that of death. And I am still a little scared, I admit. I will return to you. I will return. I'm so thankful for all that I've endured. And to my flesh and blood for all that I've become. If I could go back again, would I change all that's been? If I could go home tonight, would I make it all right? No, I would stay. I'd keep it all the same. I would stay.
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