So yesterday I asked the folks on Facebook if they had a special song with their “sweetheart” and of course to share what it was.
I love to read the answers and why people love a song. A lot of it has to do with timing… If you fell in love in the 60’s your speical song is more likely to be from Sonny & Cher than from George Strait. There is also the matter of what you danced to when dating or what made your heart sing when you were married. Timing is everything.
Our song has a lot to do with timing too. And, mind you, not all timing is good timing….
You see, Lisa and I had been friends for several years but when the magic happened things moved along pretty quick. We were both single parents doing the second-time around romance long-distance so if truth be told we really came to a point where we couldn’t afford to keep dating and paying all our money to phone bills and airline companies.
Yes, fall was in the air and Lisa was going to meet me and my boys in Fort Worth that October where I was playing Red Steagall’s Cowboy Gathering. I mustered up all of my confidence as well as what little was left of my pocketbook and headed for the nearest mall with a jewelry store the week before the Gathering.
Lisa flew down to Fort Worth where my trusty side-kick, my brother Jeff, picked her up from the airport and brought her to the Stockyards. She looked as pretty as ever, so with the ring in my pocket we spent the day with my family enjoying the event, and me nervously waiting for the right moment to pull her aside and pop the question.
After dinner we all walked back to the big tent where Red and his Bunkhouse Boys were puttin on quite a dance. “Ahhh, here is the place.” I thought. We watched the dancers for a while then I turned to my friend JB Allen & his wife and asked if they would keep an eye on the boys for a moment while we danced. Well, JB knew something was up so of course he wanted to stick around for the spectatin’.
Ammassing all my will power I ushered Lisa onto the dance floor and we swirled around the tent until I finally gathered enough courage to stop in a corner, and on one knee, I asked my very surprised sweetheart what she was doing for the rest of her life. Without missing a beat she gave the answer that every nervous man hopes to hear, “Following some ol’ cowboy around!”. It was then I slipped the ring on her finger and said “Welcome to Texas!”
And…., then, as the song ended and we were making our way back to JB, Margaret, and the boys, Lisa paused and said the words I will never forget…. “Oh, I want to remember this moment forever Sweetie… What song were they just playing?”
It was at that moment that “our song” was created. And it just so happened that Red and the Boys, which happened to magically include all the living Texas Playboys that night, were playing an old blues standard… “Misery” sung by none other than the great vocalist Leon Rausch.
Timing….. it is everything. I can assure you, we laugh about it now, but we will never forget it!
Happy Valentines everyone. From our house to yours, we wish you a wonderful day wherever you are.
This is the most romantic beautiful story I have ever read!!!! I am so happy it happened in my state!!!! You two are a beautiful couple! I guess my special song from back in the fifties was Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. I was in love for the first time! Another one in my adult life was The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. I love your music and I love your website. Thank you so very much!
Linda Sides
That is wonderful, I can see that happening to you. Love You guys.
Hey you guys that’s good stuff! What makes it even better is that we can envision it. We too have danced to Red and all the boys including Leon Rausch. So, experiencing all of that made it easy to “ride” along with you telling your story. I’m sure back then it wasn’t in Mule Alley, though! I think that came along about 5-6 years ago didn’t it? Anyway, we love that the song was Misery and that Red and Leon and all the boys playing all of that Texas swing music on a Friday or Saturday night in the old Stockyards in Ft. Worth, Tx. Just so happens that the first time we saw you in concert and met you and Lisa was probably the last time you played there. As far as special songs, we have several that mean a lot to us and all of those are by George Strait at a time when we came together as a family as well. Me with my 2 and she with her 3. I was a sorry dancer and had to let her lead just to show me how to 2 step and not “bounce”. Well, she finally got me gentled and even take a saddle now! And with the Lords help and leading the trail is narrower now but a lot smoother. Anyway, thanks for sharing you guys story. Good stuff, Pard.
I stumbled upon your blog post “Our Song” and I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how deeply moved I was by your words. Your description of the special song that you share with your wife was absolutely beautiful, and it really touched my heart.
It’s amazing how a single piece of music can hold so much meaning and emotion for us. As you mentioned, that song is not just a collection of notes and lyrics, but a symbol of your love and commitment to each other. It’s a reminder of all the memories, both good and bad, that you’ve shared throughout your lives together.
I also appreciated your insight into the importance of communication in a marriage. It’s so true that we often get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to truly listen and connect with our partners. Taking the time to share our thoughts and feelings, and to truly hear and understand the other person, is vital to building and maintaining a strong and healthy relationship.
Thank you for sharing your story and your wisdom. Your words have inspired me to appreciate the little moments of beauty and love in my own life, and to be more intentional in my relationships with the people I care about.