Heart Banter/Music Covers & Acoustic Guitar

This song grew on me. I had no idea what it meant until I did some research. After that, I understood. The lyrics speak for themselves. Gordon Lightfoot is talking about himself. He imbued the song with poetic imagery and a penetrating, flowing melody. What a gift he had to write hundreds of songs, each one unique, each one performed impeccably by the artist. Here’s my cover of “The Minstrel of the Dawn.” Chapters (00:00:06) - Minstrel of the Dawn (song)

Everybody’s heard of John Denver. Well, almost everybody. At the risk of dating myself, I’ve known about Denver and his music for decades. Yet, I never took the time to examine or play John’s music. Until now. He inspired me to cover “Jenny Dreamed of Trains” in my last blog. Here, I’m taking on one of John’s favorite and most popular songs: “Poems, Prayers, and Promises.” Released in 1971, “Poems” finds Denver taking stock of his twenty-eight-year-old life. Although he still had many years to live, the song sounds like it is written by someone nearing the end of their life. (Maybe that’s why I’m taking it up now.) The song is prescient because John died tragically and prematurely in a plane crash at the age of fifty-four after years of personal turmoil. His immense talent and worldwide fame took their toll on him and his marriage. Still, “Poems, Prayers, and Promises” is an optimistic, wise, and beautiful work of art. Let’s leave it at that. Here’s my cover. Chapters (00:00:11) - Song

This song grew on me. I had no idea what it meant until I did some research. After that, I understood. The lyrics speak for themselves. Gordon Lightfoot is talking about himself. He imbued the song with poetic imagery and a penetrating, flowing melody. What a gift he had to write hundreds of songs, each one unique, each one performed impeccably by the artist. Here’s my cover of “The Minstrel of the Dawn.” Chapters (00:00:06) - Minstrel of the Dawn (Song)

Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song after his marriage to Brita Ingegerd Olaisson ended in divorce. After the breakup, she took their two young children back to France. “If Children Had Wings” is a beautiful, heartbreaking reflection on the pain Lightfoot felt when he was separated from his children. Lightfoot often flew across the Atlantic on the supersonic Concorde to visit his son, Fred, and daughter, Ingrid. Perhaps Lightfoot dreamed of his children having wings so they could fly to him. As a side note, the breakup with Oliaisson inspired one of Lightfoot’s most famous songs, “If You Could Read My Mind.” I’m an ardent Lightfoot fan, yet I’d never heard this song until I found it on Pandora. recently. Its tender melody and lyrics captured my heart immediately, and I decided to play it here. Chapters (00:00:00) - Song: A Love That Shines On

Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song after his marriage to Brita Ingegerd Olaisson ended in divorce. After the breakup, she took their two young children back to France. “If Children Had Wings” is a beautiful, heartbreaking reflection on the pain Lightfoot felt when he was separated from his children. Lightfoot often flew across the Atlantic on the supersonic Concorde to visit his son, Fred, and daughter, Ingrid. Perhaps Lightfoot dreamed of his children having wings so they could fly to him. As a side note, the breakup with Oliaisson inspired one of Lightfoot’s most famous songs, “If You Could Read My Mind.” I’m an ardent Lightfoot fan, yet I’d never heard this song until I found it on Pandora. recently. Its tender melody and lyrics captured my heart immediately, and I decided to play it here. Chapters (00:00:00) - Song/Opening

Everybody’s heard of John Denver. Well, almost everybody. At the risk of dating myself, I’ve known about Denver and his music for decades. Yet, I never took the time to examine or play John’s music. Until now. He inspired me to cover “Jenny Dreamed of Trains” in my last blog. Here, I’m taking on one of John’s favorite and most popular songs: “Poems, Prayers, and Promises.” Released in 1971, “Poems” finds Denver taking stock of his life at 28. Although he still had many years to live, the song sounds like it is written by someone nearing the end of their life. (Maybe that’s why I’m taking it up now.) The song is prescient because John died tragically and prematurely in a plane crash at the age of fifty-four after years of personal turmoil. His immense talent and worldwide fame took their toll on him and his marriage. Still, “Poems, Prayers, and Promises” is an optimistic, wise, and beautiful work of art. Let’s leave it at that. Here’s my cover. Chapters (00:00:11) - Poems, Prayers and Promises (song)

Vince Gill wrote “Jenny Dreamed of Trains.” He performs it beautifully, but John Denver’s version caught my attention. The song reminds us what we can create when we hold fast to a dream and work to make it happen. Dreams call to us, despite the many distractions that come between the songs in our hearts. The ordinary necessities of life kept me from pursuing my dreams until I cleared the distractions and focused fully on bringing forth what was always in my heart. In the song, Jenny’s dream seemed impossible, but with faith and the force of her will fueled by passion, a teenage girl changed the world around her. Nothing is impossible if we listen to and accept the dreams in our hearts. I have written and published 15 novels and created a YouTube channel with guitar and vocal song covers that has reached more than one million subscribers. You can do it, too. Have the courage to live your dreams. The beauty and message of “Jenny Dreamed of Trains” have made me cry at times. Does the song take you back to your Childhood dreams? Where are they now? Please enjoy my covers. Chapters (00:00:08) - Jenny Dreamed of Trains

Vince Gill wrote “Jenny Dreamed of Trains.” He performs it beautifully, but John Denver’s version caught my attention. The song reminds us what we can create when we hold fast to a dream and work to make it happen. Dreams call to us, despite the many distractions that come between the songs in our hearts. The ordinary necessities of life kept me from pursuing my dreams until I cleared the distractions and focused fully on bringing forth what was always in my heart. In the song, Jenny’s dream seemed impossible, but with faith and the force of her will fueled by passion, a teenage girl changed the world around her. Nothing is impossible if we listen to and accept the dreams in our hearts. I have written and published 15 novels and created a YouTube channel with guitar and vocal song covers that has reached more than one million subscribers. You can do it, too. Have the courage to live your dreams. The beauty and power of “Jenny Dreamed of Trains” have made me cry at times. Does the song take you back to your Childhood dreams? Where are they now? Please enjoy my covers. Vince Gill wrote “Jenny Dreamed of Trains.” He performs it beautifully, but John Denver’s version caught my attention. The song reminds us what we can create when we hold fast to a dream and work to make it happen. Dreams call to us, despite the many distractions that come between the songs in our hearts. The ordinary necessities of life kept me from pursuing my dreams until I cleared the distractions and focused fully on bringing forth what was always in my heart. In the song, Jenny’s dream seemed impossible, but with faith and the force of her will fueled by passion, a teenage girl changed the world around her. Nothing is impossible if we listen to and accept the dreams in our hearts. I have written and published 15 novels and created a YouTube channel with guitar and vocal song covers that has reached more than one million subscribers. You can do it, too. Have the courage to live your dreams. The beauty and power of “Jenny Dreamed of Trains” have made me cry at times. Does the song take you back to your Childhood dreams? Where are they now? Please enjoy my covers. Chapters (00:00:06) - Jenny Dreamed of Trains (Song)

I recently changed my music source from Sirius XM to Pandora. As an avid fan of Folk and Country Music, it turned out to be a wise decision. Now, I can listen to my favorite recording artists singing songs from the 60’s through the 90’s. And lately, several of those songs are appearing on this blog. Like the previous song I posted here, “Silver Skies Blue” captured my attention almost immediately. I had never heard it before because, prior to Pandora, I had never listened to Judy Collins’ music the way I do now. In addition to Silver Skies Blue, I’ve posted several of Judy’s cover and original songs, including: When I Was a Girl in Colorado, Suzanne, and Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye. The album “Silver Skies Blue” features songs by Collins and Ari Hest, who also performs with his polished guitar playing and powerful, deep voice that complements Judy’s higher one perfectly. Released in 2016, the album earned Collins her first Grammy nomination in 40 years. Chapters (00:00:06) - I Color My Silver Skyes Blue

I recently changed my music source from Sirius XM to Pandora. As an avid fan of Folk and Country Music, it turned out to be a wise decision. Now, I can listen to my favorite recording artists singing songs from the 60s through the 90s. And lately, several of those songs are appearing on this blog. Like the previous song I posted here, “Silver Skies Blue” captured my attention almost immediately. I had never heard it before because, prior to Pandora, I had never listened to Judy Collins’ music the way I do now. In addition to Silver Skies Blue, I’ve posted several of Judy’s cover and original songs, including: When I Was a Girl in Colorado, Suzanne, and Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye. The album “Silver Skies Blue” features songs by Collins and Ari Hest, who also performs with his polished guitar playing and powerful, deep voice that complements Judy’s higher one perfectly. Released in 2016, the album earned Collins her first Grammy nomination in 40 years. Here’s my cover. Chapters (00:00:06) - I Color Your Silver Sky Blue