By Jen Slayden
My children and I spent our second week of summer vacation nestled in the beautiful Little Belt Mountains for the 15th annual Montana Fiddle Camp. This year was particularly special, with family members of the Ola Belle Reed family present to play music and teach classes, along with other inspiring instructors from all over the map. The late Ola was ahead of her time and one of the legends of bluegrass music. Her 92 year old widower, Bud and their two sons, Ralph and David, set quite an example.
All three of my children were with amazing instructors all week. Grace in violin, Riley in banjo, and even young Cade in beginning guitar class while I had the privilege of teaching the camps first cello fiddle class. The week was full of great music, excellent home cooked food, concerts and step dances every night in which the participants could either dance or play with the musicians ( you learn the fiddle tunes FAST!) With beautiful scenery and wonderful friends we took away so much inspiration and many fond memories.
The best memory by far, though, was the connection that occurred through music. Children as young as five and adults as old as 92 were sang, played, and experienced life through music. I have never felt so grateful for the gift of music than during this week. Several times I found myself in tears as Ralph Reed would talk about his late mother and her purpose for her music. Not for fame. Not for money. Her music was to express her opinions in a way that made people think a little differently about their lives, their earth, and their experiences. She was humorous, loving, exceptionally creative and a gifted musician, especially on the banjo. Bud, her husband, still has the gift of storytelling and still plays the harmonica.
Grace (far right) and her fiddle camp friends are captured by Bud Reeds storytelling.
The last night of camp, Ralph Reed had the whole audience singing “This Land is your Land” by Woody Guthrie. Later that evening another instructor said how sad that song made her because of the line “the Gulf Stream waters.” It planted a seed in my brain as we both talked about how much the oil spill may affect those waters.
The next day was the long drive home. The clouds were lifting and the drive from Great Falls through Lincoln Montana was nothing short of spectacular. The rain we have had just painted the landscape into such vivid colors. The kids were tired and had a good healthy dose of camp depression-the feeling you get when you just don’t want camp to end. I had it too. But while looking at the panoramic view around me a tune appeared in my brain. An array of emotions came and went: gratitude for the clean water and beautiful landscape that we see every day, anger for the disasters caused by human error, and incredible sadness for children who live in areas that are polluted by us humans.
The next day the song began to percolate. Finally I could take it no more. I grabbed my guitar and penned a few lyrics on a page. That night when my two Jen friends were at my house I played the rough song for them. They insisted I record it. I grabbed my kids and asked them to sing a few verses. I called my niece, Maddi, and asked her to bring her fiddle. Riley grabbed his banjo. We had ourselves a grassroots singing jam that would have made Ola Belle Reed proud. It didn’t take long at all and it felt good to get it out. A large majority of the tunes I write are instrumental, and certainly not political, but this one came from the desire to have our children see that we are all good stewards of the land, the water and air is clean, and the animals are healthy. I thank the Reed family for the inspiration.
“We can tear down the fences that fence us all in…and we can walk together again.” Ola Belle Reed
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I love the lyrics! This is more political than I usually see of you, good for you! This is such an important topic and everyone I know, regardless of political affiliation agrees that we want it fixed now! Thank you for going out on a limb and putting this out for all of us to see and hear.
The kids really add to the song. Love it!
Jen, amazing. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt thoughts and emotions through music.
Love,
Anne
I enjoy reading what you write. It is thoughtful and personal and heartfelt. Thank you.
Note: Many people emailed me and told me they couldn’t hear the lyrics. It was roughly recorded so I thought I would post the lyrics. Thank you for your comments. We all need to have our voices and concerns heard, in whatever capacity is right for us!!
Gulf Stream Tears
See the oil water flowing down below
See the oil water flowing down below
See the spilling poison flow into the gulf of Mexico
See the oil water flowing down below
Do you believe what Woody Guthrie had to say
This land was made for you and me
From the Redwood Forest to the gulf stream water
Now is tainted from a big oil company
Oh please, our young daughters and our sons
Forgive the leaders for their ignorant response
As they work hard to contain
It’s more for the money than it is from shame
What about the sharks and sea turtles?
Cry for the brown pelicans and marine mammals
Power and riches have jaded our integrity
Promises of restoration just idle words
So here is the lesson we must learn
before we are past the point of no return
This land loves all living beings
Can’t you hear the children pleading
Oooh…………..
Children we need your help to grow
Guide us to a cleaner and wiser tomorrow.
Oh! I love this so much. I firmly believe culture unites humans above all else. It is a tragedy when arts are cut from public education…we aren’t much if we don’t have expression. Art to express things like sadness, happiness, anger, beauty, togetherness! Nice job, mama.
Dear Jenny
This song is powerful all the more so from seeing the faces of all my nephews and nieces and hearing their expression through music. Sometimes we feel so helpless but at least you have found a good outlet to make a statement. Thanks for sharing. Love Therese