Strictly Sweetheart of the Rodeo

The great and good Emmylou Harris and her band

 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Sunday 5 October 2014

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

The Flaneur descends once again 

from the eastern sky through the great trees of Golden Gate park

making a soft landing for the closing day's events

Before settling here at the Banjo stage 

to witness half of Ralph Stanley's authentic bluegrass show,

I had lunch in some shady bleachers at the old Towers of Gold

during most of the fine set by Bonnie Prince Billie and cohort,
(same lunch as Friday but for sardines replacing lentils)
Walked in with someone I met on MUNI
  Raven a delightful herbalist from Berkeley

Following Doctor Ralph Stanley on the royal Banjo stage, 

Jeff Tweedy who is in fact a sweetie despite himself,

An enviable slot except you may have to play into the sun on a hot day

He said it's still summer here and launched into his fun time tune,

"I Am Trying to Break Your Heart"

This is Jeff's band also called Tweedy

His son sits behind him on drums
The lead guitarist shows amusement

as Dad tries to bust a rock move,

Tweedy said he usually hated audiences but loved this one here,

"You are the original audience of which all other audiences are copies."

Another season winds down in blissful fatigue,

The logo of the esteemed Banjo stage and the brilliant sound pods

All watched over by green trees of loving grace

Time for some bottom-heavy honky tonk,
a touch of high lonesome gospel,

 some favorite songs she always plays,

Here it was her theme song "Red Dirt Girl"

The sun began to be filtered by the timeless fog 

coming in from the nearby sea,

For the past thirteen years, autumn starts for me

When it begins to grow dark, birds fly over the silhouettes of the trees,

and Emmylou sings for us all

The tree was all aglow as our monarch and her cracking band

Brought on the denouement of another year

Night falls over the park, the glowing crowds going home

The Flaneur indulges himself with a soft-focus image

He was dancing, in his mind with Emmylou as she danced

Playing the old chestnut  "Save the Last Dance for Me"

In a rather impressionistic state of mind--

Two jars of brandy, one funny cigarette, and two days of music,

Riding the wind