Listen To The Songs
These are the songs included on my recent CD with a little history about them. Most of the photographs are from my cousin Kathy Lynn's camera, and if you click on them, a hyperlink will appear that you can click on to listen to the tune.
Dayton To Hyden
Written primarily from my uncles' points of view regarding the Appalachian Migration of the 40's on. The mines closed down and people began migrating north to find work, often having to leave their families behind. I take the male point of view in this song, and several people have told me a female shouldn't sing it, but a female singing a song from a male's point of view is also a tradition in Appalachian/Celtic music. The photo is "Mouth of Stinnet," a community outside of Hyden, KY, and taken by my cousin Kathy Lynn Hoskins. Musicians are Tim, banjo, Art, fiddle, Jesse, guitar/mandolin, Danny, bass, Genie/Art harmonies and me voice and guitar.
Louisiana Moon
Love gone wrong -- it's an old story. i wrote it on a trip to New Orleans with girlfriends, trying to outrun a broken heart. Wound up in an old house in the French Quarter with a bottle of peppermint schnapps and an old piano. Not knowing how to play piano, I nevertheless wrote the song, and replayed it about 100 times so I wouldn't forget it, much to the distress of the neighbors. It was actually recorded at Lemco Studio about 20 years ago, with Nick Stump playing harmonica. I felt compelled to include it in this collection, regardless of it's age. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins. Guitar and vocal by me, harmonica by Nick Stump.
Fall Of The Year
Originally written about lost love, I began to think of the song more in terms of my terribly young Mom and Dad, when they were forced to separate because of the war. Dad went to Australia to serve as a medic, and Mom went to Baltimore to serve as military guard in an electric plant. It's just the sad parting of folks who have to. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins. Twin fiddles by Art, mandolin/guitar by Jesse, harmonies by Brad and Genie, lead vocals and rhythm guitar by me.
Girl Who Loves Horses
The title track of the album, I wrote this song after leaving the Red Mile in Lexington, KY. I had worked in the standardbred business for years, and sadly watched as it disintegrated in Central KY. It is a lovely sport, the horses are wonderful, most of the people, and I'm grateful for every moment I spent there. Women on race tracks, in the older days, were considered less than respectable. Regardless, they worked as hard as the men and were just as good in talent and horsewomanship. The woman in this song is a compilation of all the women I knew there, and is dedicated to them. The photo is of me many moons ago with my mare Lover, who lately has gone to the other side. She was my dear companion of 28 years. The photo was taken by Lisa D. Prichard. Banjo by Tim, fiddle by Art, bass by Danny, harmonies by Genie and Art, mandolin/guitar by Jesse.
My Sister Prays
The idea first came from a fellow at the Red Mile who staunchly believed his place in Heaven was secured by way of his sister, who prayed for him daily. His ability to delegate responsibility aside, I thought it was a great sentiment. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins. Electric guitar by Matt, rhythm guitar by Brad, harmonica by RE, harmony vocals by Brad and Genie, lead vocal and rhythm guitar by me.
Coyote
Has to be about those fellows that truly do intentionally take advantage of good-hearted women. Beautiful to look at, but they are what they are -- "Tricksters." Appreciate them and their place in nature, but don't turn your back on them, and don't let your little dogs and cats run free around them. Image by: Bryan Harry - NPS. Banjo by Tim, fiddle by Art, harmonies by Genie and Art, lead vocal and rhythm guitar by me.
Patchwork
The tune came to my mind on a trip home from Leslie County to Lexington, and is kind of representative of the mixture of influences and heritage that makes up my life. On the one hand, there is Nettie Holler and Knob Lick. On the other the streets of New York. Though I vastly prefer the mountains to the city, still there is something in a sax solo that tears at my heart the same as a Cedar Flute or a frailing banjo. We are what we are. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins -- the colors in it remind me of the colors in ourselves, a wonderful cacophony of influence that makes us Americans. Banjo by Tim, fiddle by Art, mandolin/guitar by Jesse, harmonica by RE, rhythm guitar by me and bass by Marianne.
Callin Me Home
The reason I built an off the grid home was that I could no longer bear using electricity generated from coal that I knew had been stripped from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. The Appalachian Mountains are some of the oldest in the world, with one of the richest bio diversities. And there is nothing clean about spills and cave ins. That being said, a great deal of Appalachian residents will fight for coal, and that is their right. I don't think it's an inherent love for the coal, though. I think if there were other industries located there, the love of coal, and the dangers in mining it, would dissolve rapidly. This is what I push for whenever I'm involved in a discussion of the issue. We must remember the people who need good jobs to survive, and ultimately it is their decision. However, I would beg them to find a better champion. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins. Picking guitar and lead vocal by me, harmonica by RE Otherson, bass by Danny Cecil, electric guitar by Matt Presby, and acoustic picking guitar is by Jesse Pena, harmonies by Brad and Genie.
Pure And Simple Friend
My father once told me how fortunate he felt his life had been because he had so many "pure and simple friends," and the phrase stayed with me. I think it's something to aim for, in this troubled world. With things the way they are now, I think people are getting back to realizing what is really important. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins - friendship as tenacious as ivy. I am singing lead and harmony and Louise Kelly is singing harmony.
Springtime In Kentucky
I left for New Jersey on a spring day in Kentucky after taking a last walk on my Dad's farm, and the song came to me from that experience. Now when I listen to it, I think of our young soldier who must leave their homes and families to go to war. This is one of my photos. Banjo by Tim, fiddle by Art, mandolin & guitar by Jesse, bass by Marianne, harmonies by Genie and Art, and I am singing lead and playing rhythm guitar.
October Sky
I don't know what it was about finding Lover, but the moment I laid eyes on her I thought she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. That I was able to call her mine brought me such great happiness. One beautiful October afternoon, spent with her in her paddock just hanging out, I laid down in the grass, and marveled at how totally comfortable I was with her 16 hand body chomping on grass right next to me and just soaked it all in. Now she is gone, and I am much older, but still, nearly 30 years later, I can remember the incredible peace I found that day. She taught me to strive to stay in the moment, to appreciate each moment, and not waste my time in fruitless worrying and stressing about the past or the future to come, which is very easy for me to do. That particular afternoon I was able to do just that, and I am so grateful for that memory now. Photo by Lisa D. Prichard. I am finger picking guitar, singing and playing Cedar Flute, Art is playing viola and Jesse Pena is playing rhythm guitar.
Katydid
This was the first song I ever wrote, written when I was 17. I wrote it about my grandmother, Thelma Morgan Hoskins, about being at her tiny cabin up in Nettie Holler, Trace Branch, Leslie Co., KY. I remember being outside at night just confounded by the sound of the Katydids, whom my grandmother called "bug people." Three nights after she died, back in the city, one lone Katydid attached itself to the screen outside my window and sang for about 15 minutes before it flew away. I have always felt it was Thelma checking in to let me know she was okay. Through the years there has always been something about their magical sound that has has brought peace to me on a summer's night. Photo by Kathy Lynn Hoskins. Banjo by Tom, mandolin by Noah, harmonica by Brad, bass by Dave, egg by Genie, guitar and vocal by me.