Bluegrass music, which Hornsby grew up with and has recorded, was developed by a mandolin player called Bill Monroe. The mandolin still plays an important part in traditional bluegrass music. In this song the narrator is listening to a bluegrass band and it takes him back to a time in his youth when he was in a relationship with a girl. Basically Hornsby paints a picture of a band playing in a tent by a lake i.e. very traditional folk america and couples it with pain we all feel about that first love which got away. I think that the nostalgic image of old America - bluegrass, steamboat - ties in brilliantly with nostalgia for young romance.
I was very young when this song came out but it lodged in my subconsciousness. When i heard it again for the first time in my early 20's i actually cried, it triggered something in me. Cheers Bruce, one of the best musicians of our time.
Bluegrass music, which Hornsby grew up with and has recorded, was developed by a mandolin player called Bill Monroe. The mandolin still plays an important part in traditional bluegrass music. In this song the narrator is listening to a bluegrass band and it takes him back to a time in his youth when he was in a relationship with a girl. Basically Hornsby paints a picture of a band playing in a tent by a lake i.e. very traditional folk america and couples it with pain we all feel about that first love which got away. I think that the nostalgic image of old America - bluegrass, steamboat - ties in brilliantly with nostalgia for young romance. I was very young when this song came out but it lodged in my subconsciousness. When i heard it again for the first time in my early 20's i actually cried, it triggered something in me. Cheers Bruce, one of the best musicians of our time.