I'm reminded of a gig around Christmas a couple of years ago. My daughter (whistles & recorders) and I (guitar) were playing for a local nursing home group. A woman, one of the patients, stared at the floor through the first half-hour or so. Then, we'd just started to play "Never-the-less, I'm in Love With You" by Ruby/Kalmar (1931) - she jerked her head up, looked right at us and burst into tears. Couldn't be consoled by the staff and had to be wheeled out of the room still sobbing.

Now, it could be the old "what's the matter, Ma'am, are we making you homesick?" "No, son, I'm a musician" thing, but it seemed like this song had some deep meaning for her. I'll be back there in a couple of weeks but am not doing that song.

- Merritt