Lyr Add: Montana

Subject: ADD: Montana^^
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Sep 01 - 05:46 AM

With many thanks to all the contributors in this thread here's a Jerry Rasmussen song simply called Montana. I just love it how he takes a small insignificant family story, one of those that gives you a smile when you look at an old picture, and makes a full blown song out of it. It's the story about his dad's first love.

Wolfgang

MONTANA
(Jerry Rasmussen)

1. It's the hell of a drive just to say hello
And how are you doing and I miss you so
And why did you have to move so far away
Why to move all the way to Montana

Chorus: There's an old yellow photograph from way out West
And you know that the picture tells the story best
When you're young and in love you drive a million miles
Or at least all the way to Montana.

2. It's a long way from knickers and the (high-cut) boots
To a parting down the middle and the brand-new suit.
He could pick any girl in the neighborhood
So he picks one who moves to Montana.

3. So he cranked up his Model T and headed West
Just to prove that his love for her could stand the test.
He pulled into Sydney and he tracked her down
Love can boom even out in Montana.

4. With his hands in his pockets and his shirt-tails up
He could tell in a minute that the fire gone out.
And there's no sense in mooning like a love-sick fool
Who would drive all the way to Montana.

5. Now I s'pose I should tell you how the story ends
And how my dad met my mam and where I began.
From the first time they met he was (c/h)ooked for good
And she'd never even been to Montana.^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Noreen
Date: 11 Sep 01 - 09:23 AM

Lovely, Wolfgang. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Sep 01 - 06:42 PM

love can BLOOM!....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Sep 01 - 06:46 PM

a search on the phrase "Love in Bloom" yields VERY many hits. It is an old song and a very common English phrase.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Sep 01 - 07:50 PM

Whatever! It's a great song! Thanks for working so hard on it.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 11 Sep 01 - 11:43 PM

G'day Wolfgang,

I was planning to e-mail Jerry today ... and stalling with all the angst of yesterday's events ... perhaps a side issue is a blessing. I'll report back if Jerry has any complaints about your hearing.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 05:06 AM

Bob,

I'd love to hear from Jerry what's correct but my mind also hasn't been on music since yesterday, so it has time.

I agree that 'Love can bloom' makes more sense, but I don't hear the 'l' I'm afraid.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 12:39 PM

I got a mail from the writer and I can tell you now that in both dubious cases the obvious best-guess solution was the correct one. If I have not made another mistake, the correct lyrics are below.

Wolfgang

MONTANA
(Jerry Rasmussen)

1. It's the hell of a drive just to say hello
And how are you doing and I miss you so
And why did you have to move so far away
Why to move all the way to Montana

Chorus: There's an old yellow photograph from way out West
And you know that the picture tells the story best
When you're young and in love you drive a million miles
Or at least all the way to Montana.

2. It's a long way from knickers and the high-cut boots
To a parting down the middle and the brand-new suit.
He could pick any girl in the neighborhood
So he picks one who moves to Montana.

3. So he cranked up his Model T and headed West
Just to prove that his love for her could stand the test.
He pulled into Sydney and he tracked her down
Love can bloom, even out in Montana.

4. With his hands in his pockets and his shirt-tails up
He could tell in a minute that the fire gone out.
And there's no sense in mooning like a love-sick fool
Who would drive all the way to Montana.

5. Now I s'pose I should tell you how the story ends
And how my dad met my mam and where I began.
From the first time they met he was hooked for good
And she'd never even been to Montana.^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: Alice
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 03:49 PM

As in other parts of the country yesterday, we were aware not only of what was happening in NY and DC, but that everywhere, military planes, ambulances, and emergency personnel began to move in place and take actions. Sirens from the firestation next to where I work were going off through the morning. Near where I live in Bozeman, Montana, the resort of Big Sky had a meeting going on of FEMA personnel and emergency and safety personnel from states all over the US. When the Trade Center was hit, and the airport closed here, military planes came in to the airport at Bozeman to ferry the FEMA personnel and others who were at the meeting back to NYC, DC, and their other home states. Because Malmstrom Air Force Base is in Great Falls, on the highline, and missile silos are located in Montana, there is a strategic response happening, even in Montana.

Montana seems far from everyone, but we are virtually as close as anyone else in this technologically connected world. The town of Sidney, Montana, in the lyrics, is in the north east part of the state, near the North Dakota border. The northern part near Canada is called the "highline". My father and many of his relatives left the Scranton, Pennsylvania, coal mines, to go to Montana to work for the Great Northern Railway, on the highline. My father followed his older brothers Peter and James, and other relatives, to go to Montana when he was 14 and work on the railway.

Here is a photo of one of James and Peter Flynn's friends, who would commute on the old dirt roads from Scranton, PA, to Musselshell, Montana. He drove this old Harley with a side car. I believe the man's name was Carl Schmidt. Left to right, the people in the photo are Carl Schmidt, Peter Flynn, Molly Flynn (Pete's wife), and James Flynn.

I have a large stack of letters my mother saved from the time she met my dad and when they were married. In that stack, I found the letter in which he first told her that he loved her. He beat around the bush for two pages until he got to it on page three. The date is November 23, 1939, and he was writing from the depot at Judith Gap, where he was working. My mother was living with his older brother Pete, because Molly was ill and needed extra help. My sisters from his first marriage were living with Molly and Pete, and my mother was taking care of the children. He wrote, "I've missed your letters from the last few days, and I'm darn lonesome this morning. Wish I could be down there with you this beautiful thanksgiving day... I was dead tired when I got here. I'm staying at the hotel, and there is a Beer Joint in Connection, they play the Nickel phonograph all day long. Didn't get much sleep yesterday but suppose I will get used to it in time... This midnight to light am shift isn't so hot But it pays 75 cents an hour, and I'm closer to home so will stick it out as long as I can.... Guess I better stop crabbing as you'll think I do nothing else but complain. (he starts to close the letter, then begins another page) I am just wondering, Vivian, if you will think me a cad if I tell you something I have tried to keep secret for quite some time. I know I haven't the right to say this but can't keep it any longer. Wanted to talk to you the last time I was down there and I think you knew it too. Well my dear I love you and have ever since last spring when I got to know you and found out what a wonderful girl you really are. It's said now. It has grown upon me more since I left this last time. I think of you every day I just couldn't help but tell you Vivian and hope you don't feel angry toward me for doing so. There is no harm in my loving you ........ if it's your wish we will say no more. But you can't stop me from loving you. Give my love to Molly, Pete, and the Girls, and please write soon. With love to you, Leo"

Thanks for the song, Wolfgang.

Alice Flynn in Montana

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Montana
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 04:22 PM

Alice - I was just about to jump in and let Wolfgang know it was spelled "Sidney" when I read your post. Lovely story, and what a great find in terms of family history/genealogy ! We've got to get together again and make music sometime. Les.