Sawdust
Noah Gordon/Louie Parker
Roberta: "My favorite of the bunch, for emotion. Gary and I needed original music on this CD and asked our son Noah to write something for us. He is a great writer, and how special that he sat down and thought of us, our love and the years we had performed as he grew up. He tailored a beautiful song for us with a message about our love of nature. Even better, he teamed up with our lifelong friend, Louie Parker, who co-wrote the number with him. And if that weren't enough, Noah trades lines with his father on the song - when we all three come in on harmony in the chorus, I get joy in my heart."
Gary: "Both I and Mr. Parker have worked in the sawmill. Hard, dangerous work, we tip our hats to those fellow workers. Let's conserve our forests, instead of throwing them in the trash can."
Johnny Bring The Jug Around The Hill
public domain
Roberta: "We left the choice to David Johnson to pick an
instrumental number to show off his fiddling. I love it because it's traditional,
exciting and raw bluegrass! Then when Katz played mandolin as well, what
can I say, - we are so proud to work with such tremendous players."
Gary: "Nothing fancy or high fallutin' here. A traditional
tune David learned from Iowa fiddler Al Murphy. Plain fun."
Thy Burdens Are Greater Than Mine
Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart
Roberta: "A favorite of mine and Gary's for many years.
Since the '70s, anytime I met or saw a person in a wheelchair or limping,
I would sing this song to myself, sometimes out loud, if I was driving."
Gary: "A reminder for me to count my blessings. The health,
family and friends I have are precious gifts."
Kentucky In The Morning
Tom T. Hall
Roberta: "Our cousin Curtis, Gary and I agreed on this number.
I was more than delighted to do the song. Tom T. Hall was a favorite of
my father."
Gary: "A tribute to a beautiful state. Home of the father
of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. Written by one of our favorite songwriters."
End Of A Long Hard Day
Gretchen Peters
Roberta: "Gary researched this, feeling we should do something
written by Gretchen Peters, knowing she is a great writer. Her publishing
company was very nice and eager to send us some of her things. We chose
this song feeling we could make it ours by doing it duet style. I really
like the message towards marriage or relationships in general. All you
need is love!"
Gary: "This makes me aware of the need to share love and
affection through good times and bad. When I'm tired from a job well done,
that's a real good feeling."
The Old School
Gary Gordon
Roberta: "Very warm and close to home. A job well done.
I'm proud of Gary's story song about a real place in the field by our home,
where an old school sat. People really do ask us if there's anything left
of the school, because the know we live by it."
Gary: "A true song about a real place near our home. I knew
the lady that was the last teacher the little one room school had. As I'd
walk past, I'd always envision a scene from years gone by. Horses tied
outside, kids in the schoolyard, smoke from the chimney. A return to a
simpler time."
