(woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the North Dakota Council on the Arts and by the members of Prairie Public.

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[guitar plays in country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm just an old Dakota plow boy ♪ ♪ Who is trying to make a living with my song ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I hope to sing it well enough ♪ ♪ That all the world would like to sing along ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I think you can understand me ♪ ♪ When I say this is something I must do ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Let's come to an understanding ♪ ♪ I have got something to say to you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ Follow your dreams ♪ ♪ Don't look back ♪ ♪ Live every day like it could be your last ♪ ♪ No regrets ♪ ♪ Live this way and you're sure to go far ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I spent a lot of years pretending I could do ♪ ♪ What others wanted me to do ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Until at night words came to haunt me saying ♪ ♪ Son to thine own self be true ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I think you can understand ♪ ♪ There came a point when I thought I would explode ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And here I am just being who I am ♪ ♪ And living on the road ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ Follow your dreams ♪ ♪ Don't look back ♪ ♪ Live every day like it could be your last ♪ ♪ No regrets ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Live this way and you're sure to go far ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And you may not get rich ♪ ♪ But you'll be happy ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Follow your dreams ♪ ♪ It will be okay ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ Follow your dreams ♪ ♪ Don't look back ♪ ♪ Live every day like it could be your last ♪ ♪ No regrets ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Live this way and you're sure to go far ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ Live this way and you're sure to go far ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be who you are ♪ ♪ ♪ Hi there, my name is Greg Hager, I come from Valley City, North Dakota.

When I was 7 years old I learned to play guitar, and I wrote my very first song.

I knew at the age of 7 that I wanted to use music to make connections with people and to try to make a difference in their lives.

The style of music that I feel lets me best connect with that is a western style of country and country gospel.

So the music that I write falls into that category and tells the stories of life, living and love, cattle, country, and faith.

♪ Out on the prairie I move around ♪ ♪ Some say I'm a drifter ♪ ♪ Like snow on the ground ♪ The typical concerts that I put on is what the industry calls listening entertainment.

And like the great entertainers of old, that would make an experience that you'd get to the end of it and not want it to be over.

Oftentimes the way that I weave spoken word and introduction into the song makes it one seamless and fluid motion from start until finish.

So the music that I've shared today with the Prairie Musicians program is aspects of life and living and love and really the things that show that we're all common no matter where we come from in life-- that we have similarities and likes and that we're human.

[finger-picking in a melodic country folk style] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The mysteries of nature ♪ ♪ Cannot be explained by man ♪ ♪ The same thing goes for love ♪ ♪ Oh they've tried but no one can ♪ ♪ Just take a look around you ♪ ♪ See the way that things are here ♪ ♪ And notice how the skyline ♪ ♪ Always seems so far from here ♪ ♪ And this in the northern land ♪ ♪ Oh the sights are grand ♪ ♪ Come take me by the hand ♪ ♪ And we will walk together ♪ ♪ For when you are here with me ♪ ♪ More than the land is free ♪ ♪ I hope you now can see ♪ ♪ The way that life can be ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The babbling of a small brook ♪ ♪ And the swaying of the trees ♪ ♪ The meadows with their flowers ♪ ♪ And the whispers of the breeze ♪ ♪ All paint a perfect picture ♪ ♪ On the canvas of the ground ♪ ♪ A finer place on earth for love to grow ♪ ♪ Can nevermore be found ♪ ♪ And this in the northern land ♪ ♪ Oh the sights are grand ♪ ♪ Come take me by the hand ♪ ♪ And we will walk together ♪ ♪ For when you are here with me ♪ ♪ More than the land is free ♪ ♪ And I hope you now can see ♪ ♪ The way that life can be ♪ ♪ It's in the northern land ♪ ♪ Oh oh the sights are grand ♪ ♪ Come take me by the hand ♪ ♪ And we will walk together ♪ ♪ For when you are here with me ♪ ♪ More than the land is free ♪ ♪ And I hope you now can see ♪ ♪ The way that life can be ♪ ♪ ♪ [finger-picking in a melodic country folk style] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Out on the prairie ♪ ♪ I move around ♪ ♪ Some say I'm a drifter ♪ ♪ Like snow on the ground ♪ ♪ That's here for a season ♪ ♪ And gone by the spring ♪ ♪ As soon as the meadowlarks sing ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Always their voices ♪ ♪ Are calling to me ♪ ♪ Beckoning onward ♪ ♪ "There's more you should see" ♪ ♪ Ride on old drover ♪ ♪ Just ride towards the west ♪ ♪ The life of a cowboy is blessed ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Some think I'm riding for wealth or for fame ♪ ♪ Some think I'm running, a woman to blame ♪ ♪ I can't escape it I'll always ride tall ♪ ♪ While trails and the cattle still call ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Always their voices ♪ ♪ Are calling to me ♪ ♪ Beckoning onward ♪ ♪ "There's more you should see" ♪ ♪ Ride on old drover ♪ ♪ Just ride towards the west ♪ ♪ The life of a cowboy is blessed ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Always their voices ♪ ♪ Are calling to me ♪ ♪ Beckoning onward ♪ ♪ "There's more you should see" ♪ ♪ Ride on old drover ♪ ♪ Just ride towards the west ♪ ♪ The life of a cowboy is blessed ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [finger-picking in bright folk-country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Now I'm so far away ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ What else can I say ♪ ♪ I wish I were there with you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You know it's true ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We talk on the phone ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But I am still alone ♪ ♪ Your voice helps me through ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ What I do for you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's hard to live like this ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Knowing all I miss ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And In a little while ♪ ♪ I will see your smile ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I will kiss your face ♪ ♪ And feel your warm embrace ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In love is how we live ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And love is always true ♪ ♪ Doing what it takes ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Till I get home to you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Living on the road ♪ ♪ Despite what I was told ♪ ♪ Doesn't make you free and clean ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's lonely in-between ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I've got miles to go ♪ ♪ And I want you to know ♪ ♪ They don't give me thrills ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But they pay the bills ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm doing all I can ♪ ♪ I'm proud to me your man ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And In a little while I will see your smile ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I will kiss your face ♪ ♪ And feel your warm embrace ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In love is how we live ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And love is always true ♪ ♪ Doing what it takes ♪ ♪ Till I get home to you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In love is how we live ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And love is always true ♪ ♪ Doing what it takes ♪ ♪ Till I get home to you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh just doing what it takes ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Till I get home to you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Joining me on this next song is my wife, Andrea, I call this song In the Valley Below, and it paints a picture of perspective.

Now I've climbed to a lot of mountaintops and I've looked down at valleys below and seen from the top where real life and real living takes place.

That it isn't the mountaintop experiences, it's the valleys where real living takes place.

[playing in country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Sitting high in the saddle ♪ ♪ The whole world seems so clear ♪ ♪ The only things that matter to me ♪ ♪ Are what I see from here ♪ ♪ She's tending the garden ♪ ♪ I watch the children grow ♪ ♪ And I see the cattle grazing ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where the greenest grass is ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ And that's where the shade trees are ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where the water's sweet ♪ ♪ And home is never too far ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where I run for shelter ♪ ♪ When the wind starts to blow ♪ ♪ And I know I'll stay forever ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I've been riding for years now ♪ ♪ On this same old piece of land ♪ ♪ I see wire and cedar borders ♪ ♪ That were placed by my hand ♪ ♪ The prairie is changing ♪ ♪ A natural ebb and flow ♪ ♪ And I hope my final ride is ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where the greenest grass is ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ And that's where the shade trees are ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where the water's sweet ♪ ♪ And home is never too far ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where I run for shelter ♪ ♪ When the wind starts to blow ♪ ♪ And I know I'll stay forever ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where the greenest grass is ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ And that's where the shade trees are ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where the water's sweet ♪ ♪ And home is never too far ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ That's where I run for shelter ♪ ♪ When the wind starts to blow ♪ ♪ And I know I'll stay forever ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ In the valley below ♪ ♪ ♪ [finger-picking in country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ Though the fig tree does not blossom ♪ ♪ And there are no crops in the field ♪ ♪ I will never get discouraged ♪ ♪ For God will bring abundant yield ♪ ♪ When the fruit of all my labor ♪ ♪ Doesn't get me anywhere ♪ ♪ I'll still be joyful in my Savior ♪ ♪ And I'll thank Him then and there ♪ ♪ 'Cause He's my light He's my song ♪ ♪ He's my strength to carry on ♪ ♪ It's by His grace that I've been freed ♪ ♪ He's the answer to my need ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ There are times where I am tempted ♪ ♪ When the road is steep and long ♪ ♪ To go the path of least resistance ♪ ♪ And keep walking with the throng ♪ ♪ But then He calls and I look upwards ♪ ♪ And I see His better way ♪ ♪ It's only when I look at Jesus ♪ ♪ That I can stand up here and say ♪ ♪ That He's my light He's my song ♪ ♪ He's my strength to carry on ♪ ♪ It's by His grace that I've been freed ♪ ♪ He's the answer to my need ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I know my life is like a garden ♪ ♪ With many fruits that could be grown ♪ ♪ I also know that God is careful ♪ ♪ With the seeds that He has sown ♪ ♪ There are droughts and times of thirsting ♪ ♪ When I'm praying for His rain ♪ ♪ And there are times of sweet refreshing ♪ ♪ Through both I'll raise my voice again ♪ ♪ 'Cause He's my light He's my song ♪ ♪ He's my strength to carry on ♪ ♪ It's by His grace that I've been freed ♪ ♪ He's the answer to my need ♪ ♪ And He's my light He's my song ♪ ♪ He's my strength to carry on ♪ ♪ It's by His grace that I've been freed ♪ ♪ He's the answer to my need ♪ ♪ He's the answer to my need ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [finger-picking in bright rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's not just the state of Texas ♪ ♪ Though it could be ♪ ♪ Out in Oklahoma ♪ ♪ That you will see ♪ ♪ In Utah or Dakota where they tend the land ♪ ♪ Wyoming and Montana or the desert sand ♪ ♪ From Arkansas to Michigan you'll find ♪ ♪ What makes you a cowboy is the state of mind ♪ ♪ State of mind ♪ ♪ You don't have to go that far ♪ ♪ And you will find ♪ ♪ No matter where you are ♪ ♪ It's more than just the place you hang your hat ♪ ♪ My friend it's really so much more than that ♪ ♪ It's the state of mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I've seen it in Nebraska but not only there ♪ ♪ Iowa and Illinois have got their share ♪ ♪ In fact across this land of ours from sea to sea ♪ ♪ From Florida to Washington there will be ♪ ♪ Through Canada and New Mexico you'll find ♪ ♪ What makes you a cowboy ♪ ♪ Is the state of mind ♪ ♪ State of mind ♪ ♪ You don't have to go that far ♪ ♪ And you will find ♪ ♪ No matter where you are ♪ ♪ It's more than just the place you hang your hat ♪ ♪ My friend it's really so much more than that ♪ ♪ It's the state of mind ♪ ♪ State of mind ♪ ♪ You don't have to go that far ♪ ♪ And you will find ♪ ♪ No matter where you are ♪ ♪ It's more than just the place you hang your hat ♪ ♪ My friend it's really so much more than that ♪ ♪ It's the state of mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's the state of mind ♪ ♪ ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the North Dakota Council on the Arts and by the members of Prairie Public.