(woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by The Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

[guitars & violin play a folk-country beat] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I am just ♪ ♪ An ordinary man ♪ ♪ I've had my share of dreams ♪ ♪ And goals ambitions and plans ♪ ♪ And in my life ♪ ♪ I've walked many a hard road ♪ ♪ ♪ I've had some people ask me ♪ ♪ How do you do it without your sight ♪ ♪ Well you don't see with your eyes ♪ ♪ You see with your mind ♪ ♪ ♪ And do you really care about your life ♪ ♪ ♪ You've got to stand up for your rights ♪ ♪ And all that you believe in ♪ ♪ You got to never be afraid to be a force ♪ ♪ To reckon with always ♪ ♪ Yes I was born a blind stubborn man ♪ ♪ And I'll always be a blind stubborn man ♪ ♪ Until the day they lay me in the ground ♪ ♪ I'm not backin' down ♪ ♪ I won't be spun around ♪ ♪ ♪ I stand for all that I believe is right ♪ ♪ ♪ Yes I'll sing my songs ♪ ♪ Right or wrong ♪ ♪ Till I'm gone ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ As I walk the streets ♪ ♪ ♪ Of this old town ♪ ♪ I see all of those do-good people ♪ ♪ And the so-called trouble crowd ♪ ♪ They're all friends of mine ♪ ♪ Yeah I'll talk to 'em all out loud ♪ ♪ And in their time of problems ♪ ♪ I'll take some time to listen out ♪ ♪ Because I am a free man ♪ ♪ And I believe in God's plan ♪ ♪ It's being a friend ♪ ♪ That's what it's all about ♪ ♪ Folks take a look at yourselves ♪ ♪ Ask are you living well ♪ ♪ Or are you merely living in ♪ ♪ Some kind of a disguised hell ♪ ♪ You got one life to live ♪ ♪ And you better make the best of it ♪ ♪ While you still can ♪ My name is Matt Arthur, and we are the Matt Arthur Contraption.

Over here we're got Bill Patten who plays the guitar, and we have Faith Eskola who plays violin.

I'm from Ellendale, Minnesota and Bill and Faith are both from Minneapolis.

We're really happy to be here to play and share our music with you all.

I started out listening to country and gospel and polka music on the radio.

I heard Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson.

Later on in my life Tennessee Ernie Ford and Charlie Pride would have been big in my childhood too.

My process of writing songs, well, there's only a few things you need to know.

A friend of mine, Guy Burrow, he told me, well, you know, you just pack as many syllables in-between periods as possible.

[laughs] I don't write anything down.

I'm a blind man, and I just never did.

The songs basically write themselves, I think.

And my guitar playin' is the same way-- pretty simple, pretty basic.

You just put as many notes in there as you can manage to put.

To me, a song is sort of a conversation-- you're just talkin' to yourself.

You get an idea and you run with it.

Then you just keep runnin' it, workin' it, until you have what you want.

[finger-picking in country/folk style] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Lord I see the trouble risin' ♪ ♪ ♪ I feel the pain deep inside ♪ ♪ ♪ I wish I had a way to change it ♪ ♪ ♪ Maybe I just need a place to hide ♪ ♪ ♪ Sometimes you and I we really try ♪ ♪ ♪ To say the truth that's on our mind ♪ ♪ ♪ But it's too hard to cross the border ♪ ♪ ♪ That keeps us both on the wrong side ♪ ♪ ♪ Lord I see those demons risin' ♪ ♪ ♪ They're comin' on to cloud my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ And take me somewhere I don't need to go ♪ ♪ ♪ But you know they're just to hard to fight ♪ ♪ ♪ When I fall into the darkness ♪ ♪ ♪ And the dawn's nowhere in sight ♪ ♪ ♪ Will you lead me halfway down the road ♪ ♪ ♪ And walk beside me ♪ ♪ Through the night ♪ [guitar & violin solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ [instruments only; no vocals] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Lord I see the trouble risin' ♪ ♪ ♪ I feel the pain deep inside ♪ ♪ ♪ I wish I had a way to change it ♪ ♪ ♪ Maybe I just need ♪ ♪ A place to hide ♪ ♪ [strumming & finger-picking in traditional folk-country rhythm] ♪ ♪ Honey I see that fire burn ♪ ♪ On the horizon ♪ ♪ ♪ The smell of smoke ♪ ♪ Is heavy in the air ♪ ♪ ♪ No I can't tell just which way ♪ ♪ That fire's burnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ But it's sure looking like ♪ ♪ It's getting mighty near ♪ ♪ ♪ After all we've been through ♪ ♪ I sure hope we can make it through this ♪ ♪ ♪ It's hard to leave ♪ ♪ All you've ever known ♪ ♪ ♪ There will be a lot ♪ ♪ That we'll be missin' ♪ ♪ ♪ But I promise you honey ♪ ♪ I'll find us a new home ♪ ♪ But right now we gotta get runnin' ♪ Come on honey grab what you can, get in the car!

♪ We gotta get runnin' ♪ ♪ Yeah we gotta get runnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ We gotta get runnin' ♪ ♪ Wouldn't you know it!

They've got the highway shut down!!

♪ Not so sure Just how I'm gonna get us out of here!

♪ Kind of thinking ♪ Let's do something crazy ♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ It sure does look like Hell ♪ ♪ From here ♪ ♪ Well, I guess I'm just gonna have to take the ditch!

♪ ♪ Yeah drive right through that fire ♪ ♪ Honey this just might be it ♪ ♪ ♪ Can't stop now ♪ ♪ Honey don't you want to live ♪ ♪ Oh we've gotta keep it runnin' ♪ Come on old car you can't stall now!

♪ Gotta keep it runnin' ♪ ♪ Yeah we gotta keep it runnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Gotta keep it runnin' ♪ [violin solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We made it over the mountain, and now we're out of danger.

♪ It's hard to understand Just how or why we ever made it.

♪ ♪ All I can tell you honey is, I couldn't have done it without you.

♪ You and I will be runnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Deep in love forever runnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Forever runnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ On through time forever runnin' runnin'♪ ♪ Runnin' run run you and I forever runnin' ♪ ♪ Deep in love forever runnin' runnin' ♪ ♪ Runnin' runnin' runnin' you and I forever runnin' ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You and I forever runnin' ♪ ♪ Deep in love ♪ ♪ Forever runnin' ♪ ♪ [playing in a slow tempo country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ One of these days ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be leavin' ♪ ♪ ♪ Yes and I will ♪ ♪ ♪ Be gone to stay ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I don't know ♪ ♪ ♪ Just where I'll end up ♪ ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ It'll feel like home ♪ ♪ On that day ♪ ♪ ♪ One of these days ♪ ♪ ♪ We're gonna see some changes ♪ ♪ ♪ No haze of fear ♪ ♪ ♪ No fog of war ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I can already ♪ ♪ ♪ Imagine the sunshine ♪ ♪ ♪ And the peace I will feel ♪ ♪ On that day ♪ ♪ (Bill sings harmony with Matt) ♪ Yeah one of these days ♪ ♪ Yeah one of these days ♪ ♪ ♪ Our voices will blend ♪ ♪ And in harmony ♪ ♪ We'll sing ♪ ♪ Yeah one of these days ♪ ♪ We'll all stand ♪ ♪ Together ♪ ♪ Everyone will be free ♪ ♪ To live in peace ♪ ♪ One of these days ♪ ♪ With no ignorant hate ♪ ♪ ♪ No "me against you" ♪ Our song will rise up!

♪ And this dream ♪ ♪ Will ring true ♪ ♪ Yes the time is drawing near ♪ ♪ A change will come soon ♪ ♪ Yeah one of these days ♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah one of these days ♪ What do I hope people will take from my music?

Well, first of all, I hope they enjoy it.

And maybe even find a little inspiration for themselves.

I don't know.

I've had people come up to me and say, oh, such a great show, how they were so inspired by it, and some of the songs you know, they just mean a lot to people at the time when they hear 'em.

So I hope people take something good from them.

I used to have a friend who had had a whole bunch of brain surgeries, and things, and had a lot of medical problems, and a lot of pain issues, I said, how do you do that?

How do you make it work?

He said, "Well, it's worth it all."

So I took my guitar and put a song right down.

I took me about 10 minutes.

I turned 60 yesterday.

Somehow I thought it was just worth it to play it.

Livin's kinda worth it.

Don't matter how hard it gets.

[playing in fast-paced folk-country rhythm] ♪ ♪ As I've traveled ♪ ♪ This highway of life ♪ ♪ ♪ I think of all the friends ♪ ♪ That I've known in my time ♪ ♪ There are those still runnin' ♪ ♪ Others who have said goodbye ♪ ♪ But through it all ♪ ♪ Man it's been quite a life ♪ ♪ It's a real adventure ♪ ♪ Down these twistin' winding roads ♪ ♪ With oh so many exits ♪ ♪ I don't always know which way to go ♪ ♪ But you know you've been with me ♪ ♪ Every step of the way ♪ ♪ You've shown me kindness and mercy ♪ ♪ Even when I up and walked away ♪ ♪ Now I just want to thank you ♪ ♪ For what you've done for me always ♪ ♪ For being patient with me ♪ ♪ While I lived out my crazy days ♪ [violin & guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I should come ♪ ♪ To the end of my time ♪ ♪ And I must look back ♪ ♪ Upon this life of mine ♪ ♪ And if someone should ask me ♪ ♪ Was it really worth it all ♪ ♪ The pain and sorrow ♪ ♪ And the hard times I saw ♪ ♪ Let me tell you friend ♪ ♪ Yes it really was ♪ ♪ Worth all that trouble ♪ ♪ Even the times when I was really off the wall ♪ ♪ ♪ All the songs I've sung ♪ ♪ And the ones that I've lost ♪ ♪ Let me tell you buddy ♪ ♪ It was really worth it all ♪ [playing in country rhythm] ♪ Here I am ♪ ♪ On the edge ♪ ♪ At the bottom ♪ ♪ It seems ♪ ♪ This bottle is my only friend ♪ ♪ ♪ The gutter is my bed ♪ ♪ This is where I lay my head ♪ ♪ Lord it hurts to be on the edge ♪ ♪ At the bottom ♪ ♪ ♪ There once was a time ♪ ♪ I thought I really had it right ♪ ♪ Everything to make a man ♪ ♪ A good life ♪ ♪ ♪ Then my baby up and left ♪ ♪ Took all that I had ♪ ♪ Now here I am ♪ ♪ On the edge at the bottom ♪ ♪ (Bill sings harmony) ♪ Yeah here I am ♪ ♪ On the edge ♪ ♪ At the bottom ♪ ♪ Lord I'm drunk ♪ ♪ And all alone ♪ ♪ Without a friend ♪ ♪ ♪ There's no hope left in my heart ♪ ♪ I've got a hole in my soul ♪ ♪ Lord it hurts ♪ ♪ To be on the edge ♪ ♪ At the bottom ♪ All right.

[violin solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ Oh Lord, I wonder if you're really up there.

And do you even care?

♪ About a drunken, broken' man Sittin' here?

♪ Well Lord I pray you will come down And get me out of here!

♪ I can't take this awful livin' ♪ ♪ Another year ♪ ♪ ♪ And here I am ♪ ♪ On the edge at the bottom ♪ ♪ ♪ Lord I'm drunk and all alone ♪ ♪ Without a friend ♪ ♪ ♪ Please restore hope to my heart ♪ ♪ Fill this hole in my soul ♪ ♪ Don't you know it hurts ♪ ♪ To be on the edge ♪ ♪ At the bottom ♪ ♪ ♪ Yes here I am ♪ ♪ On the edge ♪ ♪ At the bottom ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Old man will your dog catch a rabbit ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Old man will your dog ♪ ♪ Catch a rabbit ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him buddy ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Old man will your horse tote double ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Old man will your horse tote double ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him buddy ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ I'm going to sail on that Mississippi River ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪ ♪ I'm going to sail on that Mississippi River ♪ ♪ Yes I am buddy ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sail on that Big Della Lee sir ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sail on that Big Della Lee sir ♪ ♪ Yes I am buddy ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪ ♪ Old man will your horse tote double ♪ We could take him and try him!

♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Old man will your horse tote double ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him buddy ♪ ♪ Let's take him and try him ♪ ♪ Old man will your daughter take company ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ Oh I don't know ♪ ♪ Old man will your daughter take company ♪ ♪ I don't know buddy ♪ ♪ Oh I don't know ♪ ♪ I don't know buddy ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ Whap!

(woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.