(transition whoosh) (water splashing) (light music) - [Carolyn] I'm Carolyn Currie, singer, songwriter, mother and lover of music.

Join me as I listen to and speak with some of Maine's premier musical artists on "Sound Waves".

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(soft music continues) - [Carolyn] All right.

So Denny, the song "Daughter's Daughter".

- Yes.

- You're gonna play it for us.

It's a beautiful, beautiful, soulful song.

- Thank you.

- About holding a baby.

- Yeah.

- A granddaughter?

- My granddaughter, my first.

- So tell me about it.

- Well, for, well, you'd asked me about songwriting a little while ago.

- [Carolyn] Yeah.

- And what the process is.

And, in that case, a lot of my songs happened because of profound experiences in my life.

- Right.

- And my first granddaughter was certainly one of them.

And I remember I was at my camp and I was walking around with my guitar on thinking, what am I gonna, how can I, I just couldn't come up with anything.

And then holding my daughter's daughter fell out and the rest of it just went (exhales).

(hand smacks) - Oh, that's so great.

- And that's just how it happens most of the time.

You know, you get that first line and everything, and then sometimes, you know, you fish and you fish.

And what rhymes with this?

And how can I make it make sense?

And then you take a verse and put it here and the chorus here, and you go, ah, I don't like that.

Let's put this verse there.

And maybe, you know- - Yeah.

- It's a whole process, it really is.

But- - Yeah.

- That particular song was just because it was my first granddaughter and I was so in love with her.

- Isn't that interesting?

So did you write songs for your kids as well?

- Oh, absolutely.

- [Carolyn] Oh, good.

- Yeah, yeah.

- [Carolyn] Good.

- Absolutely.

And, my mom (laughs), it's just a funny story.

I want to get this in.

- No, no, do it, do it, do it.

- When my father passed away, I wrote a song called, "There's a Lot of My Old Man and Me."

- Yeah.

- Country Tune.

And when Lenny passed, I wrote a song called, "If You Could Hear Me Now, Listen to You Living In Me."

- Oh.

- And my mom pulled me aside one day and said, "Denny, she said, you're not gonna wait until I die to write a song, are you?"

(both chuckle) So, I sat down and wrote "Shining Star" for her and probably should have played it, but didn't.

So, maybe on the next time.

- Did she cry?

- Oh, we both did.

(Denny laughs) - Oh, I know.

That's bad when you can't get through 'em.

- I'm a big soft heart when it comes to that stuff.

It took me probably- - That so surprising.

- Six months to not cry when I sang "Daughter's Daughter" out in public, you know?

- I know.

- Get halfway through and get all choked up.

Come on, Denny, get your- - No, I think people like it when you sometimes fall apart.

- Well, the emotion is real.

- [Carolyn] Yeah.

- You know?

- And- - And I think when people get too smooth when they're performing and they're out all the time, I think you kinda lose that.

And I- - Well, it becomes- - [Both] Yeah.

- Yeah.

I think you do.

And you don't connect with the audience that way.

- [Carolyn] Yeah.

- Yeah, if you get too far away from it, it doesn't mean anything to you anymore.

- No.

- You know, and then you don't get that- That feeling.

- No.

And it's funny that you can play it again and again and again and then suddenly one day on the stage, it just goes (lip pops).

- Yeah.

- And you sit there weeping and try not to.

- Yeah, yeah.

- It just happens.

- Yeah.

- Certainly.

- Well that is a beautiful, beautiful song and tender.

So tender.

- [Denny] Thank you.

Thank you.

- [Carolyn] So, just lovely.

- [Denny] Thanks.

(melodic music) ♪ When I'm holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ I feel like a king ♪ I hope she likes the pretty things that I bought her ♪ ♪ She likes it when I sing ♪ And I know she'll be no stranger to the water ♪ ♪ Just jump right in ♪ And I know I'm ready for the joy ♪ ♪ That she will bring you and me ♪ ♪ Here we go again ♪ And when I'm holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ The world's a better place ♪ I see peace, love, innocence ♪ On a tiny face ♪ She's a new day sun ♪ Shining from above ♪ In a tropical dream ♪ Wake up, wake up ♪ My little angel ♪ I honor (indistinct) ♪ She's a precious little jewel ♪ ♪ To be taken to the heart ♪ And may she grow up to be strong and proud ♪ ♪ May she waltz through all of life's changes ♪ ♪ When she sings, sing it loud ♪ And when I holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ Chills run up my spine ♪ I wished your mother and the fathers could have seen her ♪ ♪ Taken before their time ♪ But she's a new day sun ♪ And shining from above ♪ In a tropical dream ♪ Wake up, wake up ♪ My little angel ♪ I honor (indistinct) ♪ When I'm holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ Feel just like a king ♪ When I'm holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ I don't need a thing ♪ When I'm holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ When I'm holding my daughter's daughter ♪ ♪ Mm (soft music) - [Denny] You guys ready?

Okay.

One, ah, two, ah, one, two, three.

(melodic music) ♪ Now there's this little thing I've been addicted to ♪ ♪ So many times well I've said we're through ♪ ♪ But I just keep on walking right back to you ♪ ♪ 'Cause one helping's so good ♪ I thank I'll have two ♪ God only knows how much I love to eat.

♪ ♪ They simmer for hours, chuck roast meat ♪ ♪ Bang for the buck just can't be beaten ♪ ♪ And if you got anything left, you make a fricassee ♪ ♪ I will the pot roast ♪ So bovine pot roast ♪ Talking about dinner on a dime ♪ ♪ Pot roast with a little red wine ♪ ♪ Some mash with gravy going to blow your mind ♪ ♪ I said a pot roast ♪ For all your guests ♪ Pot roast, baby ♪ Hell, why not feed you the best ♪ ♪ Pot roast I'm feeling blessed ♪ ♪ And if you think you are through ♪ ♪ I could finish the rest of your pot roast ♪ ♪ You ain't gonna throw that away, are you ♪ ♪ I'll eat that, ow (melodic guitar music) (melodic guitar music continues) ♪ Makes no difference whether you're black or white ♪ ♪ Protestant, Catholic, left or right ♪ ♪ You know, we got this one thing in common ♪ ♪ We all love the kids and a wife ♪ ♪ But it's that crockpot that's calling me home tonight ♪ ♪ And you can keep your chickens, your turkeys and your hams ♪ ♪ And your cranberry stuff and those candied yams ♪ ♪ When that next holiday comes rolling around, baby ♪ ♪ For me it all come down to pot roast, ♪ ♪ So bovine pot roast ♪ Talking about dinner on the dime, pot roast ♪ ♪ Oh, you ought to taste mine ♪ Some mash with gravy going blow your mind ♪ ♪ Yes a couple of cloves of garlic, sour cream ♪ ♪ Wanna smell that smell makes me wanna scream ♪ ♪ About pot roast ♪ For all your guests, yeah ♪ Pod roast, baby ♪ Hell, why not feed you the best ♪ ♪ Pot roast, I'm feeling blessed ♪ ♪ And if you think you are through, I could finish the rest ♪ ♪ Of your pod roast, mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ Honey, any more gravy left ♪ Pass the shroom, here we go (melodic guitar music) - I am getting hungry, Billy (chuckles).

- [Carolyn] I am pretty sure nobody's ever used the word crockpot in a song before.

- Well, you know, it's funny on that song, it didn't start out to be about pot roast.

It started out the other way around being roasted on- - Oh.

- And it came out pot roast.

And I thought, wow, that's a funny song, you know?

And people, everywhere I go, I gotta play that song.

- [Carolyn] I hear you make a mean pot roast too.

- I do (laughs).

Not bragging but it's pretty- - Do we wanna know know- - Freaking good.

- What's your secret?

Don't tell.

- My secret is lots of love.

- Oh, that's good, okay.

- Yeah, that's my secret.

I love cooking.

I do.

- [Carolyn] That's good.

(soft music) (soft music continues) (melodic music) (upbeat music) ♪ That Billy was a rebel ♪ Has to have been the devil ♪ His smile like old James Dean ♪ ♪ Cannot be a better rider ♪ He lived on a rattle ♪ Chasing down his only dream ♪ Anyone's a honey ♪ Trying to make some money ♪ Working nine to five and up ♪ But Billy came along his love burning strong ♪ ♪ I was waiting right outside ♪ Said oh, come on I need your big, hold on tight ♪ ♪ Light that fire in your eyes ♪ Oh, come on out and run away with me ♪ ♪ We'll live on love ♪ Wild and free (melodic music continues) ♪ Well we're rolling down the highway ♪ ♪ Hunted by the flyaway ♪ Hair blowing in the sun ♪ With Billy at the wheel ♪ And this station like a wild horse on a run ♪ ♪ Oh, come on I need your big hold on tight ♪ ♪ Light that fire in your eyes ♪ Oh, come on out and run away with me ♪ ♪ We'll live on love ♪ Wild and free (upbeat music continues) ♪ The last we ever heard, just a couple of words ♪ ♪ Boy starved himself on tour ♪ A true young desperado, you can hear the rattle ♪ ♪ Hair down in Mexico ♪ Oh, come on I need your big hold on tight ♪ ♪ Light that fire in your eyes ♪ Oh, come on out and run away with me ♪ ♪ We'll live on love ♪ Wild and free ♪ Oh, wild and free ♪ Yeah (upbeat music continues) - This is a waltz that I wrote a few years ago now.

It was around a full moon and I was having a little bit of difficulty sleeping in the middle of the night.

And I found myself laying there and thinking about some older fiddle players that I was so lucky to learn from and listen to and play with as a kid.

And just remember being a little bit sad when I came to the realization that a lot of them were no longer here anymore.

So this tune kind of came to me in bits and pieces over the course of a few nights, and it's called the "Moonstruck Waltz."

(violin strums) Ah, one, two, three, one, two.

(melodic country music) (melodic country music continues) (banjo plays) (melodic country music continues) (melodic country music continues) (upbeat country music) ♪ Maybe there's a reason for love and joy ♪ ♪ May man's gotta do only thing a man knows ♪ ♪ No one's gotta worry, dog's gotta hunt ♪ ♪ I'm living on rock 'n roll ♪ I can make you wanna laugh, I can make you cry ♪ ♪ Nobody can (indistinct) get me high ♪ ♪ Thank you very much, I don't mind if I do ♪ ♪ I'm living on rock 'n roll ♪ I can admit a lot of things ♪ With a lot better pay ♪ I got six inch deals and a mention to play ♪ ♪ I got a damn good job so hell with the money ♪ ♪ I'm living rock 'n roll ♪ Living on rock 'n roll (upbeat country music continues) ♪ Me and the tax man never got along ♪ ♪ So my bank account empty but it's rich in soul ♪ ♪ I don't know why I won't do it any other way ♪ ♪ I'm living on rock 'n roll ♪ I got a good girl ♪ Who works a nine to shift June ♪ ♪ Who's (indistinct) the June box blues ♪ ♪ (indistinct) we're a pretty good team ♪ ♪ We're living on rock 'n roll ♪ I can admit a lot of things ♪ And a lot of better ways ♪ I got six inch deals and a mention to play ♪ ♪ I got a damn good job so hell with the money ♪ ♪ I'm living on rock 'n roll ♪ Living on rock 'n roll ♪ Living on rock 'n roll (upbeat country music continues) (guitar plays) (upbeat country music continues) (soft music) ♪ Are you picking on the strings ♪ ♪ Because the strings being too ♪ ♪ Are you feeling like you're living in a dream or two ♪ ♪ Does it make it all worth it when the people sing along ♪ ♪ You living on rock 'n roll ♪ Can admit a lot of things ♪ With a lot better pay, I got six inch strings ♪ ♪ And a mention to play ♪ Having a damn good time so hell with the money ♪ ♪ I'm living on rock 'n roll ♪ I can admit a lot things ♪ With a lot better pay ♪ I got six inch deals and a mention to play ♪ ♪ I'm having a good damn time so hell with the money ♪ ♪ I'm living on rock 'n roll ♪ Living on rock 'n roll ♪ Living on rock 'n roll ♪ Living on rock 'n roll (upbeat music continues) (soft music) (drums hit) (soft music) - [Carolyn] So you took a Bob Dylan song- - [Noel] Yeah.

- "Blowing in the Wind".

- Yeah.

- Before Bob Dylan was explosively huge.

- Yes, that's true.

And- - And also a John Denver song.

- Yes.

- [Both] "Leaving on a Jetplane".

- Before John Denver was explosively huge.

- That's right.

- And you exploded those songs and shown a spotlight on these two men who became huge.

- Mm.

- How much responsibility do you wanna take for that?

- Again, it's a sign of the times.

It was radio who had control of the microphone.

- [Carolyn] Right.

- Dylan didn't.

- [Carolyn] Yeah.

- You know?

John Denver didn't.

But, John Denver was a prolific songwriter whose musical council was Milt Okun, who happened to be our arranger.

For, when I say arranger, he was the scorekeeper.

- [Carolyn] Yeah.

- I mean that like a musical scorekeeper.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Like we would come in and Mary would go, da da da da.

And Milt would go, no, no, no.

That isn't what you did the last time you were here.

And he would be the reminder- - Yes, (indistinct).

- Because he could write it on paper.

- Yeah.

- So, John Denver was part of Milt Okun's crew.

And Dylan really was, well, let me tell you how Bob Dylan and Albert Grossman got together.

At least, I can claim some credit there.

Dylan came into the Gaslighted Greenwich Village in early sixties, maybe late fifties.

Asked if he could do a set.

Many folkies did.

- [Carolyn] Mm-hm.

- You know, we had a regular crew, but we would always have guest sets.

And I said, sure, I'll work you in.

I was the master of ceremonies 'cause I was, as I said, comfortable introducing people as well.

So I introduced him, he got up, he sounded a lot twangy like Woody Guthrie, and he did mostly Woody Guthrie kinda songs.

Nothing original as far as I could tell.

And then he was going to sing at a chess club in New Jersey and went away for like a month or two months, came back, said, "Can I do a guest set?

I'm back."

And I said, "Oh yeah, sure."

So he gets up on stage, and this is the transitioned Bob Dylan.

There's a song called the "Buffalo Skinner".

It's a traditional song about a man goes out West, gets a job skinning buffaloes, and at the end of his tenure, when he is ready to leave, the guy pays him in buffalo skins.

And he says, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

And he says, "Just, you know, take it to the general store.

They treat it like money."

And he does.

And that's what the song is all about.

So Dylan gets on stage and he starts singing the song that sounds very much like "The Buffalo Skinner", except it's about this folk singer who goes to work at a chess club in New Jersey (chuckles).

And at the end of his gig, he gets paid with chess pieces.

(Carolyn laughs) And he says, "What am I supposed to do this?"

in the song.

And the owner says, well, just take it to the bar.

You didn't (indistinct) anything.

So he said, I gave the bartender a, I asked for a beer, gave the bartender a king and got two rooks and change.

Right?

It was at that moment that I saw, as I suppose anybody who was familiar with the song would have seen, this is a man capable of standing outside of the world of folk, seeing what its value is conceptually and being able to make a more contemporary comment on it.

- Interesting.

- Right?

Mm-hm.

- Really interesting.

So I said to Albert, you gotta come down and hear this guy.

- [Carolyn] Yeah.

- Well, and then a couple of weeks later, Dylan was under Albert's management.

So- - Wow.

- I don't know if I was directly responsible, but I do know- - Sounds pretty directly responsible to me.

Like, that.

- Well, I raved.

I raved, that's for sure.

- [Carolyn] Good for you.

- [Noel] Yeah.

(soft music) ♪ How many road must a man walk down ♪ ♪ Before they call him a man ♪ Yes and how many see seas must a white dove sail ♪ ♪ Before he sleeps in the sand ♪ Then how many times must the cannon balls fly ♪ ♪ Before it's forever ever bang ♪ ♪ Oh the answer my friend, it's blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ The answer is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ And how many years can a mountain exist ♪ ♪ Before it is washed to the sea ♪ ♪ And how many years must some people exist ♪ ♪ Before they're allowed to be free ♪ ♪ And how many times can a man turn away ♪ ♪ And pretend that he just doesn't see ♪ ♪ Oh the answer my friend is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ The answer is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ The answer my friend is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ The answer is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ How many times must man look up ♪ ♪ Before he can see the sky ♪ And how many tears must one man see ♪ ♪ Before he can hear people cry ♪ ♪ Then how many deaths will it take till he knows ♪ ♪ That too many people have died ♪ ♪ Oh, the answer my friend is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ Oh the answer is blowing the wind ♪ ♪ Yeah, the answer, my friend ♪ Is blowing in the wind ♪ The answer is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ Mm, hm ♪ If I had a hammer ♪ I'd hammer in the morning ♪ I'd hammer in the evening all over this land ♪ ♪ I had a hammer, I was danger ♪ If I had a hammer, I'd want it ♪ ♪ I had a hammer I'd love between ♪ ♪ My brothers and my sisters ♪ All over this land ♪ If I had a bell, I had ring it in the morning ♪ ♪ And I'd ring it in the evening all over this land ♪ ♪ I had ring danger, I had a ring I'd want it ♪ ♪ If I had a ring I'd love between my brothers ♪ ♪ And my sisters all over this land ♪ ♪ And if I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning ♪ ♪ I'd sing it in the evening all over this land ♪ ♪ I'd sing I'd danger ♪ Well, I sing out morning ♪ I'd sing I love between my brothers and my sisters ♪ ♪ All over this land ♪ Well, I got a hammer ♪ We got a bell ♪ And we got a song to sing all over this land ♪ ♪ It's a hammer of justice ♪ It's a bell of freedom ♪ It's a song about love between my brothers and sisters ♪ ♪ All over this land ♪ It's a hammer of justice ♪ It's a bell of freedom ♪ It's a song about love between my brothers and sitstesr ♪ ♪ All over this land - Just because the cat crawls into the oven to have her kittens don't make 'em biscuits is what down eastern folks tell people from away when they pretend that the child born in Maine is now a Maine native.

So it is that my wife and I on the coast of Maine have been invited to a lot of parties by summer people as well as locals.

And, one of the summer parties on a typical 22 room cottage with shore frontage, had a patio gathering in the afternoon and then dinner inside as as it got darker.

And, and before dessert came, the hostess got up and took a breather, I guess, walked out back out to the patio, came dashing back in and said, "Ooh, you have got to come out and see this."

So 10 of us at the table or so, everybody but the host got up and was headed for the patio.

And the host remained seated at the end of the table.

And as I walked by, he raised a finger and said, "Cue the moon".

And sure enough, I mean, it was a gorgeous, gorgeous sky, gorgeous night.

And I couldn't get the phrase outta my head.

It sounded like a a rom-com title, you know?

But for a singer songwriter, it was made for this love song.

And, 'cause I know that you weren't there at the dinner, or at least some of you weren't.

I'm going to play the, I'm gonna play this opening chord, which I hope suggests enough of the awe of that view that you'll go internally, "Ooh, hoo."

(melodic music) ♪ A twilight sky ♪ The stars are bright ♪ Leave the curtain open for tonight ♪ ♪ And ask the band for one more tune ♪ ♪ Take my hand and cue the moon ♪ ♪ Let the breeze play with your head ♪ ♪ Is it possible that love is everywhere ♪ ♪ And we have found this perfect night somehow ♪ ♪ Cue the moon and kiss me now ♪ And dance while the night is young ♪ ♪ Sing our song is waiting to be sung ♪ ♪ The world's a stage or so they say ♪ ♪ Sweet illusion that too quickly fades way ♪ ♪ Why must the evening ♪ End so soon turn out the light ♪ ♪ And cue the moon Now for some Spanish influence.

Yeah.

(guitar strums) ♪ And cue the moon ♪ Turn out the light ♪ Leave the curtain open for tonight ♪ ♪ And as the band for one more tune ♪ ♪ Hold me closer ♪ Hold me close and cue the moon ♪ (guitar strums) (melodic music) ♪ Blues stay away from me ♪ Yeah blues why don't you let be ♪ ♪ I don't know why you keep haunting me ♪ ♪ Love is never meant for me ♪ True love is never meant for me ♪ ♪ Seems somehow we never can agree ♪ (upbeat blues music) ♪ Life is full of misery ♪ And dreams are like a memory ♪ Bringing back your love that used to be ♪ ♪ The tears so many I can't see ♪ ♪ In years don't mean a thing to me ♪ ♪ Time goes by and still I can't be free ♪ (groovy blues music) (groovy string music) (groovy blues music) (groovy blues music continues) ♪ Yeah blues stay away from me ♪ Yeah blues, why don't you let me be ♪ ♪ I don't know why you keep haunting me ♪ (groovy blues music) (melodic music) (water splashes)