Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

On this day in 1982 Bruce Springsteen released his acoustic masterpiece, “Nebraska”. He recorded it by himself in the studio at his home on a 4-track tape machine. While the overall feel of the songs and the characters they feature appeared dark and pensive, somehow through the stark reality of the music there was a sense of hope that just maybe there was redemption for some of the people Springsteen wrote about. He basically confirmed this in the album’s last track, “Reason To Believe” when he sang: “Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe”.

The record received vast acclaim from critics and fans alike, especially country giant Johnny Cash. He covered two tracks from it, “Highway Patrolman” and today’s featured song. He & Springsteen had a mutual admiration for each other, and in 1999 he performed “Give My Love To Rose” in the television special, “An All Star Tribute to Johnny Cash”. The Man In Black recorded songs by dozens of artists throughout his career, but today’s tune has the dark elements his songs often carried while the title fit him like a glove. It does not get much better than Johnny Cash singing, but when he performed a Springsteen song, he was damn near perfect.

“Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you don’t stop
Johnny’s waving his gun around and threatening to blow his top
When an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind
Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99“.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Johnny Cash: “Johnny 99” ( 1983, written by Bruce Springsteen).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.