[Buc McMaster]

Here we have a traditional hillbilly-style gospel tune......woe is me, help me God.  Fat chance, I say, being the atheist I am.  I do find it easy to delve into non-secular ways of thinking, though.....it's all so simplistic.  Tap your foot, clap your hands and sing along!

As is usual for me it's short and to the point with no embellishment.  The lyric is the thing for me, leave the fancy production work to songs that can make advantage of such things.

https://youtu.be/X0wICSoW47Y

Stones of Circumstance © Buc

I stumble on through the dust of disappointment
The winds of worry tuggin' at my clothes
The road is long and I'm so weary
Perdition's fires rise to meet me 'ere I go

Oh carry me to the other shore, Lord
Lift my soul from stones of circumstance
Suffer me to bear no more, Lord
Take my hand and teach my feet another dance

When I was young I did not heed the lessons
Along the road 'twixt the darkness and the light
Can it be that I've squandered my redemption
I carry on the best I can to see the right


Comments, suggestions and even insults are welcome.

[S.T.C]

I do like the bluegrass ,hillbilly style...i remember that movie 'oh brother where art thou'  and the Soggy bottom boys ....so i reckon you have made a faithful song in the style...good story ,lyrics are well written and you have a good sense of timing /rhythm and an easy voice to listen too.

[TheButcher]

very solid and oldshcool country song.

good performance; 1 + 1.

the melodies are a little too well known for me but together with the lyrics it creates a very nice feeling.

B

[MartynRich]

Another great song Buc, I bet you go down a storm live. Love the lyrics as well, a very nicely told ditty in your great individual style. As you say, short and to the point which is great, but your playing is good enough to fill these out with some instrumental moments as well. That´s up to you though, it doesn´t mean they´re needed to make the song better.

I´m off to shave now, but I´m leaving my moustache on in tribute.

[IronKnee]

What a great folk tune, Buc........I feel so dammed isolated out here in Hawaii, sometimes. What I would do, to get together with you (a few others, here, as well) to brainstorm some original stuff!
Love your style, love your craft, and the ease in which it's performed.
Great stuff, Buc.....thanks for sharing!
                                                                         -Tom

[rightly]

Beautiful song. I really enjoyed it.
Gospel is indeed powerful. And you're an atheist?
I remember learning "amazing grace" on piano, took me hours.
 But there was a kick I got out of it, n that kick was religious.
It's a good thing to experience.
Thanks Buc.

[Movin Flavour]

Great gospel ballad.

Excellent guitar playing to complement those lyrics.

Especially Love the "stones of circumstance" lyrics.


Sandeep

[lillypilly]

Absolutely nothing wrong with a song with no extra embellishments

It flowed nicely and so a nice performance

[CaliaMoko]

<<sigh>> Another song I must add to my list of songs to learn...I only hope I live long enough to learn them all.

I like the nice bright rhythm and catchy melody. You came up with some really cool phrases: "stones of circumstance" of course. Also, "dust of disappointment"...so simple and clear, yet so unlikely I would ever have thought of it. And "squandered my redemption".

Nice one.

Vicki

[tina m]

beautiful choreography buc... youve moved the syncopation from your eyebrows to the mustache here !
it was a nice song & you have a voice & style that is very easy on the ear & impossible not to like..
i know you go for the bare bones performance but i wonder what youd sound like if you overdubbed a extra guitar or even had a drum beat

im trying to think who your target audience is with atheistic gospel … I suppose its a crowd of  christian impersonators  

[delb0y]

Most enjoyable, Buc. I love this old-time style and you've brought a nice set of lyrics to the style. I'd love to hear a dobro and/or a fiddle playing along - but that's moving away from the song which is why we're here, and this is great. The melody is traditional - that's a positive rather than a negative thing in my book, and I think it would be extremely hard to come up with a new melody for this type of thing, though I daresay a man of your talents could do it! Great stuff.

Derek

[Paulski]

I enjoyed the song despite sharing your non-beliefs
Nice clear recording - vocals great and nice picking.
I could never do a religious song - would sound dis-ingenious.

Good write!
Paul

[Buc McMaster]

Thanks for the love!  I appreciate those that take the time!  Yes, the melody is quite traditional, but that's the nature of this simple genre.

Tom:  if you've got to be isolated you must admit Hawaii is better than most places!

Paul:  I understand the disingenuous thought, but I see it as satire.

Thanks for listening, one and all!

[Skub]

We all owe a bigger debt to old gospel stuff than we sometimes let on. Being brought up in a strictly religious household this was the first type of music I was exposed to. I don't believe that emotional sense and love of melody ever leaves you,it certainly remained with me long after I realised organised religion is a load of bunk.

I have a couple of good friends who do very well in gospel/bluegrass circles and I still remain very fond of the genre.

Well played and sung,Buc. Cool eyebrow wiggle at the end too. 

[Neil C]

Buc,
A joy. Perfect marriage of lyrics, music, tune and singing.
I can hear a gospel choir singing this too...
Loving it, nothing more to say
 
Neil