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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Pictograph/petroglyph song video
 
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OneMatch
03/26/2020 03:44PM
 
fraxinus: "Thank you, very touching and a very haunting chorus. It's difficult for me to put into words what I feel when I see ancient artwork, what is it in us that makes us (now and centuries ago) appreciate the sense of beauty and wonder in the world, and makes us want to express that in drawings and music and other forms of art. You did an excellent job of bringing that out. It seems like a lot of songwriters say that some songs. just kind of jump out and write themselves, was this one of those? Thanks again "


Frax,
It was an interesting - but very short - process. It started last August while I was visiting a friend in a mountain cabin near Monarch Pass, CO at the base of Mt. Shavano. She had an old guitar with a broken string on it. I fixed the string and as I started playing the guitar, the chorus melody came out but I had no song idea to go with it.


A month later while paddling the San Juan River we came upon some 2,000 year old petroglyphs that were absolutely stunning. That melody came back and right out at me and it kept doing so the rest of the day as we were paddling.


Upon reaching camp, I grabbed my Baby Taylor guitar and went off to a little cubby hole in the canyon and it all came out in about an hour. It was like the melody had known where I was going and steered me there and then into the lyric of the song. One of my most satisfying songwriting moments.


Thanks for the compliments and for asking,
Jerry
 
TomP
03/24/2020 05:10AM
 
Thanks Jerry! The new song hits home for me. This is really a time for reflection. I've been thinking about what will I leave behind when I'm gone. A retired co-worker of mine just lost her beloved spouse to Covid.


Right after the new song played, Fishdance Lake played. It reminded me of one of my favorite days in canoe country. My oldest boy and I broke away from our large group and went to the pictos on Fishdance for a day trip. It was a beautiful sunny day that was calm. As we approached the pictos, a cool breeze picked up for about 30 seconds and then it was gone. We both had goosebumps. It was a spiritual experience. Your music stirred that memory for me.
 
gkimball
03/25/2020 04:26PM
 
Beautiful! Viewing any form of art is a powerful way to sense what was in someone's conciousness. Even more powerful set to great music. Thank you!
 
boonie
03/23/2020 05:30PM
 
That was really good, Jerry. Very nicely done.
 
OneMatch
03/23/2020 02:51PM
 
Thank you to all who contributed to this project. I could only use a few pics of yours for various reasons - mostly definition needs.

A special slide show of North American petroglyphs and pictographs including rock art water colors by Geri Schrab and Native American portrait art by Rick Harris. This song was inspired after viewing a panel of 2,000 year old petroglyphs in near the San Juan River in Utah. Three time Grammy Award winning Native American recording artist Bill Miller provided the mesmerizing chant and drums for the soundtrack.
"Those Who Came Before"
 
MHS67
03/24/2020 08:40PM
 
Great job Jerry, a pleasure to listen to and watch. For all the petroglyphs that people have found, I wonder how many are still out there that no one has ever seen?
 
schweady
03/24/2020 10:19AM
 
Thanks, Jerry. Very peaceful tune and images. Rock art has always fascinated me and I have sought out a number of them in the BW and Canada. In just the past couple of weeks, we had the pleasure (before hustling home and sheltering) of viewing a number of petroglyphs on our Arizona trip. Such a shame that modern day "artists" seem to have scratched their own additions in so many of these areas.


 
fraxinus
03/25/2020 03:04PM
 
Thank you, very touching and a very haunting chorus. It's difficult for me to put into words what I feel when I see ancient artwork, what is it in us that makes us (now and centuries ago) appreciate the sense of beauty and wonder in the world, and makes us want to express that in drawings and music and other forms of art. You did an excellent job of bringing that out. It seems like a lot of songwriters say that some songs. just kind of jump out and write themselves, was this one of those? Thanks again
 
OldScout48
03/23/2020 10:41PM
 
Nicely done, pictures add a lot to the song. Thanks
 
sns
03/23/2020 06:33PM
 
Well that was an hour-long rabbithole of Jerry/OM videos. Much appreciated!
 
Jackfish
03/25/2020 02:03PM
 
That's great, Jerry... I enjoyed that a lot.
 
mooseplums
03/28/2020 09:09AM
 
This is my favorite song of yours Jerry.
It reminds me that there is so much more to the universe than we know, and understand. To pause and wonder what my contribution means, and what legacy I will leave behind.
It also reminds me to treat the world, and the people around us with reverence, and respect.
I love it.