Songs with Stories

As the song's opening line states, "Sometimes I just have to find a mountain..." There is something life affirming about breathing in the natural world. A chance to pause and refresh.  

The Brothers Four were in San Francisco recording when I first heard this song on the car radio. I had to pull over. For me it continues to be "that song." Both inspirational and aspirational.

It has been my good fortune to have made music with some special people. Ted Brancato is one of them. In many ways he and his family like a second family to me. My friend, Gary Drager, and I wrote the song "Old Man" nearly 50 years ago.

In the early 70's I was working with Bob Dylan's brother, David Zimmerman. He challenged me to write a song that mirrored my beliefs, that let people know who I was.

Songwriting has always been an important part of my career. I figured the best way to sustain a career was as a songwriter. This song was one of the first where I felt I was beginning to understand the craft. I introduced it in Nashville in 1975.

In 2002 Pat and I moved out to the Olympic Peninsula. Soon after our neighbor, Bob Bradley, invited me to join him on hikes into the Olympic Mountains.

Mt. Rainier, also known as Mt. Tahoma, has held a special fascination for me since coming to the University of Washington as a student in 1965.

This week's Song with Story.