Hold Old Is The Sky?
Leaves fall down from the sky
Trees drift by on the side
Lay my head back in my hands
Wheels keep rolling goodbye
She asked how old is the sky
It's much more than you and I
We stood and stared at the stars
Think how many have tried
Ooh, you’re so far away
Ooh, you’re so far away
Clouds slip silently by
Windshield’s breaking the sky
Wear my heart back on my sleeve
Too many souls that have cried
Ooh, you’re so far away
Ooh, you’re so far away
They've all gone to the blue
The saints, the prophets and you
I sure can not comprehend
Why our road split in two
Ooh, you’re so far away
Ooh, you’re so far away
How old is the sky?
How old is the sky?
How old is the sky?
Take me out of the haze
Back when we were okay
All I would say; all I would do
Just to relive yesterday
Ooh, you’re so far away
Ooh, you’re so far away
Holsem & Holsem
2022-02-25
Hold old is the sky?
During their high school years, the girls often visited our Sunday school class at Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands. Unlike many their age, they dared to speak up during class sharing comments, feelings and circumstances. They felt that many if not most of the attendees were prejudiced against them due to their age but there was one couple they highly respected and loved. They were drawn to Travis and Nancy (Anderson) Beck because of their insightful comments, true usage of appropriate scripture, and a willingness to understand what it was like to be in high school in that time and age. They, like us, were not following the evangelical Christian lemmings over the Trump MAGA cliff. To the girls, Travis was “Cool Grandpa” with his aging hippie / “Gandalf” look.
Sadly, Nancy contracted cancer. After battling it valiantly, they thought it was in remission and went ahead with their long planned move from Houston to Eagle Pass, New Mexico. Alas, after not much time there the cancer came back with a vengeance all over Nancy’s body. At some point in this second fight she decided to take the hospice option and she and Travis moved back to Houston into her daughter’s pool house. While there, Jackie and I, along with Alex and Veronica visited them as the COVID rules and “Beck” rules allowed (non vaccinated / non mask wearing people were not welcomed). While Nancy was still eating, Jackie usually made a special soup to bring for her and they chatted as only true foodies can.
We discussed all topics under the sun together, identifying and solving most of the country’s / world’s problems. During our second to last visit, Nancy was no longer conscious. During our last visit, Travis told us that the last sentence Nancy had whispered to him was “How old is the sky?” This profound question became a poem that Travis read at her memorial service. I also immediately knew that it would become a song title for Alex and me.
Over the next 6-8 weeks, I worked on some chord progressions and some lyrics and asked Alex to help with a tune, chorus, bridge, etc. Together we pieced together a slow, melancholy rock ballad. After recording a first rough draft, I sent a text to Travis with a link to the music. We were apprehensive that he might take it badly but he answered back “Thank you for making me cry again … I love you guys so much; so beautiful!!”
After consulting Bobby, I decided the song length was too short so I added more elongated Native American flute solos and electric guitar solos. I used the former because Nancy had given several of these flutes over the years to Travis who enjoyed playing them so I wanted to honor that memory. Again, Travis gave positive feedback to the new version.
Now that the back story is there, the lyrics should be understandable. This is from Travis’ point of view, maybe on a long car ride or plane ride from Houston to Eagle Pass, silently watching the passing landscape, stuck in a cycle of sadness that seems unbreakable. My favorite line: “They've all gone to the blue, The saints, the prophets and you”. That’s how I would feel if I were in Travis’ shoes.
Music
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