CHUCK GIRARD- Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Worship Leader
A Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.'
A Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.'
Ol' Dan Cotton
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Wow, what an unusual song. Occasionally there comes a song so unique that you can't actually pinpoint it's inspiration or creation. This is such a song.
I remember getting the first half of the lyric, which was already of considerable length, and wondering how I was going to ever finish it without it becoming a 10 minute epic, ala Don McLean's "American Pie." I really didn't want to create a song of such length, and wondered where to go next with this lyric, which at this time had only tracked the progress of the old man up to the point where he went off "to the hills alone.' I put the song on the shelf, waiting for an opportunity to approach it with fresh perspective. A while later I was on a flight to Barrington College in Rhode Island, when I took the lyric out again. I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to remember that most famous of rock and roll music adages, "less is more." I realized that I was trying to be too linear with the lyric, and that if I left out some obvious and insignificant details, the audience would be able to fill in the blanks. |
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So with this idea firmly in motion, the rest of the lyric unfolded seamlessly, and the song was finished. I really wasn't sure what the scriptural message was, it just seemed to be a story about an old man. But over the years, many have come to me to share how the song brought reassurance to them about the death of a grandfather or some such, and I guess that God has used the song in the way He wanted over the years.
Production Note: I actually cut 2 tracks to this song. One rhythm section of very famous and competent players never really jelled and I had the luxury of cutting the tune another time with a different group of players. This is the version that made the cut.
Chuck
Production Note: I actually cut 2 tracks to this song. One rhythm section of very famous and competent players never really jelled and I had the luxury of cutting the tune another time with a different group of players. This is the version that made the cut.
Chuck
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Chuck Girard's Music
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