Higher Calling-Part Four

Fire In The Soul

From days way back, musicians have carried stories told to them. Handed down, this is the stuff of legends, made up stuff, true stories embellished a bit. A melody may have been shared, maybe something close to the original. What happens next is the magical part. Songs change, lyrics get altered, melodies are kindly appropriated. What stirs the pot are the memories, the thoughts and experiences of the next in line. Depends on what hill they’re on, what mountains they’ve climbed, the higher calling they hear.

From there, the story and the song have the footprint of the next musician, the next storyteller. Hard times, happy times and a healthy dose of in between, reflecting what life throws at you. The storyteller searching for the right words, explaining all they can offer. Memories reach back and help guide the present. That’s when the melody, the delivery, the ability to find the right sound marries with the right words. You grab hold for all it’s worth.

If you’re looking for attention, it’ll get you that. Just the same, it won’t be pure and it won’t last. Ralph Stanley moved with that higher calling, but he wasn’t looking for praise. He was content to tell his story, share it with folks on the next mountain. You could call it a burning desire, but the spark comes from deep within. This higher calling is like an ember that burns in your soul and flames up when the muse strikes.

Hettie Ann Thomas had a fire in her that kept her going. Only in her early twenties and she had already been through dirt road living and rather tough times. Coming out of the Depression with another world war looming, times were hard for many. There was no complaining, but a perseverance to keep one foot in front of the other. She was beginning her journey anew in the land of plenty called Maryland. 

No guarantees, though. Farming life was just about as rough up north as it had been down south. Demanding tenant farming with hopes of a few more dollars. Of course, hard work was a natural way of living for most folks. Every day, once the day’s work was done, there were always the home chores to tend to. Family ties were strong and Sunday afternoons were a welcome respite from the week’s labors.