The Wolf
Someday you will find somebody...who will sing along
The Wolf - Jason Walsmith Storyteller - Overlander
I have a simple rule for myself, when Wini Moranville invites you to do something…say yes. It usually involves food in some way. Whether it is her column here on Substack, Dining Well in DSM by Wini Moranville or just conversations about restaurants new and old, near and far. In this case she asked if I wanted to participate in her “Musicians Fighting Hunger” event. I said yes. It wasn’t a difficult decision. It was an opportunity to get together with some other musicians and play some music while asking people to bring food or donate some money to help feed people who need it. What a simple and beautiful concept. Wini Moranville is an “impresario”. She gathered the performers and the audience and created a community event that filled the soul on both sides of the microphones and speakers and helped combat food insecurity, I was honored to be asked.
My set followed Wolf-Wolf which is Wini Moranville and her husband Dave Wolf. Dave is an incredible guitar player. He makes it look so easy and makes everything sound better. The Wolf-Wolf duo is satisfying and easy to listen to. Wini on ukulele and Dave on his trusted telecaster that sits in his hands like he was born with it there.
I started my set with my song The Wolf. When else would I get the chance to play the song The Wolf following a performance by a musical act named Wolf-Wolf. I didn’t really think about the song when I started playing it. I just thought it was funny. As the lyrics left my mouth I realized that it was very apropos for the event.
The Wolf - Lyrics
All alone in the darkness, sing your howl song. Night air is as empty, as the day is long. All alone in the darkness, you avoid the fire. You feel it will pull you in, instinct or desire.
Spend your time in the outside, where you can see your breath, sit down on your haunches, try to get some rest. All you need is some shelter, a place to sleep and a meal. Try again tomorrow, for a better deal.
Chorus - Stare at the moon, sing your howl song, someday you will find somebody, who will sing along, ahh who.
You follow tracks in the snow, made by whom you do not know, because you are alone here and it’s the loneliness you fear.
You walk with an empty belly, for food you have not known, you walk with these burdens, be proud and wear your crown.
Chorus - Stare at the moon, sing your howl song, someday you will find somebody, who will sing along, ahh who.
All alone in the darkness, sing your howl song. Night air is as empty, as the day is long. All alone in the darkness, sing your howl song. Someday you will find somebody, who will sing along, ahh who.
Chip Albright played a set after mine. He asked me to stay on stage and sing The Morel Mushroom song with him. I did my best. I like to think I helped him write that song but really all I did was walk around in the woods and look for mushrooms. He invited Dave Wolf to play along. Chip embodies the chorus of my song The Wolf. He is always inviting listeners and other musicians to “sing along”.
Often when I introduce the song The Wolf, I tell the audience that it is a choose your own adventure song. If you don’t want to have to work very hard you can just listen to the song and hear it as a song about a wolf. OR you can use your imagination a little bit and imagine it is about a singer songwriter out in the world, forging their own way and trying to find their audience and hoping people will sing along. Chip could be that character.
After Chip’s set, Dave Wolf was back on stage with his long time bandmate and collaborator Mark Green. I have heard about Mark and some of the bands he has played in but this was the first time we shared the stage. I was a pleasure. His daughter and grandchildren enjoyed his performance as well.
This event was about more than music. It was about more than collecting food or money. It was about participating in community and finding people who will sing along.
Please check out Chip Albright and Wini Moranville here on Substack.
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To my friends of The Nadas and The Racontourist Many of you are here because you are subscribers to The Nadas “Weekly Email.” We will still be using that list to get you info from time to time. While The Nadas emails have become less frequent, I have been writing a column here on substack. If you are new here I wanted to ensure you that much of what I write is light hearted and music and travel focused. Many of you are here because you follow me at Jason Walsmith Storyteller or The Racontourists on youtube and instagram. I invite you to go back into my archives to look for posts about songs and lyrics as well as travelogues and other topics. Occasionally, I find something timely or culturally relevant that I want to explore such as the series I did on food insecurity and homelessness. I hope you will dive into the heavy stuff as much as you do the light hearted stuff. It’s not all fun and games, but if you do stick with me through thick and thin, the experience will be richer and deeper for it.
Thank you for your support and encouragement
Jason
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Lovely piece, Jason! Thanks for capturing in such a special way. The “Chip Basket” was a must order indeed. Super fun afternoon of community and music coming together for a good cause. Cheers!
Nothing better than singing together.