“Dance Me” is the song I’m playing in the out-of-focus photograph while the 85 year-old couple dances. It’s a highlight of my brief sojourn into the world of the performing artist. This happened this past weekend at the Pickens Opera House in Pickens, West Virginia during the Maple Syrup Festival. It may not be Red Rocks, but hey, they danced to my music. Or Leonard Cohen’s music, I guess. I played six songs in Pickens, four of which I wrote myself.

This morning I couldn’t sleep so at four o’clock I got up and came into the office. As I drove in, I was listening to the Avett Brothers song, “I Go to My Heart.” Scott Avett asks the question, “How do I stop this outro that I’m headed for?” Well, Scott, you don’t.

A couple of years ago, I couldn’t play an entire song on my guitar, which I’d had for more than thirty years. To progress to the point where I could write and play songs in front of people by myself is no small feat for this ever-aging man. Old dogs can learn new tricks.

In the two years I’ve been doing this, I’ve played at many venues. I was even one of the featured songwriters at the world famous Empty Glass in Charleston. Jason Isbell has played there. Parker Milsap has played there. Even the Avett Brothers. And now Joe Bird.

I didn’t know performing was a bucket list thing until now. I wrote a song recently about Joe Tyler Johnson, a poor soul who grew up in the mountains of Virginia. He became successful and moved to New York and traveled to France. All that glitters, you know. So he went back to Virginia to be with the love of his youth, but, alas, he was too late.

Joe Tyler Johnson just sits by her grave,
wishing for yesterday,
but it’s too late to pray.

Don’t wait till it’s too late.

Do it now.