Park Foundation Music App

Home > Releases

Comanche Moon

Overview

Comanche Moon --- 2000

Liner notes by Jim Anderson Track 2 "Comanche Moon": This was inspired by working in and around Palo Duro Canyon, and partially by Larry McMurtry's book by the same title. Whether on the rim of the Canyon or down on the floor, the rocks and wind seem to constantly whisper to you that they have a story. This was the ancestral home of the Comanche, and from here they launched raids by the light of what was to be forever known as the Comanche Moon. Track 3 "Say Goodbye To Montana": This song may not be historically accurate, but it does depict the true story of Charles Goodnight returning his partner. Oliver Loving, to Texas to be buried. The truth was, Goodnight kept his word to Loving and returned his body from Fort Sumner, New Mexico to Weatherford, Texas, over eight hundred miles. This will always be regarded as a great testament to integrity and true friendship. Track 4 "The Great Circle": A poem that just came to me one cold night in April. I had gone out back to get some firewood and noticed a full moon. As I stood there admiring the moon, the ground started trembling from a train passing by, over a mile from the house. Suddenly, I thought of how it might have been if that sound had been one of the great buffalo herds that used to roam this country. Track 5 "Navajo Trail": The one piece we put on this album that really doesn't have a historical or physical link to this area. It's not even certain there was ever a cattle trail called Navajo. But, it was my Dad's favorite song, and his grandson Cody sings it every night we perform, and always dedicates it to Ray Anderson. Though he never got to hear Cody sing it live, we believe he is always here, singing along. Track 6 "Ragtown Waltz": Written by my good friend David Waddle, this is a true story about when the town of Amarillo was first built on Wild Horse Lake. It was indeed, a tent city. Even though they put wooden facades in front of the tents, they were still just tents. Soon it became known as "Ragtown." Track 7 "Erkile": This poem I wrote just as it happened. As Baxter Black says, "Cowboys will write a poem about a wreck if it doesn't kill anybody.....and if it does, they wait a week out of respect." Track 8 "Texas Plains": Here's a great, lively tune that sure says how we feel and is always fun to play. Track 9 "How Could I Have Known": David Waddle wrote this one and it tells the story of the railroad coming to Amarillo. Most folks could only see that it would shorten the drive to get to the cattle market, but in fact, the impact reached much further. Track 10 "Anthem": The classic, award-winning poem written by the immortal Buck Ramsey. We thank Betty for allowing us to include this great work on our first album. We hope we did it justice. Track 11 "Colorado Trail": We had to include this one. The original Colorado Trail was another one started by Col. Charles Goodnight. It started at the JA Ranch and went to Pueblo, Colorado, then on to Denver. It was one of the shortest-lived trails because the coming of the railroad to Dodge City, then to Amarillo, negated its necessity. Track 12 " Where Do The Cowboys Go": A wonderful song written by Duke Davis and Ken Moore. It asks the questions all of us have to face sooner or later, but deals with much more than just aging. It will be up to us, and generations to come, to preserve the way of life we love. Track 13 "The New Bull": Here's a little something I wrote for fun. Hope you get a kick out of it. Track 14 "When You Leave Amarillo": A Bob Wills standard he played anytime performing in Amarillo. We couldn't do an album about this part of the country and not include this song. Track 15 "Imprints": I wrote this in hopes of letting others see through my eyes a way of life that I thank God everyday for letting me live.