This track was inspired by the autobiography of Dolly Parton. Many years ago, while I was still living in New York, I took part in a very ambitious singer-songwriter night that is put on by my friend Susan Hwang, called the Bushwick Book Club. It’s still going on, as far as I know. Basically, you read a book and then you write a song about it. The book was Dolly Parton’s: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. I was having a hard time tracking down a copy of the book and luckily my friend, Diane Cluck, just so happened to have it on tape and she was nice enough to lend it to me. It was an actual cassette tape. So, yeah turns out Dolly Parton had a pretty amazing life. It was great to hear her voice telling her own story. I was somewhat surprised to discover many points in her life where I felt deeply connected to her. I tried to take some of those parts and channel them as inspiration for the lyrics. The song turned out to feel like a secret, coded message from me to her. I don’t think most people would be able to tell what the song is about if I didn’t tell them. I’m pretty sure that there’s a slim chance she will ever hear it. But it’s a really fun way to write a song. – Matthew Roth

lyrics

Exploring silent mountain speech, 
On corn husk tiptoed spring bare feet. 
Children can be cruel I know. 
Corn don’t know where it should grow. 

Men build houses to their Gods. 
Some take refuge in the logs. 
Icing up for wartime. 
Show them all the door time 

Silver bellied bus take me away. 
Take me somewhere else another day. 
I’ll find my fighting face along the way. 
Silver bellied bus take me away. 

Speak your love unspoken. 
Don’t act like you’re joking. 
Feed your fighting fish, 
Smiling from an Island.

credits

releases September 13, 2019 

Pat Tomek – Drums
Dave Tanner – Bass, Vox
Todd Granthem – Keyboard, Vox
Matt Roth – Guitar, Vox

This recording was engineered and co-produced by Pat Tomek at Level Stage in KC, MO.