Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign hi, my name is Michael Ronstadt and you're listening to the Nathan's and Roncast. This is another mini episode that I think I'm going to take you in some directions that you may not expect, but I call this talk so uncomfortable yet beautiful. And it's about songs that demand another listen. Yet you don't quite know why, but you keep coming back to them over and over. Two songs come to mind. They call my name quite often. Again, I don't know why, but I even cover one of them. I'm not even sure what is so attractive about these two specific dark and tragic songs, but I do know that the alluring combination of people making horrible life choices and the consequences, surrounded by beautiful imagery and life lessons make for a wonderful listen after this episode. I hope you can relate on some level. So on the surface, both of these songs that I'm going to share are musically so melodic and the soundscapes are stunning. They both take listeners on a sonic journey with wildly surprising twists and turns, but an outcome that is exactly what you would expect. One artist is really well known and that's Tom Petty and his song Hard to Find a Friend. The other song is written and performed by a trio called Barnaby Bright and they're based in Kansas City. They are truly a powerhouse folk trio. I've backed them up a couple of times on cello and it is always an honor. But I'll tell you this, I don't always sit and listen to the albums of those that I work with unless I truly, truly, truly enjoy the music. And I want to share their song Castle Rock with you because it has been in my life for over a decade and I listen to it often. But I'm going to back up to Tom Petty first, and let's start with the lyrics and the storyline in Hard to Find a Friend. This song is simple. It has two verses and a chorus. The chorus is repeated many times in the song. There's some instrumental stuff in between, but it's so simple and it's simultaneously impactful. He sings in the middle of his life he left his wife and ran off to be bad boy. It was sad but he bought a new car, found a new bar and went under another name Created a whole new game. Meanwhile, then his wife's boyfriend moved in and took over the house. Everybody was as quiet as a mouse and it changed their lives, changed their plans. Slowly they grew apart. Boy, it would have broke your heart. Now let's consider the plot he leaves his family, creates a new life under A brand new alias, even buys a new car. Maybe he cheated, but maybe he left because she did and that's why there's a controlling boyfriend moving in and basically pulling apart the remaining fibers his family had left. It's so tragic. If we just had the verses, I'd be too sad. But the chorus has a strange way of summing it all up with a nice little matter of fact bow, a little bit of topping on top that says it'll be okay, but when you think about it, it's really not. Yet There is a weird comfort that we humans get by knowing that things happen and there's no explanation. I should tell you what the chorus is Tom Petty sings and the days went by like paper in the wind. Everything changed and then changed again it's hard to find a friend it's hard to find a friend I really think the image of paper in the wind is so beautiful and it makes sense when it comes to hard circumstances, getting older, suffering consequences, or so much more. The idea of paper floating in the wind is also calming to me. It is pure freedom and rolling with the punches, whatever they may be. Not easy, but maybe a moment to surrender. I also think friendship can be hard and we all relate to knowing it's hard to find a friend. Now let's talk about the next song. This song by Barnaby Bright is the ultimate get you uncomfortable lyric. Sitting on a beautiful bed of beautiful outdoor nature soaked imagery, you'll feel like you're there with the characters. And I think everyone can at least relate to maybe some small aspects of the song, if not in reality, but possibly via the what if game we humans often play when second guessing our own choices. I'll read it all so you can take the story in and then we'll listen to the song. He brushed against my hand so lightly Waiting in a line I saw his wedding band and he saw mine he saw mine Small talk in the driveway and that's where it should have stopped but he said I know a place I know a place and we went out to Castle Rock and every lie we told came easy for half a year or more Till we ran into some friends down on the shore we said goodbye politely that's when we should have stopped but something called us back Always called us back Back to Castle Rock he found us by the sea that Sunday lying in the sun we tried to keep him calm and drop his gun Drop his gun Crimson in the water Went to speak but could not talk we flew out above the land Flying hand in hand out and. And over Castle Rock. Now that is a three stanza song that goes such a huge distance that I don't know a lot of other songs that do that. It goes from two people meeting to murder and then them flying off in the distance. I mean, verse one, they meet, they find a spot. Verse two, they run into some friends. Their moral compass says, oh, we should have stopped, but they still go back. And then verse three, they're found. He finds them, he has a gun, he shoots them, they die, they fly off into the air together. Now that last part where they fly off hand in hand is so beautiful, tragic, exciting and absolutely horrible. What a brilliant song. Let's take a listen right now.
[00:06:51] Speaker B: He brushed against my hand so lightly Waiting in line I saw his wedding band and he saw mine he saw mine why small talk in the driveway that's where it should have stopped.
[00:07:21] Speaker A: But.
[00:07:22] Speaker B: He said I know a place I know place and we went out to Castle Road and every lie we told came easy for half a year or more Till we ran into some friends down on the shore on the shore we said goodbye politely that's when we should have stopped but something called us back Always called us back Back to cast he found us by the sea that Sunday lying in the sun we tried to keep him calm and drop his gun Drop his gun Crimson the water I went to speak but could not talk we flew out above the land Flying hand in hand out and over. Castle.
[00:10:37] Speaker A: You've been listening to the Nathan's and Roncast and the song you just heard is called Castle Rock by the band Barnaby Bright from their album the Longest Day. If you want to find out more information about Barnaby Bright, go to their website barnaby bright.com and if you would like to find more information about Nathan's and Ronstadt, go to Nathan's and Ronstadt dot com. You can find our podcast on any of the platforms that you find a podcast. I hope you have a wonderful day and join us next week as we interview the wonderful Tish Hinojosa.
