2005 The Women of Salter Path
- last year
Written in 2005 by Mark Fielding Darden and collaboration with Matti Darden/ Salter Path, NC
Copyright #PAu3-018-696; January 20, 2006
Thanks to Amy Millhouser who sang the lead. Taffy Baysden and Kristin Kanady who sang the other harmonies. Dwayne Salter on piano, Charles Smith on bass, and me on rhythm guitar. My daughter, Matti, helped me with some of the lyrical transitions and rhymes.
This song almost did not get written. I was done with the songs I had planned for the Salter Path CD (Will This Town Survive?) when this melody popped into my head one day at the beach. Here is the story as it appears in the book that came out with that album “Will This Town Survive?” sometime around 2005:
It was a June evening in Salter Path 2005. My dock was still there and my pontoon boat was still in once piece. The wind was cool and tame. The sunset had just exploded for the last time and the sun had slipped over the horizon. My glass of wine was working well. I was done with the 12 songs I was going to record. I was waiting on Mark and Dale to arrive to record Will This Town Survive? when suddenly a melody just popped into my head.
Moments later, the phrase “I’m the woman from Salter Path” came to me as I was humming it. I saw a woman singing it, with others joining her as the song progressed. In my vision, I saw more and more women coming out onto the street to join the others in voice. They were marching up Shore Drive singing like there was no tomorrow, literally! It was an incredible idea!
I had to take a shower so I figured I’d write it down when I was done. Big mistake. While taking a shower, the Fiorini boys (the twins) next door put on the “Allman Brothers 2000 Best Hits” and my neat little song was gone.
I was very frustrated. I can’t read music, so even when I do write a song, it’s really not secure until it’s recorded because there is no melody line written down anywhere but in my head. The only assurance, short of recording it, is to write down the words and chords and play it enough times so that I can’t forget it (nor can my family who is worn out with it by that time).
Anyway, the night came and went and the song "Will This Town Survive" made it onto the recording machine just fine. The boys left and I got my guitar out and got real quiet and still. I actually prayed that God would give me the melody back again. What do you think he did?
Mfd: guitar, song, video (2020)
Amy Millhouser: lead vocal
Kristin Kanady: soprano
Taffy Baysden: alto
Dwayne Salter: piano
Charles Smith: bass
It is my understanding that this song is now sung or played at the funeral of every Salter Path woman who dies.
Copyright #PAu3-018-696; January 20, 2006
Thanks to Amy Millhouser who sang the lead. Taffy Baysden and Kristin Kanady who sang the other harmonies. Dwayne Salter on piano, Charles Smith on bass, and me on rhythm guitar. My daughter, Matti, helped me with some of the lyrical transitions and rhymes.
This song almost did not get written. I was done with the songs I had planned for the Salter Path CD (Will This Town Survive?) when this melody popped into my head one day at the beach. Here is the story as it appears in the book that came out with that album “Will This Town Survive?” sometime around 2005:
It was a June evening in Salter Path 2005. My dock was still there and my pontoon boat was still in once piece. The wind was cool and tame. The sunset had just exploded for the last time and the sun had slipped over the horizon. My glass of wine was working well. I was done with the 12 songs I was going to record. I was waiting on Mark and Dale to arrive to record Will This Town Survive? when suddenly a melody just popped into my head.
Moments later, the phrase “I’m the woman from Salter Path” came to me as I was humming it. I saw a woman singing it, with others joining her as the song progressed. In my vision, I saw more and more women coming out onto the street to join the others in voice. They were marching up Shore Drive singing like there was no tomorrow, literally! It was an incredible idea!
I had to take a shower so I figured I’d write it down when I was done. Big mistake. While taking a shower, the Fiorini boys (the twins) next door put on the “Allman Brothers 2000 Best Hits” and my neat little song was gone.
I was very frustrated. I can’t read music, so even when I do write a song, it’s really not secure until it’s recorded because there is no melody line written down anywhere but in my head. The only assurance, short of recording it, is to write down the words and chords and play it enough times so that I can’t forget it (nor can my family who is worn out with it by that time).
Anyway, the night came and went and the song "Will This Town Survive" made it onto the recording machine just fine. The boys left and I got my guitar out and got real quiet and still. I actually prayed that God would give me the melody back again. What do you think he did?
Mfd: guitar, song, video (2020)
Amy Millhouser: lead vocal
Kristin Kanady: soprano
Taffy Baysden: alto
Dwayne Salter: piano
Charles Smith: bass
It is my understanding that this song is now sung or played at the funeral of every Salter Path woman who dies.