Before the Rain

I am sure many of you know by know that I am a huge music fan but not many will appreciate the eclectic nature of the artists I listen too, knowing me as a a sad old fart, bit of a hippy, always a rocker... as I said to the twins, I may be old but I got to see all the cool bands!

It makes me happy to see the resurgence not only in traditional Scottish music but also in folk music, songs that tell beautiful stories, important stories often with messages so much deeper than the songs we sing along to. I have played in bands in the past, as a guitarist I wanted to be louder and faster live than any of my counterparts, but I had a secret, I would play traditional and folk tunes when I thought nobody listened Shhh!!! don't tell anyone.

Now it seems these genres are cool, embraced by young and old, brought into the mainstream by people like Whispering Bob Harris, when Bob talks people listen. I love the traditional artists but the young guns too like Seth Lakeman, John McCusker, Kate Rusby all of whom plough a furrow making folk accessible.

The king for me is Dougie MacLean, his beautiful melodies and magical lyrics enchant me, and it is to his work I turn to quote a lyric:-

So, big river, don't fool me,
I'm depending upon a sign.
I'm relying upon your motion,
To carry these cares of mine,
And, big river, we're helpless,
And we bend to your every turn,
But not even our courage can help us,
As the big river runs on and on.

The Big River...it struck me a a metaphor for life itself, life moves on like the flow of the river ever changing dependant on the season and the influences upon it. The big river runs on and on to me signifies life moving on every day in every way a little stronger and maybe that is why I am called to the river, I have refereed to her in the past as a mistress so today maybe I strayed, a little river and a more gentle pace but some days that calmness is everything we need

I like the simplicty and the beauty of this shot, is there to behold, but peek through the trees and the angry sky beyond reminds us that we should never take anything for granted. I hope you enjoy the shot and again I would go large for the best view