When I say I come from a long line of the Music Makers and of Soldiers for the Muse, I mean it. As long as I can remember, both my immediate and extended families have been singing even the most mundane birthday songs in four-part harmony and, as far as I know, this can be traced back for generations.
My family sings, that’s what they do.
As an example, I just received a beautiful song called Homeward Bound that my cousins recorded to mark the one year anniversary of their father’s death (my uncle). What blows my mind is that this isn’t a professional singing group — these are my cousins — a small group of brothers and sisters, doing what they do best.
Of course, they learned it from their father, who learned it from his father, and they will certainly pass it along to their children and, with any luck, the singing will continue until the world ends.
Dedicated to Rex Kocherhans. May you rest in peace.
HOMEWARD BOUND
Sung by the Kocherhans family
[audio:http://tylerstenson.com/audio/other/homeward-bound-kocherhans.mp3|titles=tylerstenson.com,Homeward Bound (sung by the Kocherhans]
In the quiet misty morning,
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
And the sky is clear and red,When the summer’s ceased its gleaning,
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure’s lost its meaning-
I’ll be homeward bound in time.Bind me not to the pasture.
Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling
And I’ll return to you somehow.If you find it’s me you’re missing,
If you’re hoping I’ll return,
To your thoughts I’ll soon be listing,
In the road I’ll stop and turn.Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path I’ll be retracing-
When I’m homeward bound againBind me not to the pasture.
Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling
And I’ll return to you somehow.In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed.
When the sparrows stop there singing,
I’ll be homeward bound again.