Do you know the guy is on the right? Well, he isn’t Garth Brooks. He is what I call a silent songwriter – the unknown genius behind great singers. His name is Earl Bud Lee. Still no clue? Unless you follow music closely, you wouldn’t know. I didn’t. Earl Bud Lee co-wrote Garth Brook’s hit song “Friends in Low Places,” which shot Garth to stardom. I had the rare pleasure of seeing Earl and another writing legend, Steve Poltz, in a small basement tavern the other night. I had no idea how magical that night was going to be.
In that short hour and twenty minutes, we were whisked away by words that molded them into who they are today. These two old men shocked, entertained and mesmerized me—I’m pretty sure it did the same for all thirtyish people who watched.
They were cool cats, masters of their craft—you could tell they loved what they did. Steve sipped coffee when he had a second, closing his eyes and swaying his head when Earl sang. Earl would pierce the audience with his weary smile and scan everyone’s reactions. He was soaking it all in. They both had the utmost respect for each other’s presence.
Steve shared a hilarious story about when and how he started following his dream. It was after he got a full-time job as a salesman that he got while flipping out on mushrooms. (A story I do not plan to share with my kids anytime soon.)
Steve also shared a heartfelt story about his father’s final moments. While death isn’t a funny topic, he presented it in a refreshing, lighthearted way. In his dad’s last hours, Steve asked him for a sign from the other side—a sign that would be “Indian Joe.”
Years later, that sign came to him unexpectedly. A friend sent him an article about a recent performance, and right beside it was an article about Indian Joe. I believe in signs, and I believe in this one. Some might chalk it up to coincidence, but I think it’s more comforting to believe. This magical moment inspired Steve to write a song about death and facing mortality.
Earl told us about how the song FILP made its way onto paper. His stories weren’t as funny as Steve’s, but they were still pretty amazing. I connected more with Earl and his music, maybe because I feel like I share a common creative thread with him. A thread that naturally makes us see and think differently – not like when tripping on mushrooms differently.
This magic moment came between two big lifetime tragedy anniversaries – when I was emotionally drained. Funny, life has a way of peppering in something good when you need it most. I live for these magic moments; I wish they would happen more. I believe everyone has the opportunity to experience them and that they are all around us – but most of us miss them or are unaware – I feel sorry for those people. Magic moments make me feel alive – they usually end up in a big cry, but at least I feel something again. They give me something to reflect on and to live for…a sense of purpose and faith that there is something more.
