John Denver: Mountain in the Wind

The Greatness that is John

2006-10-14T23:59:00.000-07:00

Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.
December 31, 1943 to October 12, 1997Born: Roswell, New MexicoDied: Pacific Grove, California

This page is about John Denver and why everything about him is great.

Aspen in October

2006-10-14T03:04:00.000-07:00

As most JD fans know, every year since he left us there have been many events in Aspen, Colorado, in early October, around the anniversary of his death.

My best friend, Bill, and I are planning on attending the events in CO in 2007, commemorating 10 years since John left this earthly existence (but has never left our hearts and spirits, of course).

Anyone else planning on going? Leave a comment if you are.

Going through one of those JD kicks.

2006-03-03T04:45:00.000-08:00

I get like this: I can't listen to anything but John. I'm in that place right now. Right now I'm listening to the cover of "Around and Around," by the Red-house Painters.

I hate to admit it, but I like their rendition of this song better than John's, and it's his song! I can see why they chose this for a tribute song: "I hope that I'm around so I can be there when I die, when I'm gone, I hope that you will think of me on days that you are happy and you're smiling, that the thought will comfort you on cold and cloudy days if you are crying." Oddly prophetic, isn't it? Especially since I think of him so very often.

Ah, now one of my two number one favorites is on: "The Wings That Fly Us Home." My only complaint about this song is it's so quiet! I have to really crank it at first, then it gets loud and so beautiful toward the end.

Well, as he says in "Autograph," "To be always with you, and you always with me." He said it so well (as always).

I don't habitually listen to "My Sweet Lady," but since he left this earthly realm, physically at least, that song really gets to me, "Did you think our time together was all gone? Lady, my sweet lady, I'm as close as I can be, and I swear to you, our time has just begun."

Just re-reading that line's making me tear up, lol.

John Denver Fan Radio

2006-02-21T16:13:00.000-08:00

I was playing around on Yahoo's Launch, and had the bright idea to see if there were any John Denver videos (had just watched a few of my other favorite artist, Eminem). Sadly no vids, but there was JD radio. Out of curiosity I clicked on it and found John Denver Fan Radio!

First song up: the original Annie's Song.

Yikes. Went to the Statler Brothers afterwards. It also listed Anne Murray and Marty Robbins as other artists being played on John Denver Fan Radio. Eep.

Thank God I'm A Country Boy

2006-02-17T20:14:00.000-08:00

This isn't the song, but the title to an album reviewed by Emily Parris, who runs the Rocky Mountain High Internet Fanclub (you can subscribe to the emailed newsletter at rockymountainhigh-subscribe@emissives.com).

The reason I'm mentioning this here is that apparently the artist does a cover of "Rocky Mountain High." At first I was screaming NO! at my monitor, THAT'S JUST WRONG, THAT'S JOHN'S SONG!

Emily said it's a faithful rendition of the song, and if she approves, it must be okay. Then I conceded, Okay, John does sing it in third person, "He was born in the summer of his 27th year...." so it would sound like this guy's singing about John.

The address for the internet site is http://www.rockymtnhigh.org/. Give 'em a visit, but by now I think all true John Denver fans already know about Emily's very exhaustive and informative website. She's had it going since 1995, if I remember right! I discovered it for the first time that year at least.

It Amazes Me

2005-12-25T04:58:00.000-08:00

He came looking for the answers
To some questions on his mind
Seeking truth and understanding
In the hope that he would find
A way to better serve his brothers
And his sisters in the sun
Sharing all that he has given
Giving all to everyone

Come and listen to my story
Of a journey once begun
Of a people and their plenty
And their season in the sun
And how they gave themselves to symbols
And things that they could hold
Living lives in desperation
In the fear of letting go

It amazes me
And I know the wind will surely some day
Blow it all away
It amazes me
And I’m so very grateful that you made the world this way

For our plans have come together now
Where do we go from here
Will our differences divide us
Must we always live in fear
For there are things that we must move through
Some things to cast aside
But our father watches over us
Our mother will provide

It amazes me
And I know the wind will someday surely
Blow it all away
It amazes me
And I’m so very grateful that you made the world this way

It amazes me
It amazes me
It amazes me

Words and music by John Denver

Two Favorites, One Connection

2005-12-17T16:36:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to death when I realized, having forgotten this for some reason, that one of my favorite actors (Robert Culp) had an appearance on the music video of one of my favorite entertainers (Eminem). It was magical.

So what happens next, to tie two great favorites together?

I found out that the song John Denver did, "Dreams," was written none-other than for a favorite TV show, "The Greatest American Hero."

It was written by Stephen Geyer for the episode, appropriately enough, called "Dreams." I am assuming John saw it when it was broadcast in the early 80's (the show ran from 1981-1983), liked the song and wanted to do a cover of it.

Here are the lyrics in full (they were abbreviated somewhat in the episode, which was one of the few that ended in a special song, not the usual theme song of "Believe it or Not" sung by Joey Scarbury):

There are dreams that sail away to sea
And some that stay at home
There are dreams in need of company
And some that stand alone
There are dreams that stay inside all day
And never see the light
And if dreams come true
I swear to you
I'll dream of you tonight

In a corner bar the local star
Destroys a passing chord
He sits behind a Mason jar
And dreams of his reward
Then he takes his break
And he counts his take
A dollar buys a beer
A quarter of his life is gone
And what's he doing here

Times are hard
The old backyard is covered in cement
The people seem afraid to dream
And dream don't cost a cent

There are dreams that stay inside all day
And never see the light
And if dreams come true
I swear to you
I'll dream of you tonight
And if dreams come true
I swear to you
I'll dream of you tonight

Words and Music by Stephen Geyer

**********************************************

If reading this has made you go WAITAMINNIT, I remember that show! I LOVE IT! then you'll want to first go out and buy the three seasons (entire series) on DVD, and then sign up on the AWESOMELY good "The Greatest American Hero" message board. It rocks. I'm billswoman on there (of course).

A REALLY Tough John Denver Lyrics Quiz

2005-10-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

Don't go into this thinking, Piece of cake! I made that mistake and ONLY scored 66%!! It's a dilly, and it's well-made and it's so very very hard (at least for me it was).

Give it a try!

John's Nephews

2005-10-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

I was surprised when I read on IMDB.com that John's nephews played the baby "Oscar" in the movie "Ghostbusters II." Am I the only JD fan that didn't know this?

William T. and Henry John Deutschendorf II were in the movie. I don't normally consider watching this one, it being nowhere close to as good as the original, but now I'll have to see it again, just 'cause it's John's own nephews and one's his namesake. Far out.

Leave it to John....

2005-09-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

to make an abjectly miserable birthday at least tolerable.

Currently playing: Rhymes and Reasons (Eve w/JD version)

Here's my JD songlist tonight, while I'm home alone for my birthday.

On my livejournal.

A fan fiction story featuring John Denver

2005-09-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this "Gilligan's Island" story, my rendition of how the Professor and Mary Ann get together, and I know what's on their minds, but they don't know what the other's thinking! I'm trying to come up with a title for the story, and John's "What's On Your Mind" came immediately to me.

It's called "What's On Your Mind." Sadly, the regular readers in the "Gilligan's Island" section said FF.net greatly frowns on using song lyrics in authors' stories, so I edited out the lyrics, although I still give John props for the title. I've written other fandoms' stories using song lyrics as part of them, and never had anything said to me, but these readers of GI stuff keep an eagle-eye out for it, since one of their usual authors got banned for a week. They're not going to let any through! But I digress.

The story was completed some time ago, and I was remiss in updating this entry. It's also one of my top five favorites of any fandom that I've written; it's that good.

You can read it in full on fanfiction.net via this link.

If you go there and read it, a comment on this blog, or a review via FF.net, would be lovely!

"And So It Goes" aka "Circle II"

2005-09-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

Listening to this song recently put me in mind of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans.

"A mansion on a hill is a lovely sight to see, But like any other house it’s only temporary" and "Ashes to ashes, dust into dust, Palaces will crumble, bridges will rust, Mountains will disappear, rivers will dry up" and also "Worldly treasures will all pass away."

I don't mean to make light of what's going on in the deep South, along the Gulf Coast. In fact, I have family and friends there myself that I've not heard from after a week.

But when you think about it, take the Buddhist point of view essentially, it will all pass away. This trauma will be gone, some day, and as Humans have done for millenia, we'll rebuild and start anew until the next natural occurance comes along, and do it all over again.

Ashes to ashes, dust into dust, indeed. Too bad there aren't any hills or mountains in New Orleans, and too bad the waters haven't all run dry yet.

Pilot Error or Faulty Valve?

2005-08-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

I read the initial report of the NTSB so long ago about John's fatal plane crash, and concluded that he'd delayed too long switching the fuel tanks over in the plane, just like a lot of other people (and the NTSB) had concluded. The report said the switch-over handle was in a very awkward position (the pilot, while hanging on to the stick, had to reach behind to switch the handle over.) From an eyewitness account, who heard the plane sputtering and smoking, it sounded like the carbeurator had lost the air/fuel mixture.

Since then, John's family has apparently sued the manufacturers of both the valve and the plane, saying it was a problem with a particular valve, and they sued for wrongful death.

I found an article on CNN that talks about the lawsuit. On Wikipedia, it still maintains what the NTSB report says: pilot error.

I personally feel, now, that it was a valve. John had been flying way too long to neglect something like fuel, as the NTSB report says (it says he'd taken off with too little fuel.) I also know on Wikipedia, everyone and her brother can edit the articles (I've done it myself; you can just click on "edit" and make changes!) So it's nothing to use as a reliable source; I often tell people that now, since I've learned about their editing practice.

So what do you think? Pilot Error? Faulty valve?

"Around and Around" and "Summer" Lyrics

2005-08-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

Written and Performed by John Denver, on the "Poems, Prayers and Promises" album.

I don't have this by John, but by the Red House Painters, and their rendition is awesome. I'm hoping some day to hear John's own rendidtion too.

The lyrics, especially toward the end, are especially poignant, now that John has left this earthly plane.

"...when I'm gone,

I hope that you will think of me
In moments when you're happy
And you're smiling

That a thought will comfort you
On cold and cloudy days
If you are crying

Still I love to see the sun go down
And the world go around
And around and around"

I cried listening to that, it's so beautiful and so apropos. I think of John a lot, including on beautiful days as we've been enjoying.

My sister and I just moved by a lovely lake south of Seattle, and we can walk to a point where we can overlook the lake itself. A few mornings now, I've gone out early, just near sunrise, and the mist on the water makes me sing

"Silently the morning mist is lying on the water,
captive moonlight waiting for the dawn!
And softly like a baby's breath, the breeze begins to whisper,
the sun is coming, quick! you must be gone!"

He always had such perfect lyrics for so many situations, didn't he? Sigh, I miss him still.

Radio Station Playing A Lot of John Denver

2005-08-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

The oldie's station my sister listens to has decided it was time to move up to the 70's (it took them getting into the double-aughts to decide this), in addition to 50's and 60's music, and as a result has been playing JD virtually every day now.

Every so often, while she's listening, she'll yell, "John Denver!" (grin!)

I've heard "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" (the Evening with JD version), "Rocky Mountain High" (original), "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (original), "Calypso" and I believe "Looking for Space."

It's always way-cool when the radio plays JD to this day, isn't it? I'm glad this station's moved into the 70's; as any real JD fan knows, he is still one of the top-selling male vocalists of all time (I think the first Greatest Hits is what now, six-times platinum?) He was certainly one of the most-recognized male artists of the 70's!

I still maintain John's not a country singer, but...

2005-08-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

Hey, if someone wants to give him such awesome kudos, who am I to argue?

CMT, the Country Music Channel, came up with a list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of all time, and here's John's entry (of course):

18. Take Me Home, Country Roads

John Denver (1971)

Written by - John Denver

Maybe they've changed this, or maybe the videos were different, but a few months back I watched this on CMT (I think the only time I've ever been to that network) and this song was No. 14. Regardless, No. 18 isn't shabby.

When I was in college, I was taking a Geography class with an instructor who'd visited deep into the country of China. He said not a single person on the very crowded bus he was on spoke English. He started singing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and by the time he was done, half the people on the bus was singing along with him. He said that song was the only English most of them knew! Isn't that far out?? The song's so popular, they even know it in the depths of China. I think that's a wonderful testament to John's signature song.

And another, from CMT: The Top 100 Love Songs of all time (country, of course):

36. Annie's Song

John Denver

Okay, "Annie's Song" really isn't country, but still, the kudos are great for John.

Next up: from "The Songs of the Century", this is "The Rock Era: 1970-1980" and here's John's entry:

John Denver - Take Me Home Country Roads

Okay, they know he's not country at least!

(The reason I maintain that JD is not country is that with a very few exceptions, I loathe country music. Okay, he crosses into that genre a wee bit, esp. with songs like "Take Me Home...." and "...Country Boy," doesn't he? But all-in-all, I classify him as folk-rock, on the same par as Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel, Bobbie Gentry, et al. You know, the folkie-era. He's actually in a class all by himself, really, isn't he?)

The REAL Best of John Denver

2005-08-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

I was tired of seeing the plethora of JD collections since he left this earthly realm. They seemed to be the same songs re-hashed over and over. I made my own three CDs, which I call "The REAL Best of JD". Some songs are on several discs (eg, 'Sweet Surrender.')

Disc One:
Autograph
Back Home Again
Calypso
Farewell Andromeda
I Want to Live
It Amazes Me
Looking for Space
Matthew
Poems, Prayers and Promises
Rhymes and Reasons
Rocky Mountain High
Rocky Mountain Suite
Summer (Evening with John Denver)
Sweet Surrender
The Eagle and the Hawk
This Old Guitar
Today
Windsong

Disc Two:
Jetplane Trilogy (Leaving, On a Jetplane; Follow Me; Goodbye Again)
Aspenglow
Starwood in Aspen
Sunshine on My Shoulders
Take Me Home, Country Roads
The Wings That Fly Us Home
Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)
For Baby (For Bobbie)
Garden Song
Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)
Blow Up Your TV
Dancing With the Mountains
Downhill Stuff
Spirit
What's On Your Mind
Wild Montana Skies
Season Suite (Summer through Spring)

Disc Three:
And So It Goes (Circle II), with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Around & Around (Cover)
Berkeley Woman (Live)
Bread & Roses
Children of the Universe
Flower That Shattered the Stone
Follow Me (Cover)
Healing Time
I'm Sorry (Cover)
It's About Time
Love is Everywhere
Love is the Master
One World
Potter's Wheel
Singing Skies and Dancing Water
Sweet Surrender (Original)
What Are We Making Weapons For? (Let Us Begin.)
The Wings That Fly Us Home

Notes: Hey, what can I say? I love "The Wings That Fly Us Home." I didn't know it when I made Disk One, or it would've been on that one too. Also, I think John should've made the Jetplane Trilogy in this order: Leaving, On a Jetplane; Goodbye Again; Follow Me. Makes more sense that way, in my opinion, but oh well, he didn't ask me, did he? I've yet to hear John's rendition of "Around and Around," but from what I've heard on the cover song, it sounds like a way-cool song. I really like Red House Painters' version of it, maybe some day I'll hear John's version.

John Denver and Rock & Roll

2005-08-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

I was browsing hits on my p2p Bearshare, and one came up "The Weight" by John Denver, and it said "Bonus track." I've seen songs attributed to John before (eg, "American Pie" of all things), so once the download began, I checked to be sure it was really John, and was amazed to hear that it is, doing rock and roll!

I can't remember who first did "The Weight," I think it might have been Canned Heat or the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but I'd say it's a southern-rock song.

John does a really good job of it too!

Any real JD fan will have heard his rendition of "Johnny B. Good" on the JD album. I can't say I like this version of it, but I used to listen to it any way.

I've also got a copy of John doing a Buddy Holly medley with David Essex ("Rock On"), but I haven't actually listened to it yet.

I think the main thing about John is, as far as I know, he's never written rock and roll, but he's shown he can do rock and roll, if he's of the mind to do so. I think the best he's done yet is "The Weight." If you ever have a chance to hear it, I'd recommend it. In fact, I think I'm going to listen to it again.

"The Wings That Fly Us Home" Has New Meaning To Me

2005-08-12T19:10:00.000-07:00

On July 15, 2005, only 13 days after the anniversary of my father's death, my mother passed away after suffering a stroke. Two days after that was my father's birthday. Mom's birthday was just three days ago.

When I've listened to this song, one of my two number-one favorites by John (the other being "Sweet Surrender," the original version), since then, I cry all over again at the final verse. The two lines that get me the most:

"It lives within a star too far to dream of...." and "It's the fire and the wings that fly us home!"

The first line gets me because it was my mother who introduced me to science fiction, and she and my father helped instill that sense of wonder and imagination that goes along with a love of both science fiction and science fact. I'm truly blessed to have been raised by two intelligent people who encouraged us to never stop learning, never stop questioning and wondering.

The second line gets me because, even though I'm currently labeling myself an atheist (as Mom raised me), I can imagine Mom "going home" as the saying goes, going home to the stars and the distant galaxies and planets that she loved to read about. Dad loved science fiction too (seems that SF and us seven kids were their common bond), so now they're both "home," wherever that may be. All I know is that they're there together.

I guess all-told, I'd say, Thanks for the dreams and the wonder, Mom and Dad, thanks for raising us to never stop wondering and learning and growing.

A New Generation of JD Fan, My Son

2005-04-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

Weetie-pot-pie in Paris. Tall, isn't he?

sg1niner's weetus comments: This is me over 10 pounds ago when i had an awesome time in Paris over Spring-break. I told my Aunt to move the camera until my hand was on top. My hair is also not long anymore (it's curly so it's hard to maintain). A little info- that same day we walked to the tower (this was shot just across the river, i forget the name). When we got there, it took a good hour to get to the top (and three elevators). There were a lot of people there. On the way down, about a hundred METERS up (the part just visible at the bottom) there is a very fancy restaurant. We looked out of place in our sweaty clothes- we walked miles and miles that day. So, yeah, that was that day. We also saw the Louvre, and the arc de Triumph. Notre Dame was also awesome. Well, seeya!!

Top Ten Songs Per Real JD Fans

2005-04-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Without fail, all of us asked, Only TEN??

AMY (OneOfAradia, editor of the SG-1 songvid "The Wings That Fly Us Home"):

1. The Wings That Fly Us Home
2. Pegasus
3. Baby You Look Good To Me Tonight
4. Perhaps Love
5. Wild Montana Skies
6. This Old Guitar
7. Goodbye Again
8. I'm Sorry
9. Calypso
10. Grandma's Feather Bed

BILL (sg1niner's anam-cara):

1. Rocky Mountain High
2. The Eagle and the Hawk
3. Sweet Surrender
4. Aerie
5. Calypso
6. Thank God I'm a Country Boy
7. Leaving on a Jet Plane, Follow Me, Goodbye Again (Jetplane Trilogy)
8. Sunshine on my Shoulder
9. Starwood in Aspen
10. Poems, Prayers and Promises

HELEN (sg1niner):

1. The Wings That Fly Us Home
2. Sweet Surrender (Original)
3. Rhymes and Reasons
4. Poems, Prayers and Promises
5. It Amazes Me
6. Summer (An Evening with John Denver)
7. I Want to Live
8. Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)
9. Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)
10. Autograph/Healing Time (They just seem to go together, don't they?)

"The Wings That Fly Us Home" Stargate SG-1 Songvid

2005-04-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Lyrics by Joe Henry; Music & Performed by John Denver (From the album "Spirit").

RATED: EXTRAORDINARY, Edited by: OneOfAradia, Characters: Jack & Daniel (per editor, could be slash, depending on the glasses you're wearing.)

Do you have a favorite song, by a favorite artist? Picture it being put to an SG-1 song video. You wouldn't like just anything, would you? Neither would I. But OneOfAradia took my favorite song by my favorite artist, John Denver, and did poetry and art with it.

It was written by Joe Henry for John Denver, of their relationship as soul-friends, anam-cara. This shows the same thing between Jack and Daniel. I can't tell you enough how beautiful it is, set to a songvid or not. It took me hearing the song several times before I could do so without weeping. Here are the lyrics:

There are many ways of being in this circle we call life
A wise man seeks an answer, burns his candle through the night
Is a jewel just a pebble that found a way to shine
Is a heros blood more righteous than a hobos sip of wine

Did I speak to you one morning on some distant world away
Did you save me from an arrow, did you lay me in a grave
Were we brothers on a journey, did you teach me how to run
Were we broken by the waters, did I lie you in the sun

I dreamed you were a prophet in a meadow
I dreamed I was a mountain in the wind
I dreamed you knelt and touched me with a flower
I awoke with this: a flower in my hand

I know that love is seeing all the infinite in one
In the brotherhood of creatures; who the father, who the son
The vision of your goodness will sustain me through the cold
Take my hand now to remember when you find yourself alone (you're never alone)

And the spirit fills the darkness of the heavens
It fills the endless yearning of the soul
It lives within a star too far to dream of
It lives within each part and is the whole
It's the fire and the wings that fly us home
Fly us home, fly us home

You can find this and "Perhaps Love" at gypsy-gateway. I found this video via the great search feature at Kawoosh! To quote John Denver, "Kinda freaked me out."