By Ed Stozek
For The Herald
Produced and directed by filmmaker Ken Burns, best known for his documentary films and television series chronicling American history and culture, PBS aired the first of eight two-hour episodes of Country Music on Sept. 15, 2019.
Along with the music and recording artists, the documentary also featured unforgettable stories based on the hardships and joys shared by everyday people.
Many of those stories became the basis for many country songs. The first episode, Beginnings-1933, introduced the first “hillbilly music” rising stars and included ballads, hymns and stories of the Carter Family, as well as Jimmie Rodgers and his combination of blues and yodelling.
The ensuing seven episodes covered a variety of country artists and some of my favourites, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Judds, Garth Brooks, and Willie Nelson.
In one interview Willie Nelson referred to a quote originally made by Harlan Howard. “1950s country music is three chords and the truth.”
Howard originally noted that he was captured by the songs as much as by the singer. “They grabbed my heart. The reality of country music moved me. Even when I was a kid, I liked the sad songs, songs that talked about true life. I recognized this music as a simple plea. It beckoned me.”
Howard completed only nine years of formal education, though he was an avid reader. When he was 12 years of age, he began writing songs, “an enthusiasm fueled by an appetite for books and an ear for a telling phrase. I take a whole life story and compress it into three minutes.”
Howard became a songwriter mainly composing country music songs in a career spanning six decades with over 4,000 songs to his credit.
In 1961 Harlan Howard had 15 compositions on the country music charts. Some of Howard’s songs became country music standards including “I Fall To Pieces” (Patsy Cline), “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” (Buck Owens), “Heartaches By The Number” (Ray Price), “Why Not Me?” (The Judds) and “Somewhere Tonight” (Highway 101).
On Mar. 23, 2023, Willie Nelson released his 73rd studio album, a tribute to Harlan Howard entitled, “I Don’t Know A Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard.”
Willie’s first job as a songwriter was initiated by Harlan Howard for the publishing company, Pamper Music. Willie Nelson ended up composing many songs that only had three chords and other originals such as “Crazy” that were very complex. Seeing Willie perform at the Minot State Fair in the early 1990s was a memorable musical highlight. We also made several trips to see other country recording artists including Reba McIntyre, Kenny Rogers, Highway 101, Garth Brooks and The Judds.
Another Harlan Howard quote noted, “A lot of songs you write are just for exercise - just pencil sharpeners.” As a person who has dabbled in writing poetry and songs, it always is a great deal of fun “noodling” on the guitar and writing down ideas. One can spend a great deal of time and energy trying to elaborate on a song idea. As Harlan would say it, “I’m always collecting emotions for future reference.”
As a young boy I recall one of my mother’s notebooks with her beautiful handwriting and the lyrics to many of her favourite songs including “Red River Valley,” “You Are My Sunshine” and “Keep On The Sunny Side.”
After ordering an acoustic guitar from the Eaton’s catalogue, it was a challenge to learn how to play it. In an era long before computers and the Internet one had to rely on other options of how to tune a guitar, learning those three basic chords and figuring out where they fit in a song. “Keep On The Sunny Side” was one of the first songs that I learned to play. It also helped that my sister had a Carter Family record for me to listen to.
I enjoy playing the three chord songs and especially lyrics that tell a story.
There’s an old joke. What do you get back when you play country music backwards? Your wife returns, your dog comes back to life, and you get out of prison.
Just three chords and the truth.
