Joann Merritt's Essays

That Good Ol’ Country Music
October, 1985

This past year I’ve been tuned in to country music, station KBRD. I dislike being awakened by a jangling alarm clock, so at night I set station KBRD on automatic. I wake up to a soft yodel - not John Denver or Margo Smith, but the yodeling cowboys of the bird world - Upland Sandpipers. If I don’t rise and shine I’m scolded by the early morning country preacher - Brother Cactus Wren. In the background I hear a Gospel quartet composed of Bullock’s Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Western Kingbird and Northern Mockingbird imitating the Statler Brothers and Alabama. They sing lots of choruses. Then the CBW’s (Country Bird Watcher) diminutive Barbara Mandrell - the Bewick’s Wren - entertains us with lively melodies and vigorous tail twitching.

Listen! There’s a staccato tic-tic-tic-tic of the Verdin that sounds like the typewriter keys on Dolly Parton’s song 9 to 5. I’m now awake and ready for a cup of coffee when the Rufous-sided Towhee calls out “Drink your teee!” to prove that Olivia Newton-John is not the only English country singer. In America the Rufous’ cousin, Green-tailed Towhee, is considered to be the cat’s meow. CBW’s Johnny Rodriquez - El Paisano the Roadrunner - sounds his drum roll to introduce the next performers, the Country Roses, Rose Ann Cash and Rose-breasted Grosbeak who are number one on the hit parade whether you consider their style country or pop. Connie Smith was formerly a teacher and our Ovenbird is said to introduce itself “Teacher, teacher, teacher” although I have never heard it. Conway Twitty has his band of “Twitty Birds” and I have mine. The White-crowned Sparrows sing a soft sweet lullaby when they gather in the mesquite trees at sundown.

CBW’s Charlie Pride - the Black-headed Grosbeak - sings his sad sweet ballads. When Eddie Raven sings, our Chihuahuan Ravens give him numerous curtain “caws”. EmmyLou isn’t the only Harris who can sing. I once heard five Harris Sparrows whistling their sweet quavering song at dusk. A guest appearance was made by CBW’s Anne Murray - the Canada Warbler. She didn’t sing one note, just stopped briefly to show off her black necklace. You would think Minnie Pearl and Grandpa Jones were on stage when the White-winged Dove whoops it up with “Whoop-whoop-de-do” and the Swainson’s Hawk shrieks from the balcony. The Mourning Dove adds “coo-coo”. (Could that be an opinion?)

Wait! It doesn’t end yet - Willie Nelson doesn’t compare to CBW’s Poor-will. Eat your heart out, Willie, Poor-will’s outdoor concert at night is the very best. Oh, yes, this is my kind of country, my kind of music. John Denver sings it best “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”. Y’all flock to the country and we’ll have a Lark (species?) listening because I plan to stay tuned to KBRD.

Don doesn’t like my kind of music. He says he prefers “Pops in the Pits”. I’ll bet even there they have some country - maybe the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band?