Outrageous Inspiration for a Country Song

By Karen Friday

“Sadie is howling, and whining, and acting like a crazy female.”

Autumn colors reflected in a fishing pond beside the quaint cabin. A family get-away for four in the mountains of Tennessee.

In trip planning, paw marks indicated a pet-friendly rental. The foursome included me and my husband along with Sadie, a female dachshund and Big-T, a male pug. Pets we refer to as our “kids.” The little furry ones. Our real offspring are people who are grown adults and not too furry.

Sadie does not like new adventures or riding in a vehicle. She is a homebody (home dog). Traveling in a Chevy truck, she paced in the back seat whining with displeasure. Going from window to window, fidgety and antsy. After arriving, she nervously investigated the temporary abode and anxiously refused to eat for hours.

The dogs and I spent our days at the cabin, while my husband rode his motorcycle on the local roads. Sadie spent most days on her ‘last’ nerve and mine.

Each night we put the dogs in the other room, in their own personal crates with cozy bedding. Dog-sleeping quarters we call “your house” brought from home. Surely, the familiar would calm like a soothing balm applied to wounds. (Or choose to get over it by licking their wounds.)

Sadie’s howling commenced the first night like a death-howl piercing the dark. It was un-nerving! Big-T (the pug) would eventually join in with whimpering, “What’s wrong with her?” She was upsetting her little brother. We took turns getting up and scolding her, tapping the crate; “No! Go to sleep Sadie!” Each time the tapping became more forceful with sleep deprivation.

The experience triggered memories of crawling out of bed when my children were whimpering babies. No scolding. No forceful tapping on a crib; only tenderly and gently feeding, cuddling, and rocking with lullabies. And sleep-deprivation.

Our daughter contacted me by phone text. As I typed the message about howling, whining, and acting like a crazy female, I thought the words were fitting lyrics for a Country song. Some lyrics (besides being about trucks and we have one of those too) are about dogs or females acting crazy over something. (I can be on the brink of craziness myself, just not over the same stuff.) We have friends who are Country artists, although we never pitched the idea. Our nephew, Andy Friday, works in Country Music management in Nashville, does some studio playing, and likes to write Country songs. (“Andy, do you think you could finish these lyrics? Make sure to include, my last nerve.” Aunt Karen)

As Christians, earth is our temporary abode. One day we will travel to a heavenly home where we will spend eternity.

This present fallen world can make us anxious, nervous, whiny, and cause us to act crazy over some things. On the inside, we may feel as though we are pacing back and forth within the windows of our soul. Unfamiliar surroundings may cause us to be fidgety, restless, and uneasy.

Ready for inspiring lyrics?

For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

Christ speaks words of peace to us. Applying the spirit’s soothing balm to our deep wounds and restless minds.

Jesus calms our ‘last’ nerve.

Never scolding, but softly tapping on our hearts; gently whispering, “Hush child and rest in me.” Holding us in his comforting embrace. Singing joyful songs as lullabies over his children.

God is living among us, let his love calm all your fears.

© 2014 by Karen Friday

Disclaimer: This writing is meant to be a fun, light-hearted take on some Country Music and how outrageous experiences can inspire us to write songs, articles, and other literary works. While a pun was intended, malice and harm was not, so lighten up. 🙂