Idaho Love I discovered came in many forms. I originally began this article after enjoying a song by an Idaho Songwriter, Ron Watkins, called “Redneck Picnic“.

I put out the call for love songs and got everything from a woman’s love of her horse to a guy’s infatuation with his truck. There were songs about cheating and divorce – not what I was looking for.

Then I met Brook Faulk. Brook is an extraordinary performer and delight. She shared a song she wrote called, Take Your Time. Her performance is exquisite. She is a true professional and a pleasure to work with.

Brook Faulk says of her song:

I wrote the song, Take Your Time, over a decade ago, as a woman approaching her late 20s, who was realizing just how quickly time goes by.

One of the guitarists in my band at the time, Doug McCullough, used that phrase often onstage when someone was about to perform a solo. The Texas roadhouse blues player would drawl encouragingly to his fellow instrumentalists, ‘Take Your Time’. I often pondered on that phrase, and it became more meaningful to me in relation to my life, especially where romance was concerned.

I realized that as a young woman, I had always been in a hurry to get to the next thing and see what the future held, to know where something was going instead of just enjoying the moment.

I realized: that is what love is truly about: being present, enjoying the moment you’re in instead of worrying about what will happen next. I wanted to learn to treasure every beautiful second, instead of letting life pass me by and wondering where it all had gone. I still try to reflect on this notion in my daily life, so that I don’t miss one blissful, precious, ordinary second.

Life and love are a gift and a blessing.

At that same time, I was also flying from Alaska to Nashville every couple weeks to record and play with the original members of the Waylon Jennings Band. Jerry “Jigger” Bridges, Waylon’s bass player and road manager of almost 30 years, was my Producer. There is no doubt that his Muscle Shoals roots influenced the R&B/Motown feel of this arrangement, which I recorded in his Mississippi studio with the rest of the Waylon guys somewhere around 2007/2008.

Take Your Time

Words and music by Brook Faulk copyright 2017

I remember the day you took me in

I fell so hard, I knew it would end

So touch me now, don’t go too fast

Let’s make it last

Ah, when you kissed me for the whole world to see

I held you and you loved me

For a moment – a moment in time

You were mine

Take my heart like a thief in the night

Take my breath like the wind in summertime

Take your time like a wish comin’ back to the shore

Back to the place where I am yours

I lay here tonight, your name on my breath

I can still feel the weight of your head on my chest

My heart beats faster, so tender and true

Only for you

Take my heart like a thief in the night

Take my breath like the wind in summertime

Take your time like a wish comin’ back to the shore

Back to that place where I will always be yours

The next featured artist this column is Robert Houghton.

Robert Houghton was included in a previous column (Songwriters Write to Unite). He was actually the first to send me a real love song inspired by love at first site: when a man sees a woman and can’t stop thinking about her. Robert married the woman and still feels the same to this day.

Robert Houghton was on a California road trip, driving along by himself when it hit him he was in love. The words replayed on repeat in his mind. He wrote this song nearly 20 years ago, but it is just like yesterday. The song brings it back fresh. He says, “[I used to tell] audiences ‘this is a song I wrote for my wife, Jill’ and look at her in the audience. Well, she gets embarrassed easily, so I had to stop doing that.”

Robert Houghton is Rock ‘n Roll, but for me he went back in time to when he recorded an acoustic version Every Day, Every Hour. Here are the lyrics to Robert’s song and the link to the song on YouTube to listen as you read the words. https://youtu.be/tLmCIjCjBfo

Every Day, Every Hour

Words and music by Robert Houghton copyright 2017

Looking out the window, staring at the moonlight shining down from the sky

My mind drifts off to another place – another place and time.

It’s then that I realize, every day, every hour, every week of the year

I’m in love with you.

Well, I’ll never take you for granted and I’ll never let you go

I don’t always tell you I love you, so I just wanted you to know

Every day, every hour, every week of the year

I’m in love with you.

Now for the songwriter that inspired this column: Ron Watkins and his song: Redneck Picnic.

Redneck Romance is exactly what we country women love. We love a man with a pick-up truck and a backbone who has a gentle heart and a kind smile. Faded jeans and a hat pushed back are what stands out in a crowded bar. Ron Watkins‘ song offers an easy two-step beat and theme that speaks to a redneck woman’s heart.

According to his Number One Music profile, Idaho Singer-Songwriter, Ron Watkins, loves writing lyrics then challenging himself to put melodies to them. I suspect there was more at play here though. This song is about actually meeting his future wife.

Nashville Recording Artist, Mike Bryant, in his review of this song wrote: “Ron Watkins delivers a song in the great classic country tradition. With wonderful clear vocals, it makes the song delightful to listen to. The lyrics are very well written and the melody and instrumentations are great.”

Here is the link on Number One Music.

Redneck Picnic

Words and music by Ron Watkins copyright 2017

Yeah, she walked into the room lookin’ like a million bucks

I had nothin’ left to lose, so I thought I’d try my luck

I stumbled to the bar, ordered a double shot of “Jack”

And I thought, “Man, I made it this far; there ain’t no turnin’ back

Then the courage set in and I waltzed across the floor

Not knowin’ how it would end; I met her at the door

“Well, excuse me ma’am, but you sure look mighty fine

Nah, you don’t know who I am, but I can show you a real good time.”

We could go ridin’ in my truck, Find us a hide-away

Get stuck in the mud, We’ll jump out and play

We can shoot my shotguns, Cook some hotdogs on a stick

What do ya say to a redneck picnic?

Yeah, she walked into the room lookin’ like a million bucks

I had nothin’ left to lose, so I thought I’d try my luck

She was way out of my league, so I thought she’d say, “No”

Man, she knocked me right off my feet when she said,

“What are we waitin’ for?”

We went ridin’ in my truck, Found us a hide-away

We got stuck in the mud and we jumped out to play

We shot my shotguns, Cooked some hotdogs on a stick

Yeah, I took that lady on a redneck picnic.

We went ridin’ in my truck, Found us a hide-away

We got stuck in the mud and we jumped out to play

We cooked some hotdogs and we jumped into the crick

Oh, I took that lady on a redneck picnic

We went ridin’ in my truck, Findin’ a hide-away

We listened to country songs right up to the light of day

We cooked some hotdogs and we jumped into the crick

Yeah, I impressed that lady on a redneck picnic

Oh, I married that lady on a redneck picnic.

Inspiration Happens

As often happens, I found this whole Redneck Romance thing inspiring. In my song the idea that the person you fall in love with can do anything: Rope the sun, Ride on a flame… came to me in the wee early hours of the morning. When I met Russ, he was the General Contractor in charge of multiple million dollar remodels in the Bay Area of California. Handsome and tall, with a beautiful shiny white Ford pick-up truck, he was pretty impressive.

We met at the Starlight Ballroom. He was taking beginning ballroom. I was very accomplished. We partnered up to learn west-coast swing and began to practice in the ballroom of one of the eleven million dollar homes he had built in Los Altos. Imagine my surprise when he told me “Honey, you’re the one.” My song is titled, “I Am the One”. It is pure fun and absolutely how I still feel today.

I Am the One

Words and music by Patti Jo Roth-Edwards copyright 2017



That man can do anything – rope the sun – ride on a flame

Wrestle and tame a hurricane and he says, “I am the One”

I heard his step out on the porch – met him as he reached the door

I guess I kinda melted as he put me in the Ford

Then we went for a ride down to the riverside

He looked kinda dreamy-eyed – said, “Honey, you’re the One.

That man can do anything – rope the sun – ride on a flame

Wrestle and tame a hurricane and he says, “I am the One”

When I went to sleep that night, I had the strangest dream.

It was so real, I didn’t know I was asleep

I saw that man had rounded up all the stars in the sky

Offered them with chocolates and my favorite wine.

That man can do anything – rope the sun – ride on a flame

Wrestle and tame a hurricane and he says, “I am the One”

I heard his step on my front porch – ran to meet him at the door

We hugged and kissed, he put me in the Ford

Went to see the preacher man, he said before this day is done

I’m gonna make you my wife ‘cause, Honey, you’re the One

That man can do anything – rope the sun – ride on a flame

Wrestle and tame a hurricane and he says, “I am the One”

That man can do anything and I’m his only one.

Ah, Love.

Idaho Love

Contact:

Brook Faulk: https://www.facebook.com/BrookFaulk

Robert Houghton: https://www.facebook.com/robert.houghton.94

Ron Watkins: https://www.numberonemusic.com/ronwatkins

Patti Jo Roth-Edwards: pjesongs@gmail.com