Pony Express

I was driving on a side road through the Coconino Forest into Flagstaff, Arizona. As the trees were rushing by I had this nudging that I should write a song about what it is like to be alone inside of those tree lined dirt trails on a horse with no freeway noise; nothing but stars and hoofs on trail. I had this vision of a song that was so sparse you could feel the space and the silence around you. True and clean. I thought of a Pony Express rider and what it would have been like back then at full gallop at night alone with the stars. When I went to write it a few months later some of that happened but this side story unfolded which was filled with a lot more action. The amazing thing is that after I wrote it I checked the places and dates and I was spot on in place and time. I Googled the history of the Pony Express in Northern Nevada after writing it because I didn't want to misrepresent the period or the Native Americans in the area. I certainly didn’t want to misrepresent the Paiute’s especially since I play some of those casinos LOL. But, that really happened - not the exact story, but the Pony Express riders being waylaid by the Paiutes did actually happen and in that place too. I am planning a mountain bike ride on the same route.

Here is the way that the main character came about. I have been involved with a charity called Spirit Therapies for the last five years. My band plays their annual fundraiser at the South Point Casino every year. Spirit Therapies takes handicapped kids and give them the opportunity to ride horses. They are now working with wounded warriors as well. It is really an amazing organization. www.spirittherapies.org That is where the boy in the story came from. He is not a full paraplegic but his legs don't work. Everything else does though and he is able to pull himself up onto a pony and fulfill the impossible dream of serving his country like his brothers who are off at war. "My legs don't work but on a horse I'm as fast as any man..." This song takes me there every time I play it. Especially when the wagon wheel size tumbleweeds are rolling across trail past the high blue cactus. I can feel the wind in my face blowing the brim of my hat up. Maybe this really happened. Somewhere in history some kid who couldn't walk did something heroic on a horse.

Recording notes ~ Pony Express. The wind is played by Jeff as Bobby's boy skirts the ridge.

John Gardner - Drums/Percussion
David Francis - Bass
Jeff Roach - Keyboards/Organ/Synth Wind
Rob McNelley - Electric Guitars
Pat McGrath - Acoustic Guitar
Steve Hinson - Steel Guitar
Chris Heers – Vocals / Background Vocals