Drop A Line

Recorded and mixed at a top secret studio; so secret it’s not remembered when or where or by whom. Except that Gary Sadker co-produced it for Red Ridge Entertainment; Nashville, TN.

The Story behind the Songs Newsletter Series
October 30, 2004 Issue #25

Drop A Line – written by JR Still 1991

It was my first year in college in Claremore, Oklahoma when I got my first ever letter from my dad. I was truly moved because I never thought of my dad as being the letter writing kind. He seldom would even call anyone to keep in touch let alone take the time to write a hand written letter. No email back then. He and I as one I suppose were always the lone wolf or black sheep. Always moving and never really settling down in any one place long enough to make lasting friends. But this letter showed a whole other side to this man I thought I knew so well as my dad. He was different. Perhaps he felt alone in some way. Our team of two was no more. I was growing up, leaving him behind and taking off to make my mark in the world.

I kept the letter as a cherished document and rediscovered it a few years later after I had moved to Nashville, Tennessee and was really starting to grow up to the ways of the world outside of the simple life in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas. Big city, big dreams and all alone. Now, I was missing that father and son bond we shared. I was homesick for the simple pleasures of ‘dropping a line’ and going fishing with my dad.

And so became the song: “Today I got your letter asking how I’d been, you say that mama’s wondering when I’ll be home again; You say the folks are missing me but everyone’s doing fine; Since you hadn’t heard from me thought you’d drop a line.”

Let me back up just a little. My dad had gotten re-married to a lovely woman and I was accepted as part of that family, thus the reference to ‘mama’ and the ‘folks’.

The song continues with my reply: “Daddy your letter brought some tears to my eyes, I know it’s taken me a while but now I realise. In my quest for success I never found the time; to call you and mom to say ‘hello’ or just drop a line.”

Chorus: “So let’s drop a line, just like ole times. Get the fishing poles down and daddy don’t forget mine; so you, me and mama can drop a line.”

I thought I was being cleaver with the double meaning of ‘drop a line’ when I wrote the song. It seems to work though.

The last verse is a nice trip for me down memory lane in the fall (autumn) and that holiday time of year when the pull of going home and being with family is stronger than ever. “The leaves are changing colours; summer’s almost gone. Holidays are around the bend; I can’t wait to get back home. Nothing’s gonna slow me down or hold me back this time. It feels so good to go back home and just drop a line.”

Family and fishin’. What can really be more important than that?! I hope you’ve enjoyed yet another story behind the song.


I hope you’ve enjoyed the story behind the song. If you’d like other information you can check out the CD credits at www.jamesray.info/cdcredits.html