{"id":578,"date":"2009-12-17T20:32:45","date_gmt":"2009-12-17T20:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/annetylerlord.com\/?p=578"},"modified":"2009-12-17T20:32:45","modified_gmt":"2009-12-17T20:32:45","slug":"why-dont-fence-me-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/2009\/12\/17\/why-dont-fence-me-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Why “Don’t Fence Me In?”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although my favorite choice for music genres isn’t cowboy songs, the first time I heard the song, “Don’t Fence Me In,” I bust a gut laughing. \u00a0It struck a very deep cord in my soul and I could feel the words expressing one of my deep inner desires. \u00a0I want to be free, to experience life on my terms, to meander over the land, think about life and write the stories I have always dreamed about.<\/p>\n

However, on my quest for freedom and the writing life, inner voices usually scream at me; \u00a0you’ll never be good enough<\/em>,\u00a0you’ll never get published<\/em>,\u00a0your friends and family will think you are crazy, they will hate what you write<\/em>. \u00a0And, my life wasn’t the perfect picture I wanted yet. \u00a0I would love to live in the country or the woods, but live in the city. \u00a0I love to be free to write, but have felt overwhelmed by circumstances and the demands of life.<\/p>\n

In addition, the wider culture seems to impose creative constriction, squeezing us so tight we can hardly breath. We are brainwashed at every turn with noise telling us\u00a0what to think, to feel, and to buy. \u00a0It is killing our creativity and squashing our spirit. \u00a0How many more works of art, inventions, and scientific discoveries would be created if the loud voices of mediocrity and mass consumerism were not contributing to the demise of creativity and imagination? And, don’t get me started on the educational system geared towards testing outcomes!<\/p>\n

Well, that’s enough insanity!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I have come to realize that freedom comes from within ourselves regardless of our life circumstances. \u00a0And, we CAN become more conscious and aware of the messages we receive from other people and our culture. \u00a0 We can choose what to take in and what to disregard. \u00a0And, we can teach this to our children. \u00a0That is true freedom.<\/p>\n

I have adopted the motto, “Don’t Fence Me In,” to remind myself to take risks, to do what is in my heart, and to expand my world when old habits take over. \u00a0It is also to remind myself NOT to build fences in my own life that constrict creativity and growth. \u00a0Finally, I want to be aware of the fences other people build that influence my life.<\/p>\n

One of the most appealing aspects to this song is how easy-going the music and lyrics meander together. \u00a0It is relaxing just to sink into the feeling of the song, imagining long days out on the range with nothing to do but roam. \u00a0My favorite verse is:<\/p>\n

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
\nAnd gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
\nAnd I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences
\nDon’t fence me in.<\/em><\/p>\n

Want to Hear the Song?<\/h4>\n

This is my favorite modern version with video by\u00a0David Byrne<\/a> The beat of Brazilian percussionists are the perfect addition.<\/p>\n

A really cool modern version was done by\u00a0Harry Connick Jr.<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They use this song in a commercial for\u00a0Nike Hockey<\/a> It cracks me up!<\/p>\n

An entertaining jazz version by\u00a0Louis Armstrong<\/a> and Velma Middleton- Funny banter!<\/p>\n

A classic version performed by\u00a0Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fun version with Bob Hope and the Muppets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Goofy version done by\u00a0Disney <\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lyrics to the song, “Don’t Fence Me In,” as sung by Bing Crosby<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,<\/p>\n

Don’t fence me in.
\nLet me ride through the wide open country that I love,
\nDon’t fence me in.<\/p>\n

Let me be by myself in the evenin’ breeze,
\nAnd listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
\nSend me off forever but I ask you please,
\nDon’t fence me in.<\/p>\n

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
\nUnderneath the western skies.
\nOn my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
\nTill I see the mountains rise.<\/p>\n

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
\nAnd gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
\nAnd I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences
\nDon’t fence me in.<\/p>\n

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
\nDon’t fence me in.
\nLet me ride through the wide open country that I love,
\nDon’t fence me in.<\/p>\n

Let me be by myself in the evenin’ breeze
\nAnd listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
\nSend me off forever but I ask you please,
\nDon’t fence me in<\/p>\n

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
\nUnderneath the western skies
\nOn my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
\nTill I see the mountains rise.
\nBa boo ba ba boo.<\/p>\n

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
\nAnd gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
\nAnd I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences
\nDon’t fence me in.
\nNo.
\nPapa, don’t you fence me in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Although my favorite choice for music genres isn’t cowboy songs, the first time I heard the song, “Don’t Fence Me In,” I bust a gut laughing. \u00a0It struck a very deep cord in my soul and I could feel the words expressing one of my deep inner desires. \u00a0I want to be free, to experience […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,50],"tags":[93,106,128,171],"class_list":["post-578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-just-for-fun","category-the-writers-life","tag-creativity","tag-fun","tag-music","tag-writers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/578\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingwithlivewires.com\/annetylerlord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}