Dickey Betts wrote the song "Blue Sky" for the Allman Brothers Band that is so lovely and sweet, and on this day of love that we don't really celebrate is a good listen. I used to play this a lot before Stango and I were married, and "borrowed" a CD of his that I had in my possession when we experienced a couple of years' relationship hiatus.
The band just accepted a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award on Sunday without Dickey. The band fully deserved this award and worked so hard to get there. Congratulations, Allmans! It was a true privilege to see you perform at the Beacon Theater.
But the estrangement bothers me. Naturally I speak from the outside. I know nothing about the interpersonal relationships. Dickey hasn't played with the Allmans in many years. Some say Duane was right. Some say Dickey is right. I don't know who is right, who is wrong, and maybe everyone is right and everyone is wrong. Dead or alive (Duane passed away), we can get beyond the differences, no?
Can't the grown men all embrace the love and get past their issues/egos/pride? Am I too naive to think a bear hug is the cure-all? Familial estrangement usually runs deep and complicated, but it always hurts me to hear of it. If we don't start at home, and our own brothers and sisters, our own flesh and blood can't get along, how exactly will we find world peace?
This video is from the good ole' days.
And the music is stellar.
The lyrics, written by Betts:
Walk along the river, sweet lullaby, it just keeps on flowing.
It don't worry 'bout where it's going, no, no.
Don't fly, Mister Blue bird, I'm just walking down the road,
Early morning sunshine tell me all I need to know.
You're my blue sky, you're my sunny day.
Lord, you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way,
Turn your love my way, yeah.
Good old Sunday morning, bells are ringing everywhere.
Going to Carolina, it won't be long and I'll be there.
Wish I could embed the video from Relix that shows the entire acceptance speech, but I can't figure it out so I present instead this news piece covering the event:
Time to go embrace the loved ones and give Stango a thank-you hug for introducing this into my sphere back in the day.
Everything happens for a reason. A cultural commentary with a lotta rock-n-roll, semitism, and parenting. See our Etsy Shop! Buy HeadyBands, Hoodies and more at www.wholephamily.etsy.com
2 comments:
Dickey never had a problem with Duane (who died in '71). Back in 2000 the band got tired of Dickey's "bullying" and his playing suffered because he was wasted all the time. I love Dickey, but the band has prospered without him, while Dickey frequently still shows up wasted to his band's shows. Life goes on...
Actually, it was more a matter of (family-like?) jealousy. One of the "brothers" (with initials B.T.) decided to turn the other brothers against Dickey. This clever but whiney brother, who wanted to play the "leader" role, called the others at home to complain about & trash brother Dickey - also that he didn't want to play any more if Dickey continued to play.
After manipulating the other founding members, especially Greg Allman, to see things his way it wasn't long after that Dickey received an extremely painful & unfair notice - that he was no longer part of the "family" he had held together for many years.
I don't expect B.T. to ever hug & forget but possibly some of the others some day (hopefully soon!).
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