About That Song: “Copper”

“And her hair was bright as a sunrise, shining like a copper coin in a cowboy’s eyes.“

Click here to hear Crow “talking” this blog..

A cowboy story song with a twist at the end… wait for it. Many of the songs on this 1989 album, As the Crow Flies, have a country-folk flavor. James Wilson of Aerie Designs in Weaverville, North Carolina did the cover art. While Paul Hughes recorded the project at his Wonder Valley Recording Studio in Cave Springs, Arkansas. Richard Hartrick played fiddle and mandolin.

Gary Paczosa mixed the project at Nightingale Studios in Nashville, TN.

When I’d play this song at shows in Nashville, TN, at the Bluebird — the talented Jan Marra would join me for harmonies.

Copper by Crow Johnson (ASCAP)

We followed the shows, the county fairs, and rodeos. Daddy was a singin’ cowboy in his day. We sold cotton candy, cold beer, and cokes. Sometimes we’d join Daddy singin’ for the folks.

Well, Momma hated traveling, living here and there. She left Daddy with three kids and one had bright red hair. My brother got the freckles, and my sister got the looks, and I got the job of figuring the books.

Sister was an angel. She kept things going on. She could make things better with a big hug and a song. We all called her copper on account of her hair. In every town, men gathered to stand around and stare.

Cause she had green eyes, a meadow in the spring, rhinestones flashing like back when Daddy’d sing. And her hair was bright as the sunrise. Shining like a copper coin in a cowboy’s eyes.

Well, standing in the aisles, the line would go for miles. Each of them just waiting for one of sister’s smiles. Daddy’d sing “Oh bury me not on the lone prairie” and sister’d run the beer machine and sing the harmony.

We all called her copper on account of her hair. In every town, men gathered to stand around and stare.

Twenty years have passed since we lived on the road. I guess it’s time at last that our story’s told. While they were watching sister and thinking wicked things. I was taking watches and my brother took the rings.

Cause she had green eyes, a meadow in the spring. Like rhinestones flashing back when Daddy’d sing. And her hair was bright as a sunrise, shining like a copper coin in a cowboy’s eyes.