The Kerrville Song: Raw, Spiced, and Seasoned “Ring of Stones”

Crow’s spoken version of this post is here.

Bobby Bridger wrote the Kerrville Festival anthem, “Heal in the Wisdom”…but I like to think I wrote a Kerrville campground theme song. This winter Auntie Crow’s Corner will interview Bobby Bridger and I can’t wait.

Meanwhile, the Welcome Home Kerrville Festival is going on from October 7 to October 16 in the hill country of Texas. https://kerrvillefolkfestival.ticketspice.com

There are two versions of “Ring of Stones” on my newest release, Raw, Spiced, and Seasoned by Crow Johnson Evans.

The raw was recorded live in 1983 at the festival… and the seasoned one is my 1983 recording in the studio especially spiced and seasoned by Rush Beesley, who produced the ’83 album “Picture the Thought”. I love full circles. We got to work together in 1983 and in 2022!

He added a creek and the sounds of a crackling fire.. so appropriate for the old days when fires were possible on the ranch. The drought has brought fine dust to the hill country but I know there is hot picking all over the place right now.

Across the span of 50 years, people have met on the Quiet Valley Ranch, swapped songs, and formed a community like no other.

Here’s the Raw version of “Ring of Stones” recorded live from the Main Stage at Kerrville in ’83.

Ring of Stones – lyrics and music by Crow Johnson (ASCAP)

I’m facin’ Tennessee and you’re on some western flight

Both of us are gonna play in some ole bar tonight.

Ashes on your boots and campfire in my clothes

When we’ll meet again, only heaven knows.

If wishes were dollar bills, I could buy the moon

I’d probably just give it up, to hear you play another tune.

Headlights from passing cars, shining so bright

If I were a dancer, I could spin the stars tonight.

Somewhere in the Texas hills, there’s a ring of stones

Burned branches of mesquite, cold as some ole drifter’s bones

Somewhere in the Texas hills, the sun knows the song

We sang to each other, to celebrate the dawn

If melodies were road signs you’d never lose your way

It’s some kind of holy ground made when people sing and play

Cigarettes from a passing truck shooting sparks into the sky

That’s one night I’ll remember til the day I die.

Somewhere in the Texas hills, there’s a ring of stones

Burned branches of mesquite, cold as some ole drifter’s bones

Somewhere in the Texas hills, the sun knows the song

We sang to each other, to celebrate the dawn

Whew, there’s nothing like a live, intelligent, and listening audience.

And here’s the beautifully seasoned version.

The Ring of Stones is at the Crow’s Nest, just up the hill from where you might be right now. Come by and share a tune!