Chicory Blue– a Co-written song with Buddy Mondlock
Another treat from Kerrville Festival this year was getting to hear and hang out with other songwriters. Buddy Mondlock is a performer/teacher/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Janis Ian, David Wilcox, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. He grew up near Chicago, but lives with his wife, Polly, in Nashville. https://buddymondlock.bandcamp.com/album/filament
He’s a bit shy and soft-spoken, while I’m chicken when it comes to initiating stuff. But somehow we agreed to take a crack at songwriting together. And oh, what fun we had! It was a delightful adventure, start to finish.
We agreed on a time for a Zoom session so we could see and hear each other live in real time. After declaring that trying stupid things was also part of our job, we agreed not to be embarrassed by what popped up. It’s a banjo tune titled “Chicory Blue”. It’s playful and thoughtful at the same time. Here are the words. I’ll send the music later, it’s brand new.
Chicory Blue (Crow Johnson Evans/Buddy Mondlock)-06/26/2025 ASCAP
“There’s a fence line by the road that leads to your gate
Where the scissor tails and meadowlarks and wildflowers all wait
For a dust cloud in the distance that signals your return
There’s beauty in just being here, as far as I’m concerned
So if my eyes were chicory blue
Would I look like home to you?
Coming in the door, it’s cedar and old books
Yeats and Frost and Dickinson and Gwendolyn Brooks
A strong cup of coffee, thumbing through pages
Til you find the right one – there’s one for the ages
When you picture comin’ home
I wanna be your favorite poem
ch. Chicory, chicory, chicory blue
Do you love me? do you love me not?
Chicory, chicory, chicory blue
What are you gonna do?
There’s a rough-hewn door that leads to a bed
Starlight in the window and a roof over your head
A quilt of many colors and moonlight on your cheek
A grand adventure plays behind your eyes while you sleep
When you wonder what it means
Maybe I’m your mystery dream
Chicory, chicory, chicory blue
Do you love me, do you love me not?
Chicory, chicory, chicory blue
What are you gonna do?”
Isn’t that somethin’? I hope you are all having a summer with some hope and gratitude.
Hugs, Auntie Crow
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