The inspiration for Barn Dance came from looking at broken down old barns on a drive around the peninsula. On their path to return to the earth, I imagined their stories: the pride when they were built, the hard work in their walls, the generations shared, the playfulness and the mischief, and the secrets they'll take to the grave. And yes, I wondered if any had hosted a dance. Lost in their imagined memories, it suddenly felt painful that something once so strong could not be saved, and I couldn't help but think of the things...and the people...and the structures...in my life, all bound for the earth. Me, too. But as I looked at those barns on that day, I saw and felt the beauty in the dance between our falling down and what holds us up, and that beauty became the primary occasion and name of this song, attended in my fantasy by a mixture of the people I love, from the present to the long past, while tears welled in my eyes: "A barn dance, with guitars and fiddles, and old friends. We'll keep it all simple--just memories with tears and laughter that light up the walls and hold up the rafters...with love...the thing it's been missing. This barn's old. It counts every blessing. The ground gets nearer each year...The things that support us, we've got to hold dear."
That subject matter may be among the many reasons why this song doesn't get streamed much, but Barn Dance will likely always be one of my favorite tunes I've ever written, not because it's the most technically perfect, but because it still captures my imagination and brings a tear to my eye. In this song recording you will hear my emotion.