When you can't find the light
That guides you through a cloudy day
When the stars ain't shining bright
And it feels like you've lost your way
When the candlelight of home
Burns so very far away
Well, you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say
He used to say the soulshine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Shine 'til the break of day
I grew up thinkin' that I had it made
Gonna make it on my own
Life can take the strongest man
And make him feel so alone
Now and then I feel a cold wind
Blowin' through my aching bones
I think back to what my daddy said
He said, "Boy, there is darkness before the dawn"
Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul
A woman, too, god knows, she can feel like this
But hey, when your world seems cold
You got to let your spirit take control
Talkin' 'bout soul shine
It's better than sunshine
It's better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Lord, now, people don't mind
We all get this way sometimes
Gotta let your soul shine
Shine 'til the break of day . . .
~ Warren Haynes
After a string of gorgeous autumn days, driving with the top down, we've hit some rainy weather, just in time for our visit to Asheville. So I turned to Warren Haynes, who is from Asheville, for advice. And he told me that I need to let my soul shine. Recorded by The Allman Brothers Band in 1994 on Where It All Begins, Warren took "Soulshine" with him when he formed Gov't. Mule. The version linked above, recorded in New York City in 2007, combines the best of both bands, as Gov't. Mule performed with Gregg Allman, Trey Anastasio, Derek Trucks, and others.
I have been saying for years that Warren Haynes is the hardest working man in rock 'n roll. His work with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't. Mule is exhausting enough, but he goes beyond that. Last year, I saw him in concert performing the songs of Jerry Garcia with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. It was an excellent show.
The drive to Asheville was a stressful one with downpours that made driving quite difficult. We headed straight to the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River, and I was able to tap into my soulshine once we hit the tap room. I'd been to the original Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico CA a couple of years ago, but was unable to catch the tour there. I had better luck this time, and the tour was well worth it. As for the tasting, it's better than moonshine.
As I'm writing this (late; I'm sorry), the rain is over, the skies are blue, and we are headed for tonight's lodging in nearby Hendersonville. Tomorrow's weather promises a lot of sun, so we will try to see more of Asheville and its beauty.
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| There's a tiny me at the base of the photo. |
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