My mother used to play this on her old Spanish guitar and sing it like she had lived every word...(and she did) - on your third anniversary, Mom, here you go. Love and miss you -
I just don't understand why Mickey isn't more famous?! He's awesome I love this and I hate what my generation has done to music... when did we loose this? :(
Mickey was a very complex person. Chris Kristoferson said he has a dilemma wrapped in an enigma. I don't believe he really ever wanted fame. I think he put obstacles in his own path.........................A grain of sand is all I ever wanted to be. PS You have some fine taste in music
He didn't want to be . He lived on a boat and was big into heavy ðuty drugs. I saw him preform at the Exit Inn in 1979. So glad I got to see him. He was still known as Nashvilles one of their best songwriters.i had connections to a lot of music people. He was one of the best. Not a lot of people know of him. He liked it that way.
When I listen to this song, it reminds me how delicate the human situation is. No matter how strong someone may be, we all have that place we need to go to cry, break down, etc and there is no shame in it. Truly a beautiful, humbling song. One of my personal favorites.
This is just one of countless examples of why audiences can't hate on sampling. Quite sure half the people were brought here out of curiosity after hearing this sampled in 'Georgia' by CunninLynguists. Amazing songs like that help gems like this receive the appreciation they deserve. Bless Mickey Newbury, and bless CunninLynguists!
Been following since i was 18 what a minded he had. Just aint anyone that can replace him. I am 65 soon an dont day go by that his muisc dont touch me an remind me of were i come an were i am.
My late good friend, Alan Stewart (Nala Trawets), posted this and mistakenly attributed the recording to 1993. Mickey actually performed this as the opening number during a show in August 1986 at a club off the Southwest Frwy in Houston (listen for the clanking glasses in the background from the center bar). I'll try to find and post the introduction from Gary, a friend of Mickey's who gave the most beautiful intro that day. Mickey gave me a cassette (remember those!) of the show, which I shared with Alan. The great Texas singer/songwriter Walt Wilkins and I were two young Baylor grad students in the audience that day, who got to hang with Mickey backstage and hear a number of his stories a little while before the show. We were utterly transformed during this hot August day by Mickey's music, poetry and lyricism - he cut us to the bone. Like many songwriters, musicians, filmmakers and artists, Mickey is one of my favorite songwriters (and, ironically, an artist who most people have never heard of). God bless the late Mickey Newberry.
Frank Patterson yes, he was full of great stories. I asked him about a few of them that had to do with some of his songs. One in particular that most don’t want to accept. I believe his revealing of the story behind “Just Dropped In”, more than I do the rumor-mongers version. I prefer his version.
One of the highlights of my life was listening to Mickey on several occasions at The Flora Bama Lounge, in the 90's. Mickey would play for awhile then stop and tell stories and sometimes whistle.. I wish I could have met the women in his life that caused such beauty and pain to roll out of him. They must have been something.
@berserkerewolf I came here because of Cunninlynguists sampling it. Then I found out both Steve Von Till and Dax Riggs covered this, two awesome singers. This is still by far the best, though.
Lyrics Oh I wish I was a willow tree Leanin' on a lazy breeze Movin' like a midnight train Through rainy Georgia Wish I was a grain of sand Playin' in a babys hands Fallin' like a diamond chain Into the ocean Oh a willow tree is strong enough to bend Never like the oak that lives in fear of the wind A grain of sand is all I ever wanted to be Lay me down let the water Wash right over me wash over me Oh I wish I was an old guitar Sittin' in a beat-up car Hittin' every two-bit bar From here to Texas Then I wouldn't be ashamed To look up my old friends And they would be so proud To see me strung up again Oh a grain of sand Is all I ever wanted to be Lay me down and let the water Wash over me wash over me Nobody wants you When you're down and out Nobody wants to know your name You're just another face Lost in the crowded street In the crowded street Oh I wish I was a willow tree Leanin' on a lazy breeze Movin' like a midnight train Through rainy Georgia A willow tree is strong enough to bend Never like the oak that lives in fear of the wind A grain of sand is all I ever wanted to be Lay me down let the water Wash right over me wash over me Wash over me Wash over me Wash over me Wash over me
Never heard of Mickey Newbury until I caught a Dallas live radio show of Cowboy Johnson singing songs from his then recently released "Cowboy Johnson - A Grain of Sand - a Collection of Mickey Newbury Songs". I bought the CD - Moon House Records. If you love Mickey's songs you've got to hear Cowboy. Got to. How I Love Them Old Songs.
@ichihentai Thank you so much for posting the videos, I only recently discovered Mickeys Talent but hearing him sing for the first time made me a instant fan.
@lozza1000 This exact recording was probably never on a record. I have a complete show from a tour Mickey did in the UK. A record was made from selected performances (from about 20 shows) but I'm not sure any from this date were included on that album. I digitized the tapes which were made of the board at the show. Very good quality. All the Newbury videos I have put on RU-vid are from that show.
So, is it Stewart Alan, or Alan Stewart? Btw, I really love Ronnie Montrose's cover of this song, very soulful. And Davey Pattison does a great job vocally, imho.
Not necessarily going to disagree with you, however it's a great example of Ronnie & Davey (I assume) 1) knowing of the song 2) recognizing what they could do with it and 3) arranging it the way they did. Slowing it down was the big thing. I saw Pattison a few years back - he was doing Gamma & Trower songs mostly - and he was doing a hybrid version...opening up acoustic and finishing electric.
