If I don't get a chance before Thanksgiving to say, "Thank you!" let me say it now - I am very thankful for your friendship and all the encouragement you have given me to follow my dreams in music. Here's a song I wrote about Southern Arizona a few years ago. Come visit and keep the harmony! Lee
SKY ISLANDS
By Lee Robert – April 2007
1. Dust Devil wind, silent stone spires;
the naked eye can see, for a hundred miles.
Red standing stones, clay totem poles,
Cochise’s last, Apache stronghold.
Chorus:
And I remember when, I heard the cry of a cactus wren;
Old west is new.
And I’m travelin' on the ship of fools,
Sailin’ the Sky Islands with you.
2. Chiracawa, and Xavier
Thunderclouds roll by, monsoon everywhere.
Wahaca, Tumacocori,
Ocotillo flames, as far as eye can see
Chorus:
And I remember when, I heard the cry of a cactus wren;
Old west is new.
And I’m travelin' on the ship of fools,
Sailin’ the Sky Islands with you.
Bridge:
Desert vistas, and tan touristas.
Speak of travels far,
Catch a falling star.
Flaming skies turn starry nights,
Humminbirds fly outta sight:
Ramsey Canyon stream
A folk singer’s dream.
3. Big Foot Masai, stole a pinto horse,
From the Stafford home, some say of course
He was never caught, in the silent rock.
His spirit roams free,
He’s captured you and me!
Chorus:
And I remember when, I heard the cry of a cactus wren;
Old west is new.
And I’m travelin' on the ship of fools,
Sailin’ the Sky Islands with you.
End: (sound of the Cactus Wren)
SKY ISLANDS
Southern Arizona has many treasures that are subtle, and so have escaped people “loving it to death.” Rick and I took a trip with our traveling buddies, The Snaders, and although I am a native of Arizona, I was surprised and thrilled to discover many things I’d never seen.
The Chiracawa Mountains, The Dragoon Mountains that were the last stronghold of Cochise. The names inspire the imagination. Ramsey Canyon is an Oasis is the desert – humminbirds migrate through every April and August. When I see a forest of Saguaro cactus I think of a forest of ancient trees – there is no other desert where they grow but the Sonoran desert in Arizona and Northern Mexico. The Saguaros take a long time to grow, and if it has grown even one arm, it has been around at least 100 years. They grow under a “nurse” plant which provides shade until they can take the hot desert sun and they outlive their nurse plant.
I am in love with the desert – even the dead Saguaro provides nesting habitat for desert birds – the spines of the dead Saguaro fan out on top and you can see the brilliance of natures architecture. If you are lucky enough to travel this area in the Spring you may see the Ocotilla in bloom – Ocotilla means “candle flame” and the bright orange flower brush at the tips of the spiney branches of the Ocotilla plant are my favorite desert plant.
Walking in the Chiracawa Mountains, on the way to a lookout tower, I saw an interpretive display that shared some of the myth and the lore of the Mountains: an Indian by the name of "Bigfoot Masai" stole a pinto horse from the Stafford home – he was never caught, but it is said that his Spirit is still felt by those who visit the area.
This song was inspired by all of the wonderful myths, names and sometimes dangerous beauty of the Southwest: Chiracawa, Xavier, Wahaca, Tumacocori – this is the land where I was born.
Lee Robert
"Cowgirl Jazz"
www.leeleemusic.com
602-540-0063