This is called “Everything Green.”
Here are some random things about this song. (These are the kinds of things you don’t ever really get to say on stage. Mostly they’re things I say at songwriting workshops or creativity classes. Or sometimes, people ask me questions at the CD sales table at the end of the night, and these are the kinds of answers I give…)
- This is the title track of my CD Rain & Mud & Wild & Green. The title and the whole idea was born out of a hike in the mountains in the rain. Me and my dog had this amazing hike one warm rainy day, and I returned home, grabbed my journal and did a free-write (complete stream of consciousness) all about the hike. At some point I wrote, “God, it was just all rain & mud & wild & green.” And even though I kept writing, a little part of my brain went “Bink! Song title!” (As I wrote the song, the title of the song became “Everything Green” cuz that was the hook.)
- This is why I always encourage people to write. Sometimes the best ideas are just surprising things you spurt out. Even though most people call this CD, “The Mud CD” (cuz they never remember the order of the words), it’s still my favorite CD title of all of mine. (And it’s really a terrible title if you’re a copyblogger or sales-type at all. Maybe my next CD will be called “49 Surefire Ways to Have More Success and More Money Than You Ever Imagined!”)
- At the time I started working on this song, I had just read Julia Butterfly Hill’s book The Legacy of Luna
- Also, I started working on this song was when the mountains around Asheville were being stripped and burned for the expansion of I-26. It was one of the most painful things to witness. My friend Suzi and I (we hike together quite a bit) had reached so many places of utter despair about the earth that it was hard to motivate ourselves to even go out into the woods at all. I wrote this song for her, and I wrote it for me, and for every human being who has ever felt like that.
- The notes above make it sound like I approached this song with this logical train of thought in mind. That’s one of the misleading things about talking about songs or creativity. None of it is linear. The above ideas were all in the back of my head. All I knew when I sat down with my guitar was this: I liked the title “Rain & Mud & Wild & Green.” It made me happy. All that other stuff started coming up as the song got written. It sort of surprised me… like “Oh! I get it! Here’s the Julia Butterfly Hill stuff!” That’s the hardest thing about teaching creativity. So many people want it to be logical. And it never is!
- The electric guitar that opens the tune is played by Larry Campbell. Larry has toured with everyone from Bob Dylan to Phil Lesh. He’s one of my favorite musicians in the world. He plays on almost all the songs on this CD, and I’m still blown away by his work. (He’s also a really wonderful and kind human being.)
- Ben Wisch was the producer of this CD. And everytime we were working on this song, he’d sit in his producer’s chair and do this funny little shimmy dance. I still see it everytime I hear this song.
- Steve Seskin claims he got a speeding ticket because of this song. When we first met, I had just released this CD. I gave him a copy, and he put it in his rental car CD player on the way to South Carolina for another show. He said he was so happy listening to this song, that he was jut speeding along at 85mph. He got pulled over. The policeman had never heard of Christine Kane and didn’t care so much that her song made Steve happy.
- If you like this song, please don’t try to get it for free! You can download this song at iTunes for a mere 99 cents! You can get the whole CD too!
- As always, please let me know in the comments if you have problems listening to this. I think we have the bugs worked out though.
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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
That is a beautiful, beautiful song. I just listened to it three times straight through. It’s the song my heart sings when I dream of leaving the city and moving back to the countryside I grew up in. Thank you.
I do have this song – actually the CD. And the last time I took a break and put the CD on the darn song wouldn’t get out of my head for two days. Do you have any idea what an e-mail typed out to that rythm looks like ?
!!
Highly reccomend the CD to everyone.
HI Falcon, Wow. Thanks so much! I’m glad you like it!
Dave, the master of all-things-smiley, Thanks for that. I’m glad you like the CD!
This is the song that got me hooked (tee-hee) on Christine Kane! Because of that it has a very special place in my heart. I like to pretend that I’m your backup singer and do the harmony parts in my car (and I get all the words right!) When I refer to it I say “ya know, the green one…” Of course, that could be because the cover is green but I’m going to pretend it’s because of the song.
Thanks MK! You can sing harmony with me any old time…
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have the CD, but it’s been a while since I put it in — and now I’m asking myself why! This song makes me so… happy isn’t even the right word. Hopeful. I grew up in a relatively rural area, and the whole area has been bulldozed and clear-cut to make way for subdivisions and strip malls. This song reminds me — there are still trees! There’s still green! Go be in it! lol Just like life — I can focus on the absence of beauty, or I can put myself where beauty exists — or create something beautiful.
I sent this blog entry to everyone on my e-mail list — I hope they all buy your CD! lol
Oh, yeah – years ago, I got pulled over for speeding. I was flustered when the police officer arrived at my window, so all I could get out was “Little Feat” as I pointed to my tape player. He looked down at the ground, looked up at me, squinted, and asked, “Waiting for Columbus?” I nodded yes. He let me go with a warning. It was one of those really unbelievable, movie-like moments. Still makes me smile.
Thanks Caren! I got pulled over once, and the policeman noticed my guitar in the back of the car and asked me if I was a songwriter. And I said yes. And he said, “Hey I’m a songwriter too! Can I send you some of my stuff?” And I said, well, I guess so. And he gave me the freakin’ ticket! THEN, he called me at home to ask me about songwriting! I mean, you’d THINK he’d give a little thought to that one, huh?
Hi Christine,
Your music always amazes me. The only thing better than listening to your CD’s is hearing you sing in person. I think you beat the guitar during the pause on this one. It makes my laugh every time! I love to sing, but am always invited to keep my day job!
Mostly, I’m thinking that I could use another album! (No pressure!) I have all of your CD’s, and most of my friends have Right Outta Nowhere. (You do a great job of mailing them out so I don’t have to! I love easy birthday/Christmas shopping!)
I can’t believe that policeman gave you a ticket and then called you for songwriting advice! Some people have large…. well, you know.
I love you!
Pam
Pam, I believe the word you were looking for is “kahunas.” Thanks for all those wonderful things you wrote. I’m working on songs for another CD now. I’ll probably be recording sometime in 2007!
Great news! I’ll be waiting!
I am soooo glad you wrote about this song! I think this was the first song I ever heard you play when I was a freshman at Drury University in 2001. I heard “Everything Green” and thought, “Wow, this musician is amazing!” Since then this song has grounded me more than anything else and it’s my favorite song of all time!
To tell you the truth (and I feel a little dorky right now because I feel like I’m bearing my soul), I had a hard time adjusting to living in a “city” while I was in college. I had always grown-up in the country, surrounded by acres of wildlife and trees and so adjusting to the city was really draining to me. Then I heard this song and these amazing lyrics from someone that cares so much about her art and, suddenly, all of my “depression” melted away and I was happy, so happy! I bought that CD after the show and listened to it the rest of the week. Then that weekend I searched for all of the trails and nature centers around Springfield and spent the weekend getting refreshed. Even though now I hardly ever have any “down” days, when I do “Everything Green” is the first thing I reach for.
Thanks for sharing this with us all! And I’m glad to hear that you’ll be recording again in 2007
It’s funny, the title of this cd has long been one of my favorite titles. I like the flow of the words, there’s a real sense of movement in them. It’s a cool title!
Er… anyway, this songs a favorite of mine too. As someone who was born and raised in a pretty big city (Detroit), I’ve developed a strong appreciation of being able to see something, anything green! Heh, and it’s a good driving song too, though there might be a bit of irony in that.
Rock on, and such.
Susie, I had to smile at the thought of Springfield being the “city.”
But I do understand! All my life when I was a kid, I wanted to move out of Fairfax, VA and out to the country (of course, the sprawl has taken that too now). I’m glad that this CD helped out with college in some way.
Hi Zach, (Falling Into Streams….what a GREAT blog title. Damn. It’s a good CD title too. And a good song title. uh-oh.) Thanks for the note! It’s FINE if this is a good driving song. I love good driving songs!
I’ve been laughing about “kahunas” ever since yesterday. Just find my mind drifting, and eventually, “kahunas” comes in, and I laugh out loud. Your blog keeps lightening my day! Thanks.
I laugh too at Springfield being a “city” but when you come from a town of 500, I guess it is a city. And now look at me, I’m in Salt Lake City, which I think is
huge
Caren – I aim to please!
susie — then how come your blog says you live in missouri? are you trying to deceive us all? (besides, i sent a thank you card to you for your random act… and i sent it to missouri. hmmm.)
Okay – Caren sent me the link, I followed and now I’m here thinking, “Where have you been all my life?” I am thoroughly impressed.
Off to go through your site…Are you touring anywhere??? Maybe…over by Nashville????
Hugs and Thanks for Being YOU.
Aaarrrghhh! You WERE just in Nashville and I MISSED it!!! But I won’t next time.
Hugs again,
Cathy
Ah, yes, I forgot my Blog says Missouri…I guess I’m having seperation anxiety problems with leaving my home state
and I’ll be back to live there one day!
Do I have my Missouri address on my Blog somewhere? I’ll look for the card when I go home for Christmas…thanks!
Oh yes, Kahunas! That was the word that I was going to use and Christine read my mind, but then I looked it up on dictionary.com to make sure I’d spelled it correctly and all three of the definitions were aobut Hawaiian priests/gurus/shamen/etc and said nothing about Hawaiian……uhhh……well, you know…so I left that part blank. A rare thing for me.
I’ve run through the rain with my kids many times, and I have not done it enough yet. I do love a good storm and it’s been far too long since I had mud squishing through my toes! But that’s what I think of when I hear the song….children playing in a “redneck swimming pool”…. also called dancing in the rain. I can smell it.
Every time I take a break from listening to any of your CD’s and then listen again, I find something to delight in yet again. :0
Pam
My smiley face did not come out!
;0
I must need a class….
I remember when “The Legacy of Luna” came out I skimmed through it at the bookstore and stood there weeping.
Thank you for being another voice against destruction. Beautiful.
I got to work early and not wanting to give the establishment any free time (it counts against my prooducktivity) thought about what I would do and reading a blog sounded like a good use of time. I will add my kudos to the “green, mud, wind, rain” In east tenn we got to see the effects of strip mining. yuck. I sometime play that album driving home especially in the rain because it makes me appreciate what green fields etc that I have to ride in here in carolina. support the conservation charity (sorry having word finding difficulty but you get it) of your choice in hopes of saving some of the green. oops sorry might not be acceptable blog stuff but I will send it anyway. Thanks also for the song “good you do” to keep it in mind, I use it as my secret password whenever i can. almost time to clock in. this has been a ggood way to start my morning. thanks all, I love reading your comments. barb
Through following a link on Ren’s blog (hey, Ren!), I found this site: http://tinyurl.com/y3w7nm Wow. It’s very powerful. I think many people here will like it.
Oh – and it’s cojones. (pronounced co-ho-nes) That’s why I was laughing. I mean, kahunas works! Everyone knows what you mean when you say, “a big pair of kahunas”. But I was picturing a couple of big Hawaiian priests. LOL
AA! I got behind in my comments to commenters!
Hello Cathy, and welcome! Yes, I was just in Nashville… but I’m sure I’ll be back. If you get on the mailing list, (click on the link in my toolbar) you’ll get monthly updates!
Susie, yes your blog says Missouri.. and I know I saw you when I performed in Salt Lake last summer. So, it’s a little confusing, and I keep thinking “Maybe I’ve got this person all wrong and neither of the are who I think they are!”
Pam, I laughed out loud at your smiley face progression comments! Congratulations on that big success. We’re all very pleased when one of us succeeds in that arena.
Hey Ren, Thanks and welcome. I love how people light up when they realize you’ve read that book. It’s like a small club that gets to say, “Oo! I’ve been there too!”
hi barb… my favorite foundation is Dogwood Alliance.. especially if you’re in NC. You’re right, “charity” is not my chosen word for these things, as it makes them sound weak and needy. I want to support causes that don’t see themselves or present themselves as weak and needy. Dogwood Allilance is a group of majorly powerful cool women (and a few guys too). I’ll post The Good You Do one of these days too…
HEY caren! well, thank god for that tidbit of information so that I can find other ways of saying “balls!”
(i figure we’re this far down in the comments…no one’s probably reading anymore!) and perhaps i meant to say a couple of big hawaiin priests!
Nope, I’m the same Susie in both Missouri and Utah…but I could see how it’s confusing people, so maybe I’ll change my Blog. I am from Missouri and I claim Missouri as my home but for the last 11 months I have been living in Utah as an AmeriCorps VISTA and I’ve actually decided to do one more year of volunteer service here (Utah) so I guess I won’t be living in Missouri anytime soon.
P.S. You wrote “balls!” in your comments…I saw it
Hi Christine,
I just discovered you through lifecoaches blog. I am not sure how I missed you on NPR. In any case, I browsed around a bit and loved what I read. I will be visiting you often.
Loved loved “Everything Green”. All the very best and your blog is a delight.. you do truly shine.
I stumbled upon this section of your blog tonight when I was on your website — I actually came to look for the lyrics to “Now That You Know” (awesome song by the way).
Anyhow, “The Green Song” is how I got addicted to you; I heard it at Camp Occoneechee three years ago (when I was 13), and I was just hooked. I memorized it and wrote the lyrics in about every notebook I owned (and I still do sometimes).
I just absolutely love this song and the lyrics and everything and it was soooo cool to find out how you got inspired to write it. I remember there was one day where I just sat down and listened to “Everything Green” over and over and over again for about 4 hours. It’s just too beautiful.
Now that I’m hearing about all of the people who got pulled over while listening to it and I’m a bit nervous…I don’t want to get a ticket cuz then I’ll be spending all of my money on insurance and not more of your music!
By the way, thanks for signing my Rain&Mud&Wild&Green CD the other summer!
to second what meryl said above, i first heard your song at camp occoneechee years ago. and since then I have fallen in love with it. Every song escepcially Everything green, reminds me of being at camp and having green surround me, and having the ability to dance in the rain and play in the mud. I am sad to say that camps years may be numbered, but your music will always have the power to bring me back to a place where, the mud is inviting and where it is only socially unacceptable if you dont dance in the rain.
Thank you for all of your music.
I, like Meryl and Amy, heard this song at Camp Occoneechee. You’ve got a great community of fans at that place! It immediately became one of my favorite songs. It makes me happy every time I hear it. Thanks for writing such amazing music!
I just had, “I’m with you,” sung to me by the man in my life. I would love to know where to get the music with the chords. I saw you at WUNC a couple of years ago and your music blew me away.
Thanks for your incredible talent. You are a wonder.
EL