Not A Moment Too Soon Tim McGraw

In 1994, two young people met for the first time –
She a bewildered young girl of 16, mother at odds with her at all times, father dead at an early age, brothers putting unrealistic demands on her, peer pressure, school pressure, teenage angst, fearing life, fearing the future, flirting with suicide to leave a world she didn't understand and one that did not understand her.

He a boy of 16 full of laughter and love, also lost his father at a young age to suicide, mother too busy and self absorbed, brothers removed from his life with their own trials, peer pressure, school pressure, teenage angst, fearing life, fearing the future and living alone in a world that he neither understood or that understood him.

A perfect union or a catalystic one, we don't know and will never understand.

She gave him this CD because she said he had saved her life. He had brought her back from the edge of disaster and gave her life purpose. She said Not A Moment Too Soon was ‘their song'. Not to be outdone, he countered with - but a much better one is Wouldn't Want It any Other Way, a song of love and not despair.

For two years they lived in the glory of their love, shared their dreams of the future and built on them, seldom reflecting on the past that brought them together.

But fate is fickle at best and obviously had ulterior plans for these star crossed lovers.

In 1996 this same young girl came to me and asked me to include these two songs on the taped music that would be played at this young boys funeral. She would have been, if the circumstances allowed, my daughter-in-law, the young man was my son, gone now these 6 years. The young girl, now a young woman, has moved on with her life but every year on July 6, I find that she has visited his grave once again.

I received the CD, along with his personal affects, when friends emptied his apartment. The words of these two songs are very personal to me and I wanted to share them. They show both sides of love, the pain and the pleasure. As part of that musical celebration, we also included Vince Gill's Go Rest High On That Mountain and Shania Twain's God Bless The Child.

Also on the CD are 8 other songs, some definitely country with a bit of twang to them, some soulful, like Don't Take The Girl and some just fun like Indian Outlaw & Down On The Farm. It is a great mix of music by a man that clearly loves what he is doing.

I would have probably never purchased this CD but I enjoy listening to it – all the songs, even the ones that give bittersweet memories.

Tim McGraw seems to be a man dedicated to his craft and it shows in his music. Pouring his heart into songs with tender care, or rocking with heartfelt spirit, this collection will cover the bases for all country music lovers.

Was it prophetic that this collection was released in 1994, just as these two young peoples lives crossed paths? Was he her life saver in disguise? I like to believe so for her life is so much better now than it was in 1994. If it is true that our lives are pre-destined, then Jason served his purpose, and not a moment too soon.

Songs listed on the CD:

1 ~ It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This
It rocks and gets you moving, and it is quite possible that it really doesn't get any countrier than this song. I enjoyed it.

2 ~ Give It To Me Straight
oh, Lordy, the pain. Sittin, cryin in your beer, lamenting lost loves. Maybe if ya hadn't been hangin in that bar big boy the babe wouldn't have booked on ya!

3 ~ Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way
"But I wouldn't want it any other way
Having you to come home to at the end of every day
Your tender touch puts a smile back on my face
Wouldn't want it any other way"

Good words, softer ballad, telling of true love and all the feelings associated with it.

4 ~ Down On The Farm
Another rocker that talks about wild times, wild boys and wild girls. Just doing what comes naturally, after a hard week of work. Kick up your heels, grab a long neck, say 'yehaw' and have fun.

5 ~ Not A Moment Too Soon
"I used to think that love would never find me
And the one who cares was lost somewhere in time
But when you found me I knew I'd found forever
You rescued me just before I crossed the line"

Another ballad, words tell the story

6 ~ Indian Outlaw
There are two tempos to this song, I found the mix very different. For the most part, it is the basic country song, basic country beat but in the ending it reverts to American Indian sound. Well, not really American Indian, but more the feel of it. Good song.

7 ~ Refried Dreams
This is sadassed country to the core. A guy that had it, lost it, and now realizes it - poor smuck.

8 ~ Don't Take The Girl
A beautiful ballad beginning with young boys shying away from young girls, edging into young lust, finally realization, then tragedy. Through it all, he begs to let the girl remain - no matter what the circumstance - and take him instead. I really liked this one, but I'm a sucker for love stories.

9 ~ 40 Days And 40 Nights
Can you say 'twang'? This is pure, break your heart, country. Girl dumps boy and he's mourning his loss. Very nasal sound, almost offensive, but it grows on you after a while. Or I'm going deaf as well as blind.

10~ Ain't That Just Like A Dream
"Sometimes I long for just one night
Of the way I felt back then
But ain't that just like a dream
It always ends"

Thanks for sharing this dream with me
Susi

To Jason - 11/07/77 - 07/06/96 "Forever 18"

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
.........Native American Proverb...........


Note: all lyrics in (") marks are from the CD and are not my own words.