Tractor State of Mind

Pat & Tex LaMountain
rivers roads & bridges (see biographical information, reviews, when they come in, and all the lyrics at the bottom: )

Garden Gate Recordings GG1008
featuring Pat and Tex LaMountain on vocals
5 original songs by Tex LaMountain, 2 songs by Pat LaMountain and 3 written together
plus a song that we have sung for three decades at important family events: Slip Away
written by F. Russell (Russ) Thomas of Greenfield, MA (Free Lunch Music, BMI)
and, additionally, a hugely appropriate song for this particular time: Song of Peace (Lorenz Publishing Co.)
Words by Lloyd Stone and Music by Jean Sibelius (Finlandia)

Produced and Engineered by Anand Nayak
Tex LaMountain on acoustic guitar on all songs, electric guitar on Tractor State of Mind
Anand Nayak on resonator, acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, electric piano, bass, percussion

John White on bass and Rick Mauran on drums
(all songs except I Will Comfort You, Song of Peace, the Waltz, It's Christmas Again, and Slip Away)

Recorded at Sonelab Studios, Easthampton, MA by Anand Nayak
December 2012: Tunbridge Fair, Down the River, Sunderland Bridge, Somewhere Down the Road
July 2013: Precious Love, Fly Like a Bird, Tractor State of Mind
August 2013: Jerry Noble on piano ( Fly Like a Bird, Precious Love )
December 2013: I Will Comfort You, Slip Away, Song of Peace
Zoe Darrow on fiddle ( Fly Like a Bird, Waltz for Katherine Sarah, Slip Away)

Recorded at Sackamusic, Conway, MA by Anand Nayak:
May 2013 Chris Brashear on fiddle (Down the River, Tunbridge Fair, Sunderland Bridge)

Acoustic Guitars (and Vocals) recorded at Garden Gate Recordings by Pat & Tex @2000: It's Christmas Again and Waltz for Katherine Sarah

Mastered at Sonelab by Mark Miller
Design by Pat LaMountain
Inside covers:



Special Thanks

Anand Nayak (Please note these one-line names refer to photos that are included in our website. Here you will just have to imagine them, sorry.)


We are grateful to Anand Nayak for tuning in to our music and producing a product we are proud of: rivers roads & bridges. He is a huge valley resource for us singer songwriters who want to find the life in their songs during the recording experience. I think he was happy to have a chance to play his resonator guitar so much. The country sounds that are so much a part of Tex's songs meshed with Anand's natural sensibilities. His harmonies astound me. We really benefitted from all of his skills.

Because we took a three month road trip to the West Coast just at the end of the recording phase, when we got back home to the last mixing and redos that are so tedious, we also had to figure out the CD cover and I took on the project. I used photos we had taken on the trip - selfies and photos of each other - sometimes out of synch with the Western Massachusetts feel of the songs because they were West Western. But we ignored the self-critique and chose a shot for the cover that Tex took of our shadows in Death Valley - on the salt flats at Badwater Basin - 282 feet below sea level. Thank goodness it was in March because as it was, it was in the 90's. We do have to admit we left MA on January 1, 2014 of the coldest, most stressful winter yet endured in the northeast. We headed south and then west and didn't return until the end of March. We couldn't have planned it better if we had known what was about to happen. As it was, we had a fantastic trip and did five unplanned concerts in the three months we were gone. Two house concerts: one at my sister Tina's in Bluff, Utah (four corners area) and another at my brother Dave's in Eugene, Oregon. Two in a fun coffee house, The Coffee Bean, in Flagstaff, AZ which my brother filled with his buddies and their spouses - except that on the return trip in March it was Spring break and these academics were on vacation and away. But at that second coffee house our new friend Jorge (born in Texas) sat in on fiddle and we had a blast. Our friend Bill Hanley who sat in on bass, brought him along. My brother Tony even invited all of us to play back at the house afterward. As we left Flagstaff we were into the middle of March and assumed we would aim straight for Tex's brother's in Richmond, VA. We were always watching the weather. In fact, Greenfield, MA weather was on the top of my cell phone and I would daily wince as I saw what was happening back at home. "Not still ZERO..."

Zabriskie Point at sunrise


We actually felt guilty for having such nice weather in Big Bend (TX), Joshua Tree, Redwoods and Death Valley - Zabriskie Point pictured here - (CA) national parks, Los Angeles at my sister Ann's, San Francisco at my friend Karen's and Tex's cousin Jim's, and Marina/Carmel where Tex's cousin Moira lives/works. We didn't enjoy it less but it was painful, even from a distance. We did notice that the weather in the midwest was not so bad at that time and it didn't seem to have icy weather coming in. I really wanted to get to my town of birth, Aurora, Nebraska, and visit Aunt Dot. She is just a particular love of my life. So we called her at her assisted living home and said we were coming. Route 40 across Arizona & New Mexico, the Texas panhandle, the Oklahoma panhandle, Western Kansas and a little bit of Nebraska. That is flat driving. And brown, tan and rust dust. What a drive. But we made it. And she wanted us to do a concert! So we had 40-50 dreamy seniors on a late winter morning enjoying our tunes. I have to say, the unplanned nature of these concerts was a treat. We had two tiny amps and two microphones and it was simple to put together and a lot of fun.

Pat in Boquillas del Carmen



Tex on the other side of the Rio Grande


One treat early in the trip was to drop off a special painting at a meditation retreat center in Austin, TX. Our friend Gary Fiske-White had painted a portrait of Chari, our teacher and guide in our meditation practice. This portrait was going to live in the center. Once we got to Texas, Big Bend was an obvious choice. We had gotten an email from David Sneed, a friend from Wyoming, telling us we had to go to Big Bend and to Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico from the park. The way he described taking a rowboat over the Rio Grande and a burro ride up to the little unspoiled town isolated from the rest of Mexico, we had to go. So the burro photos are from that charming trip into a sweet little town along the shallow, narrow river of renown. Now I am very clear how ridiculous it is to even discuss CLOSING the border. It's just plain impossible, even if there is any real reason that makes sense, which I question. If people could survive and make an okay living anywhere, no one would ever want to come here except the rest of the people who are fixated on putting "making money" above all other considerations. But I digress....

Chris Brashear



We got Chris Brashear to play fiddle on three songs. Every time I listen to Tunbridge Fair I am so glad we found him. He also puts exclamation marks on Down the River and Sunderland Bridge. Anand heard about him and suggested calling Chris and we went "Duh, why didn't we think of him?" We had met him through Paul Newlin and his fiddling and song-writing and singing are a treat. We met Chris again in April 2014 when we opened for Robin & Linda Williams in a series of concerts for the Connecticut River Watershed Council. He is in their Fine Group.

Jerry Noble



Jerry Noble we had seen play in Greenfield a couple of times. Tex had him in mind for a while. Jerry's liquid ivories on Precious Love and gospel sensibilities on Fly Like a Bird are worth the price of admission. Gracias, Jerry.

Zoe Darrow

We first met Zoe Darrow when she was about 14. She was lying on the floor - fiddling - at a late party after a concert by a Cape Breton band of four teenagers. She was too tired to stand but she was fiddling - lying down - on fire. She has become her fiddle. She is tied to it so tightly that it goes where she thinks. She is so intuitive and synched. Tex and I did a concert with her later that same year and I asked her if she sang. She said no emphatically but I could tell she sort of wanted to be able to. I assured her it would happen. I think it was the way she said no so loudly. No one who didn't really care would be that insistent. Now she admits that she is starting to sing backup at least in one of her bands. Hooray. If she sings anything like she fiddles, we will be lucky to hear her.Tex didn't hesitate to ask Zoe to play Waltz for Katherine Sarah, the song he wrote for his mom, a Canadian Scot, who came from the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Since we had her in the studio we jumped on the chance to have her play on Fly Like a Bird and Slip Away.


P&T with John White - Energy Park


We can't discuss our music without mentioning John White. Since early 2009 we have been working on arrangements with John. His favorite place to play is our living room. Sometimes he calls up and says he desparately needs a music fix, can he come over and rehearse? I joke that he and Tex are in love because they trip out on the music together. John played with us when it was just the three of us for many years. He found he had to adjust his playing when we started including Rick Mauran on drums. John listens, Rick listens. Tex listens. They are all so intent and listening. I watch them listening. It's pretty amazing sometimes. I feel quite lucky to be allowed to play too.

Rick Mauran


Rick is the kid. He has this theatrical interest and intention. He likes to figure out what is needed. When he and John are feeling good, the songs just feel like they are playing themselves. They are so talented I am in awe of their ability to allow the music go where it needs to go. I think one of the reasons it feels so satisfying to play with this group is that we all respect each other a lot. We should play more but we all have lives too. It's been fun and fulfilling, hasn't it?

We will add reviews as they become available. Add your own - please.

BIOGRAPH|CAL INFO on Pat & Tex LaMountain

Pat & Tex LaMountain have been singing, writing, performing and harmonizing together for almost 40 years. Writers of dozens of songs, they have developed a diverse collection of material that includes American standards, swing tunes, folk, rock, jazz, bluegrass, gospel and country. Their music has been described as “upbeat and rhythmic, inspirational and sensitive…catchy…with Pat & Tex there’s heart and soul.” Their songs are a vibrant blend of melody, message and harmony, with Pat’s crystal clear vocals and Tex’s tenor voice and unique flat and finger picking styles at the forefront. But watch for change: Tex has been adding his golden Gibson electric guitar with shimmering sound effects and a whole new sound. Everyone is waiting to see where this goes....

Pat was raised on an apple farm in New Jersey, Tex in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts and they met in Montague, Mass in 1974, where she had been singing with the Sawmill River Band and he with the popular Vanguard recording group, Clean Living. They teamed up and were “New Talent” winners at the New England Folk Festival at Vermont’s Mount Snow in 1977. Their almost four decades of performances have included festivals, clubs, coffeehouses, community concerts, radio, television documentaries and films.

Pat & Tex were founding members of the folk group, Bright Morning Star, touring the Midwest and Eastern states. Highlights of their careers include a Washington, D.C. 50,000 person rally performance, sharing stages with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie and a huge array of well-known speakers. A two year hiatus to the Bay Area of California found them charter members of the Santa Cruz, CA (and later Western Mass.) Songwriters Guild(s). On return they produced a well-received arts lottery funded three year concert series entitled Songs from Western Mass., featuring dozens of area songwriters in over 50 local community concerts.

Since 2003 Pat & Tex have been playing in the annual COOP concert series, a cooperative project with area musicians, to help promote the Greenfield/Franklin County area as a destination for arts and culture. COOP Concerts. They also produced special performances to support their CD projects. Sweet Chabango which was released in December, 2011, included thirteen originals written by both Tex and Pat. Their previous releases, A Few Good Hits to the Heart and A Few Miles Later, were completed in 2007 and 2009, respectively and consisted of often requested concert favorites along with several originals and a whole cd of Pat originals.

They previously recorded three albums: Down Here on the Earth, Home, and Songs From Western Massachusetts, plus a collection of songs recorded for the Northeast Foundation for Children (formerly in Greenfield, now Montague), MA. This release, 16 Songs Kids Love To Sing, is available from the Foundation on CD with a songbook.

Pat spent over a decade as part time Finance Director for the Connecticut River Watershed Council in Greenfield, MA. A portion of her job in the last few years was to run a song contest, "Living Along the River"for the Connecticut River Watershed Council.-- 2009 was the second year for this popular Franklin County event. Songs about the Connecticut River and its tributaries were performed by their writers who were vying for cash prizes and recognition. The second Finals concert was held in October of 2009. In 2010 a large number of contest entrants and winners were presented by CRWC in a grand concert at The Academy of Music, Northampton, as a large celebration of the rivers and a thank you to the volunteers who work in the annual Source to Sea Cleanup. In 2012 Pat & Tex produced a "Goodnight Irene" concert for the Watershed Council - a one year anniversary concert of songs about tropical storm Irene. Most of the songs were from Vermont and Massachusetts and the concert was held in the Deerfield Academy auditorium, almost on the banks of the Deerfield River where such havoc had been wrought the year before. Over a dozen songwriters performed their songs, most of them backed by Tex LaMountain on guitar, John White on bass, and the new addition to the band, drummer Rick Mauran.

In 2009 Tex had retired from a sales job he held for over 25 years. Having worked tirelessly on the Sweet Chabango project and the river concerts, he was ready to focus attention on more writing and recording. When Pat & Tex asked Anand Nayak to help them produce some songs, rivers roads & bridges started its long birthing process. Anand is the guitar wizard and vocalist in daisy mayhem, (Rani Arbo's band) who is gaining a well-deserved reputation for engineering and producing singer-songwriters, arranging and developing their songs for recording. He was enthusiastic about the project so they took John and Rick into the studio in December of 2012 and recorded four songs. From there they eventually decided it was not a short EP but a full length album. A second live band session, an acoustic session, fiddle tracks by Chris Brashear and Zoe Darrow, and piano tracks by Jerry Noble, and a couple of old recordings Pat & Tex had done in their home studio, were added to these original tracks to complete the project as Anand spun his magic. Voila, a 12 song rivers roads & bridges.

In the middle of the process, Pat retired (July 2013). They put a lot of time and energy into producing a series of three concerts along the Connecticut River featuring Robin and Linda Williams, a benefit for the Source to Sea cleanup. (Pat & Tex opened.) In January 2014 they took off for the south and west (eventually to Oregon) on a mostly family tour. They did five spontaneous concerts en route and came back in the end of March relaxed and ready to get this project done. Finally in August it was downloaded to DiscMakers' factory in Pennsauken, NJ - less than ten miles from Pat's childhood apple farm home.

LYRICS
I Will Comfort You
©1986 Tex LaMountain

I will comfort you
In the morning when the night's been
Hard to sleep with
I will comfort you when you feel so empty
Nothing's left to give

I'll be coming through
I will comfort you
You know these words are true
I will comfort you

Let your dreams slip through
Let the unexpected follow and be
Taken by surprise
The eyes are watching you
And though you may have fallen
As quickly you may rise

I will comfort, I will comfort you,
comfort you

Live for the day when this is all behind us
And all our work is done
Live for the way, when we will be together
Tomorrow's still to come


Tunbridge Fair
© 2009 Pat & Tex LaMountain

We came to the fair looking for our friends
In a field full of campers at the edge of town
Wandered through the crowd looking for a home
Headed for the river to camp on our own

A simple meal, a quiet talk
Just the two of us doing what we please
While off in the distance, a banjo's wailing
Hi - gh har - mo - nies
Oo - oo - oo those lone-some sounds

Tunbridge Fair, why did we come
To the green, green hills of Vermont
Drove miles from our home in our little town
To stay-up-all-night-picking in a crowded park

All these songs rock and rattle my bones
Calling me to hear those lonesome sounds
Hi - gh har - mo - nies
Leave a piece of my heart on these grounds
Oo - oo - oo those lone-some sounds

Fiddles are flying, harmonies crying
Sometimes sweet, sometimes loud
I’m picking along on all these old songs
Hey, let’s sing one of our own for this crowd


Tractor State of Mind
© 2013 Tex LaMountain

In the summertime we'd pack the car,
Head up North to my uncle's farm
It was time to get away
My folks grew up as country kids, cows & corn, chicks & pigs
We loved to be there when they cut the hay.

We'd meet the cousins in the yard
They'd all run down to the barn,
Then to the wagons in the field
We'd climb up and ride along,
Just barely hanging on
Maybe a little risky, we'd all be hot and dusty
But we're not worried, we're all doing fine..
Just shift into a Tractor State of Mind.

It's time to Stop the World,
Time to Stop the World
It's hurry up & get nowhere,
Like the Tortoise & the Hare,
We're all chasing diamonds and pearls, and
It's time to Stop the World.

Ever been out on a country drive,
Loving it all, just being alive
Maybe one of those lazy August days
Could be headed for the beach,
Maybe out to pick some peaches,
Or to your favorite getaway

What's that I see up ahead?
Brake lights are turning red
The biggest load of hay I've ever seen
Not a thing that we can do,
To pass this guy & get on thru
UPS and pickup trucks,
Barely moving, we're all stuck
What's there to do when you're caught behind
A John Deere guy in a Tractor State of Mind

It's time to stop the world,
Time to Stop the World
It's hurry up & get nowhere,
Like the Tortoise & the Hare,
We're all chasing diamonds and pearls, and
It's tme to Stop the World.

It's time to stop the world,
Time to Stop the World
For each of us I guess there are some times
We'd like to leave this old world behind
And shift into a Tractor State of Mind


Down the River (Out of the Blue)
© 2012 Pat and Tex LaMountain

I miss the old place, the trees
The happy Summer days,
The warm lazy ways we used to spend
The rocks are trying to be... friends but they’re... NEW
Out of the blue she changed the view
Our scenic view went down the river OOO Out of the Blue

Camp fires on the river bank,
Stars were so bright you could see in the night, forever
Twenty tall pines near the river's edge,
Most of the land and all of the sheds
There goes the camp, the new roof (down the river)

The basketball was heading for Springfield
And the Hall of Fame
The lawn mower ended on its back like a turtle
Two miles down the river
I guess HALF a canoe is better than non, ... hon'
Is that the living room curtains hanging from that tree ?

Memories are wrapped around trees at every bend
Don’t know when, don’t know when we can reel them in
I’m planting weeping willows now in Chickley River Hollow
Don’t play drums cause I don’t feel like dancing
Just crying like the river, I'm planting weeping willows,
Here, in Chickley River Hollow

How about a picnic table for two (down the river)
A casio piano playing sweet melodies (down the river)
I know my dishes are broken but where are the spoons
And my hula hoop, down the river... OOO Out of the Blue

Would you like to play croquet (down the river)
The BBQ grill, your favorite drill (down the river)
Irene really cleaned my plate SHE ATE THE WHOLE THING
Everything is down the river now

Mother Nature hit us side of the head
PAY ATTENTION is all she said,
Everything is down the river now

Don’t play the drums cause I don’t feel like dancing
Just crying like the river, I'm planting weeping willows,
Here, in Chickley River Hollow
Out of the blue she changed the view,
Our scenic view went down the river OOO Out of the Blue


Fly Like a Bird
© 2003 Pat LaMountain

Find an Eagle who really knows how to fly
Put his heart in your sights, aim high
Then follow that Eagle, your heart'll show you where
Don’t fly in circles take the straight & narrow there

Are you flying around in circles
The way is long, the air is rough
Your nest's a mess of crazy schedules
At the end of the week you’ve had enough

Fly like a bird on two wings
Straight as an arrow to the mark
Fly like a bird on two wings
Two wings to fly straight to his heart

We’re all flying around in circles
We work so hard to make ends meet
One wing flapping, out-a-kilter
Takes two strong wings to last a week

One lonely wing always flies in circles
Around that limp wing dragging in the dirt
Lift that poor thing, it's the wing of Love
Now fly with both wings for all you're worth

Unravel all your weary troubles
Unfurl your flag of glory high
Lift up that wing, the wing of Love
You know your Heart knows how to fly

Fly like he flies on two wings
Two wings to fly straight to his heart

Find an Eagle who really knows how to fly


Precious Love
© 1998 Tex LaMountain

I used to think that love was everywhere,
And just like you I’d say: Why should I care?
If we can’t work it out there’s always
Someone down the street, to take to a movie or out to eat

Guess I didn’t know what I had, I’d lose my way,
I’d feel so bad
I came so close, I guess I’d have to say,
I almost threw it all away

Precious Love is hard to find,
Really just a state of mind
Many years, oh so many years, we have tried,
Oh how we tried,
Precious Love is hard to find.

One day I just had to run,
Gonna find the perfect love this time
But I’d seen it all before,
Been in and out that door,
Found the perfect love was only in my mind
And the Precious Love had been there all the time

We’ve seen our share of stormy weather,
But somehow we’re still together
There’ll be dark clouds every now and then,
But I know the sun will shine again

Precious Love is hard to find,
Really just a state of mind
Many tears, oh so many tears, we have cried,
Oh how we cried

I’m glad we gave it one more chance,
Now we can move beyond romance
I know who you are and you know me,
We have everything we need
We have everything,
Precious Love is everything,
We have everything we need
Precious Love, it’s all we need.


Waltz for Catharine Sarah
© 2013 Tex LaMountain
Instrumental


Song of Peace, Lorenz Publishing Co.
Words: Lloyd Stone, 1934
Music: Jean Sibelius, 1896 (Finlandia)

Sunderland Bridge Softshoe
© 2012 Pat & Tex LaMountain

My mom works for the river
Our dog Toby does too
He sleeps in his cage by her desk at the office
And makes her take walks at noon

Some kids like to paint happy bridges
We hear lots of their stories at dinner
My mom likes to bring all these artists
To the world and to the river

My mom works for the river
I said she works for the river
You won't believe what I do
When I have something to share
I give to the river too

If you really, really want a river
Then you have to think about the water
You have to keep it absolutely clean
If you really, really want a river
You know what I mean, what else can you do
You have to think about the water too

My mom will miss her old office
Now she has a new job to do
But every time she crosses that Sunderland Bridge
She’ll have to think about the river too

We all work for the river
I said we work for the river
You can do what we do
When you have something to share
Give to the river too


Somewhere Down the Road
© 2012 Tex LaMountain

I think it's time for me to hit the highway
I can hear one out there calling my name
And those of you who won't be heading my way
I'll keep some of your memories just the same

Like a bird I may be heading for the Southland
Maybe chase the sunset 'cross the Western sky
But I know I'll always head back to New England
It's the place that I first heard my babies cry

If you come to my town, I hope you'll stop around
It's one of those old train towns, always something going on
If I'm out in your town, I hope you'll feel the same
Cause I'm the kinda guy likes to wave when the train goes by
If you're not carrying too heavy a load
See you somewhere down the road

Now I'm up here in Western Massachusetts
Been dug in pretty deep for quite a spell
Maybe time to get my ticket, grab my seat before I lose it
Time to fill my bucket at the well

I can feel the wheels spinning 'round inside me
When your train is coming, you know it's time to move
The door latch is clicking, I can feel my heart a ticking,
Time to get on board, time to get in the groove


It’s Christmas, Again
© 1998 Pat & Tex LaMountain

We are sitting in your stable, It’s Christmas
The walls are cold, the roof is high above
There are others here together in this simple place
Waiting in the warm glow of your love

We are sitting in your stable, It’s Christmas
The snow is drifting higher as the days go one by one
Feel the safety of the stable, feel the stirring & the aching
Feel the breaking, the remaking, feel the story,
Feel the Glory, feel the Silence in your heart

It’s Christmas, Christmas again

Stars foretell a living Master
Wise men come from afar
Shepherds stand in awe at the door
As we receive the gift of life once more

We are sitting in your stable, it’s Christmas
What a story we are telling now, as it was told before
To receive your guidance, such a precious gift
What a gift you give, to show what giving is
We watch you as you give your life away

We are sitting in your stable, it’s Christmas,


Slip Away
© 1985 Russ Thomas, Free Lunch Music BMI

Slip away, sail on ‘til morning
Ride the rhythm of the waves
Feel them fall and rise

Tired from today, rest for tomorrow
Leave your worries, let them go
Close your sleepy eyes

Slip away, on a dreamy sea
Slip away, at peace as you can be

Gentle breezes blow, softly they caress you
Lift you lightly on your way
Safely to the dawn

May you always know, God will keep & bless you
Give you courage for the day
When the night is gone

Slip away, on a dreamy sea
Slip away, at peace as you can be

Come what may, I will always love you
You will never sail alone, even when you’re sailing free
You will never sail alone, even when you’re sailing free

Slip away
Slip away