Theme Songs for a Simple Life or Bad Funeral

I visited the San Joaquin Valley twice in March to photograph the Fresno Country Blossom Trail and surrounding area. Compare my photos from the first visit and the second visit. During the drive to and through the valley, I reflected on ”being from the Valley” while listening to the radio. On my first visit, a local radio station asked listeners to name their “theme song.” A theme song was described as the music that would play whenever a person walked into the room.

These images are from a wedding photography site visit at Clovis Caste; Clovis Castle is "Fresno and Clovis's top rated wedding venue." (bryan farley)

Well, I knew my theme song (or at least I thought I did.) It was Bad Company, by Bad Company. Yeah, this guy with a face of fear “chose a gun and threw away the sun.” It does not make sense. It is a great song, but as far as a “theme song” it falls apart after the first two lines.

Company always on the run/ Destiny is the rising sun… after that, who wants a theme song that announces your bad disposition and willingness to die using firearms? When I was younger, I thought it was cool.

 (bryan farley)

Bad Company’s song Bad Company reminds me of another old running song “Bullet the Blue Sky” by U2.  I lived in Las Vegas when the Joshua Tree album was released and Bullet the Blue Sky was my favorite running song. I was living with my father in Las Vegas and I would run through the desert air drumming the beat. I never understood the lyrics. What did Bullet the Blue Sky mean? As often happens, in the absence of complete information, I made up my own explanations. I decided that those white airplane trails were evidence that a plane had Bulleted the Blue Sky. Bullet is a verb…  I thought I was clever. Besides, I was running during a Vegas summer. I was in the desert and I was young,

 (bryan farley)

The beginning of Spring is the end of blossom season… but it is the beginning of Spring. When I photographed the blossoms two weeks earlier, the sky was full of trails and clouds. The trees also had fewer leaves and more blossoms. Two weeks later, I spent the evening with my children and woke up on Good Friday at my mother’s foothill home. As I watched the children search for the Easter eggs hidden by their grandfather, I thought about the song I have often wanted played at my funeral. This was another mistake. It is Simple Man, by Lynyrd Skynrd.

 (bryan farley)

This is a great song, but it is not a funeral song. The singer recalls a lesson from a mother to a son. The tune would work for a funeral, but these are lessons to practiced daily. Keep it simple. Take your time and understand yourself. Surround yourself with people who love you. Love yourself.  When trouble comes, remember their is a power greater than you.

Boy, don’t you worry… you’ll find yourself.
Follow your heart, lord, and nothing else.

If only it were so simple to keep it simple. That is why it will be my new theme song. It’s my daily reminder. For my outdoor funeral, Hopefully, airplanes will bullet the blue sky just for my bad company.

35 Responses to “Theme Songs for a Simple Life or Bad Funeral”

  1. Ryan Wayte says:

    Simple man, Ofcorse

  2. Ryan Wayte says:

    Simple man, Ofcorse

  3. Ryan Wayte said:

    Simple man, Ofcorse

    at 12:03 am on April 11, 2013

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  4. Karen Clark says:

    Such great pictures and writing, Bryan! I love the picture if the tree.

  5. Bryan Farley says:

    Karen Clark said:

    Such great pictures and writing, Bryan! I love the picture if the tree.

    at 4:43 am on April 11, 2013

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  6. Karen Clark said:

    Such great pictures and writing, Bryan! I love the picture if the tree.

    at 4:43 am on April 11, 2013

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  7. Ryan Wayte says:

    You have a gift! Thankyou for sharing.

  8. Ryan Wayte says:

    You have a gift! Thankyou for sharing.

  9. Ryan Wayte said:

    You have a gift! Thankyou for sharing.

    at 6:34 am on April 11, 2013

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  10. Alice J Pierson-Knapp says:

    I love starting my day with your words.

  11. Bryan Farley says:

    Alice J Pierson-Knapp said:

    I love starting my day with your words.

    at 9:36 am on April 11, 2013

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  12. Alice J Pierson-Knapp said:

    I love starting my day with your words.

    at 9:36 am on April 11, 2013

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  13. Bryan Farley says:

    Thank you Ryan Wayte. I thought about you while writing the post since we both love simple man and we were probably both Bad Company when we were younger. 🙂 There is also a truck theme with the date (10-4) or 4-10, but since everything was backwards, I figured it would work. I would enjoy learning more about what you see when you drive through the valley in your truck… maybe some day I can follow you and document more of the valley.

  14. Bryan Farley says:

    Thank you Ryan Wayte. I thought about you while writing the post since we both love simple man and we were probably both Bad Company when we were younger. 🙂 There is also a truck theme with the date (10-4) or 4-10, but since everything was backwards, I figured it would work. I would enjoy learning more about what you see when you drive through the valley in your truck… maybe some day I can follow you and document more of the valley.

  15. Bryan Farley says:

    and Ryan Wayte, I have really enjoyed becoming your friend. It is a great story… one we do not need to share here, but I am sure will be shared at a later funeral or other appropriate venue!

  16. Bryan Farley says:

    and Ryan Wayte, I have really enjoyed becoming your friend. It is a great story… one we do not need to share here, but I am sure will be shared at a later funeral or other appropriate venue!

  17. Bryan Farley said:

    Thank you Ryan Wayte. I thought about you while writing the post since we both love simple man and we were probably both Bad Company when we were younger. 🙂 There is also a truck theme with the date (10-4) or 4-10, but since everything was backwards, I figured it would work. I would enjoy learning more about what you see when you drive through the valley in your truck… maybe some day I can follow you and document more of the valley.

    at 4:31 pm on April 11, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  18. Bryan Farley said:

    and Ryan Wayte, I have really enjoyed becoming your friend. It is a great story… one we do not need to share here, but I am sure will be shared at a later funeral or other appropriate venue!

    at 4:32 pm on April 11, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  19. Bryan Farley says:

    Karen Clark thank you karen. It is almost like a burning bush. (I don’t even know what that symbolizes), but it impressed me too. hope to see you soon.

  20. Bryan Farley says:

    Karen Clark thank you karen. It is almost like a burning bush. (I don’t even know what that symbolizes), but it impressed me too. hope to see you soon.

  21. Bryan Farley says:

    Alice J. Pierson-Knapp If I could satisfy one person, it would be you. So I am glad that today was a success. Thank you for always considering my best interests even when I forget them.

    • Alice J Pierson-Knapp says:

      Its really Robert. A term we currently use in education is “simple complexity” as nothing seems to be “simple” anymore and that is as it should be.
      aka Grandpa

      • bryan farley says:

        Did you say that it is really Robert who considers my best interests? And you don’t? 🙂

        I knew I liked him for some reason. I also like the term “simple complexity.” Sometimes the world is simple and other times it isn’t. Sometimes I confuse the two.

        bf

  22. Bryan Farley says:

    Alice J. Pierson-Knapp If I could satisfy one person, it would be you. So I am glad that today was a success. Thank you for always considering my best interests even when I forget them.

  23. Bryan Farley said:

    Karen Clark thank you karen. It is almost like a burning bush. (I don’t even know what that symbolizes), but it impressed me too. hope to see you soon.

    at 4:34 pm on April 11, 2013

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  24. Bryan Farley said:

    Alice J. Pierson-Knapp If I could satisfy one person, it would be you. So I am glad that today was a success. Thank you for always considering my best interests even when I forget them.

    at 4:36 pm on April 11, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  25. Bryan Farley says:

    Alice J Pierson-Knapp said:

    Its really Robert. A term we currently use in education is “simple complexity” as nothing seems to be “simple” anymore and that is as it should be.
    aka Grandpa

    at 8:32 am on April 12, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  26. Alice J Pierson-Knapp said:

    Its really Robert. A term we currently use in education is “simple complexity” as nothing seems to be “simple” anymore and that is as it should be.
    aka Grandpa

    at 8:32 am on April 12, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  27. Bryan Farley says:

    bryan farley said:

    Did you say that it is really Robert who considers my best interests? And you don’t? 🙂

    I knew I liked him for some reason. I also like the term “simple complexity.” Sometimes the world is simple and other times it isn’t. Sometimes I confuse the two.

    bf

    at 1:35 pm on April 12, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  28. bryan farley said:

    Did you say that it is really Robert who considers my best interests? And you don’t? 🙂

    I knew I liked him for some reason. I also like the term “simple complexity.” Sometimes the world is simple and other times it isn’t. Sometimes I confuse the two.

    bf

    at 1:35 pm on April 12, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  29. I (mom) did not respond until now. I referred Robert to your recent posts and aka Grandpa responded Friday/8:33 a.m.

  30. Alice J. Pierson-Knapp said:

    I (mom) did not respond until now. I referred Robert to your recent posts and aka Grandpa responded Friday/8:33 a.m.

    at 5:53 am on April 14, 2013

    [Comment imported]

  31. Alice J. Pierson-Knapp said:

    :-)!

    at 6:01 am on April 14, 2013

    [Comment imported]