Words Between Friends
by Mike Moutoux, Western & Corporate Entertainer & Cowboy Poet

I heard a great song at a festival in Arizona a few years ago and recently tracked it down on the Internet. The song is You Just Can’t See Him From the Road co-written by Donnie Blanz, Ed Bruce, and Judith Bruce. The Internet site gave me the words, but not the chords, so I emailed Donnie for his help and to get is blessing to perform it. He sent the chords, and his reply about getting his blessing was: “go ahead, that’s why I write ‘em”. Technically, I don’t have to ask him for permission to play it.  (See * below) Donnie certainly didn’t need to make my life easier by sending me the chords. In this exchange of politeness and generosity we have started on the path toward friendship.

I’m learning that in the entertainment business, politeness and generosity are not always the rule. Some of the stories are real disappointing to hear. Actually, some of the negative attitudes are understandable, especially when royalties aren’t paid, credit isn’t given, and creative properties are stolen. Despite the negative stories, there are lots of examples of generosity and politeness. I am happy to report that all my experiences have been positive. My “intellectual property” may not be worth a whole lot, but it is the only thing I can call my own. Sharing that creativity with an audience is my chance to take them to places and feelings I’ve discovered and found worth telling about. Now and then, I find a song or poem written by someone else that is so good I want to share it too. I want to honor the writer in some small way by sharing their words with people who may not hear them any other way.

Words. Powerful stuff in the right hands. I try not to use words lightly or take them for granted. I understand what it means when another writer says’ “sure take my words and share them with the world.” This is generosity almost beyond belief. But I’ll take you back to Donnie who understands all this better than I. “You Just Can’t See Him From the Road” has been recorded 17 times in some fashion or another, two of which were by Chris LeDoux. It thrills me every time I hear some other person’s take on the same ‘4 chords and the truth’.”

It should be a thrill and it is a thrill to see our words take on new life through others. And it’s very nice to find other writers who entrust their poems and songs to a guy like me they barely know. I’ll try and perform them with feeling and with respect to the writer. And yes, check Donnie out at: www.DonnieBlanz.com. He’s coming to New Mexico in November and I hope to thrill him with my version of his song. It might be the start of a real friendship; or the first time he regrets letting someone else sing it. We’ll see.

• Performance royalties are supposed to be paid by the venue to the licensing agents ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, who then pay the writers and publishers.  Recording is different in that royalties, called “mechanical royalties”, are paid by the recording artist or label directly to the publisher, who in turn, pays the writer.