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Posted on 2025-09-15
DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Arkansawyers Playing Road To Bethlehem
From The Archives Of Something Blue - 2025-09-14
https://sbblues.com/2025/09/14/dj-hairy-larry-presents-the-arkansawyers-playing-road-to-bethlehem/
Thanks Marty, today we're going to dive back into philosophy with the help of a philosophy professor.
Dr. Bill Stroud taught philosophy at ASU in the seventies. Vivian took classes from him and he had a deep impact on her. She talked about him all the time. I remember one time, back in the seventies, when we went to visit him.
But when I met Vivian she was a senior finishing her English Literature degree and her philosophy classes were behind her. We went on with our lives, raised a family, ran a business, promoted music, went to church, continued our education, all the stuff people do in their lives.
Unbeknownst to me, my friend Tom Turner also took philosophy from Bill Stroud in the seventies. I only found this out when John Spencer told me that Tom Turner had turned some of Bill Stroud's poems into songs and he wanted us to record them. Tom Turner remained in touch with Dr. Stroud and they had become lifelong friends.
I worked with John and Tom on the "Road To Brigadoon" album in 2011, which came out great. When I saw my opportunity to work with Bill Stroud, the philosophy professor who meant so much to Vivian, I was immediately onboard. After talking to John we decided we wanted Cheryl Culp to join us recording the album. She also sang on "Road To Brigadoon".
So, I produced the album. The musicians were Cheryl, John, and myself. I decided to call the group The Arkansawyers and to title the album "Lyrics By Tom Turner And Bill Stroud" to emphasize the poetry. I will include a link to the album at sbblues.com.
Now, Bill is sick. We are all worried about him. He has heard the album and I sent him a CD. So I am dedicating this podcast to Dr. Bill Stroud. It took all five of us to make the album but his poems were what brought us together to record again.
For the podcast I picked a song Tom Turner adapted from his poem "Road To Bethlehem". I will include the poem in this post at sbblues.com.
And I will sing the lyrics for you now. Here's The Arkansawyers with "Road To Bethlehem".
The Arkansawyers - Lyrics by Tom Turner and Bill Stroud
https://archive.org/details/the-arkansawyers
Road to Brigadoon with protest song "Blood On The Water"
https://archive.org/details/road_to_brigadoon
Something Blue Archives - List Of Concerts
https://archive.org/details/somethingbluearchives?sort=-publicdate
Road To Bethlehem by Bill Stroud, Ph.d
Originally published in "Collected Poems - Moments In Poetry"
Where is my road to Bethlehem?
Where is my eastern Star?
I've stumbled in the dark of night,
Sought light both near and far.
Where are the wise men bearing gifts?
Where is the treasured gold?
I've felt the curse of poverty
Destroy my very soul.
Where is the manger of the Child?
Where is the bed of hay?
I've slept on concrete in the cold
and begged for food each day.
Where do the herald angels sing?
Where is their peace on earth?
Why was there sadness in the air,
No song heard at my birth?
Why should we sing "Joy To The World,"
Revere the "Silent Night"?
Where is my road to Bethlehem?
Where is the star so bright?
O Bethlehem, O Bethlehem,
Is that a baby's cry?
Is it the voice of misery,
Or herald from on high?
music
And that's The Arkansawyers with a song Tom Turner adapted from Dr. Bill Strouds poem, "Road To Bethlehem". Don't miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00, to hear Vincent Holden, Tony Williams, and Frank Zappa.
Bill Stroud
Tom Turner
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