Monday, February 23, 2015

Same Song, Second Verse

It has snowed all day and the high has been 26 degrees.  At least I had the book about Jerry Lee to read.  Rick Bragg is an excellent writer.  What do I think of Jerry Lee.  Well, first he was a spoiled brat.  Little hints came through in what he said...did not want to get up to go to school so his Momma would come back in 30 minutes and bring him hot chocolate and vanilla wafers to eat trying to get him up.  It started with the death of his dear brother.  His parents felt so badly when Elmo was gone that they spoiled Jerry Lee rotten.  He told of coming home as a child with an ice cream cone. The family had no money to live day to day.  His mother asked where he got and he said "I charged it".  He learned early if you made money doing something it was justified.  Nothing was ever his fault.  All the greats were put down--Elvis, Johnnie Cash, on and on.  Jerry Lee and his ego both swelled up.  He was a dope head!  He says he is off the pills but who knows. The only singers he looked up to were ones who died and he did not have to compete with Hank Williams, Jimmy Rogers, and others that weren't dead but never made the big time!  His marriage to the 13 year old was her fault for coming on to him!  What a mess...but still I would say read the book and see what you think.  I never thought he was great to start with but I love a well written book and this one is that!  You must read between the lines to see the real Jerry Lee.  His life was also "same song, second verse!"

1 comment:

Sister--Helen said...

I am reading the book on the kindle...not sure if I like reading on it...I need to get the machine out and sew a little...Amanda got a cheap machine for Christmas....she wants us to make some pot holders...we are going back to the pool today...she loves it so...she is learning to swim and she is so proud of herself.