The Shadows of Yesterday - Written by my dad, Bob Bourassa

My dad just wrote this song this year. He's 75, and this is the first tune he ever wrote. It figures, Ive been writing songs for 35 years, and he writes a better one than I could on his first try. He sings like me, so he isn't about to perform it, and my mom, who sings great, is suddenly too shy, so, here I go.

I started playing guitar when I was little for a few reasons. My great grandad gave me a plastic Macceferri for Christmas when I was 3, but most of all, because my mom got my dad a guitar for his birthday when I was 6, and hid it in my room. I couldnt leave it alone.

Besides trying to be like my dad, my other reason was that my mom sang so well, and I loved backing her up, sitting on the kitchen steps while she cooked. She's from Texas, so we listened to our share of country music. I dont think that's the way my dad thought of this tune when he wrote it, but I tried recording it every other way, and I am not a good enough singer to make it fly, so I did my feeble Johnny Cash impersonation. My brothers and sister heard that every day probably, and it was no better then than it is now.

Everyone says I never smile. They should have seen me during the 10 or 15 takes it took me to try to sing this with a straight face. Never mind me, the song is great. My parents met as dance instructors at Arthur Murray's, so I would expect his only song to be about dancing.

I love you Mom and Dad. Happy 52nd Anniversary.

Robbie

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Country
• song.

[007380]

What a great story and song. What part of Texas are you from? Keep up the playing..

Merry Christmas

[robbourassaguitarist]

Thanks.

My mom is from Lubbock.

I'm from Wyandotte Michigan.

[Myavrick]

Rob, You sounded great. I instantly thought of Marty Robbins when I heard this played. He was a favorite of my Moms. He closed the show at the Ryman one night about a year before they moved the show to the new building.

[robbourassaguitarist]

I love Marty Robbins. He was a great singer and always had the best guitarists working with him. He was no slouch as a guitarist either.

I think he probably had one of the best country voices, and his songs were as good as were written.

If you want to see a good impersonation of Marty, look at Merle Haggard doing his. He did Marty and Bob Wills as good as you could imagine.

[b1uet0rch]

your voice is slammin!!!!

[Zaknefain69]

Wow, dont stop singing.. you are an inspiration.

[winddance368]

Your mom is not from Lubbock. She was born in a little town in East Texas (Naples) and grew up in Dallas. I know your mom very well.

[cinderellalifestyle]

five stars both for the singer (who underestimates his own talent) and the songwriter, --it is never too late! Wow, thats a great song...be sure and tell your pa, and let your Ma know she can sing, anytime--let her hide behind a potted plant if need be--it is a remarkable musical family you have, it seems--I'm a fan.

sincerely, Laurie

[guitaress1]

Always love a good waltz. Bravo, Bob Bourassa!

[Kikalani]

I hear a little Elvis and Bing Crosby in here too. Very nice.

[hotfirecaster]

Please keep singing your dad's tunes!

It's great!

Congrats from Paris France to all your talented family!!!

A bientôt,

Chris