1. Grapes On the Vine (4:51) Words & Music by Steve Gillette & Charles John Quarto

This is the first song that Charles John Quarto and I wrote together. It's a poem that Charles created. He and I both had albums produced by Graham Nash, and it was through Graham's circle and Mac Holbert that I met Charles. Also, Charles had written "Geronimo's Cadillac" with Michael Martin Murphy, a song that so many of us had long admired.

Our song has been recorded by dozens of artists and bands including Tony Rice and Waylon Jennings. There are many YouTube videos of live performances of the song, possibly influenced by the Tony Rice version which was widely heard here and reached the top of the charts in England.

I was captivated by the ways Charles brought the central figure of the song to life. The man is a sojourner, someone who leaves behind the comforts of comfort, and sets out to see the wide world — the sweet promise of grapes still on the vine, if not also those already turned into wine. He seems to have a worldly wisdom; a street wisdom, but also an overview, he "sees beyond" as I've heard Charles say.

The view of the highway and the downtown mission seem very vivid, and "to close all his eyes" invites that investigation of consciousness — the dispossessed loner, who can speak to us in a way that reassures us, each on our own journey. Charles would say that some trucker on a long haul across Nevada, listening at 4:00 AM, might be encouraged by our efforts. Three chords and the truth; well, four.

(BMI)

Read more on my About the Song website here