Before
the Count of Three
In my studio is a bulletin board where i put pictures of people i
meet when i'm travelling. Each January 1st, i take everything off of the
board and begin the "repopulation" process all over again. It is common
for me during the average day in the studio to walk over and visit vicariously
with friends there.
 Last
year, the gallery included a picture, shown here, that's a little dark
and blurry, one which i took in Birmingham, Alabama of myself and Kelly
Roberts, whom i've known since she was a little girl. i was visiting with
her at Samford University, where she is now a student and where i had
played the night before. i had two frames of film left in my camera which
i held an arm's length away to snap this picture. Since i was holding
the camera with one hand, it's a little bit blurry, as you can see here.
And we were inside my truck, so it's a little bit dark. Still … it's a
nice addition to the ocean of smiles that fills my studio wall.
This song, like the photograph, was written to celebrate one simple
moment from an ordinary day and puts an easily forgotten blessing in permanent
form. We live those blessings, those moments everyday. They all deserve
a song, a photograph, our recognition. Their Giver deserves our gratitude.
They are our memories, "the Eden from which we will not be evicted."
Self portrait, of you and me
i held out the camera, said "let's smile on three"
It's a little bit blurry, a little unclear
But anyone can see that there's some magic here
In your blue eyes, there is laughter
That i captured perfectly
Half the picture's lovely
And the other half is me
Perhaps you could not tell it
Perhaps you did not see
But i was smiling long before the count of three
One moment, a work of art
i caught it on the Kodak, and in my heart
i'm gonna put it on my passport, the two of us combined
and i'll brag at every border, "she's a friend of mine"
If i'd thought for just one moment
When i started out the day
i'd sit there by you cheek to cheek
i'm sure i would have shaved
Perhaps you could not tell it
Perhaps you did not see
But i was smiling long before the count of three
One snapshot, two faces
Two hearts, two smiles
Each time i see that picture
we're together for awhile
Perhaps you could not tell it
Perhaps you did not see
But i was smiling long before the count of three
i'm still smiling long beyond the count of three ….
Self portrait … of you and me.
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