STANDING IN THE CIRCLE

  

Without any Nuggets, Avalanche and Rockies games taking place, I have been watching the news, Netflix and Circle TV.  I found Circle by accident - I got so irritated with satellite and cable companies having a pissing contest with Altitude Sports over broadcasting the local pro teams, I cut the cord as it were, signed up for YouTube TV and bought an antenna to put up on the old satellite mounting post on our garage roof.  We get about 40 broadcast channels, and Circle is one of them.  I have been most impressed with the live broadcasts from the Opry, with country's best playing to an empty auditorium because of COVID 19, but still sharing great music with us folks at home across the land. 

In several of the Circle broadcasts, I was taken with how much respect and reverence was paid to the wooden circle that is in the center of the stage, as shown above.  A nice article on the history and the importance of the Circle can be found here.  Briefly, the circle was cut out of the stage of the old Ryman Auditorium and then placed in the stage at the Opry's new digs.  The Circle is considered "the most sacred space in country music" and "the circle never was painted, but it adorns the scuffs and scars of the greats and dreamers who have walked across it."

After hearing country artists and Opry Members such as Craig Morton, Daily & Vincent, Luke Combs and Ricky Skaggs and host Bobby Bones speak of the importance of the Circle, a strange thing happened - a song came to my mind!!  Strange in that it was only the second time that a tune just came to me.  I worked on it a bit, sent it to my brother in law who said "too many words", so I cut it back a bit, and am now happy with the song.  Below are the lyrics and the chord progression that I use.  If I had acceptable talent, I would make a demo, but alas, I will have to rely on others to do that. If you play, give it a shot, not too slow, not too fast. I welcome comments and ideas for improvements. Thanks in advance.

Update:  I indeed received some wonderful feedback on this, with some constructive guidance - so, I changed a few things around, and IMHO, the revised version below is significantly better.

STANDING IN THE CIRCLE

I had the perfect dream

that seemed like reality.

“Twas the sweetest of dreams

that ever could be.

I’m walkin' through the Ryman

with Opry's royalty,

  headin' for the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

I walk onto the stage,

  guitar in my hand.

I'm standing at the microphone,

surrounded by a band.

There’s Hank and George and Patsy,

and other greats no longer seen,

gathered ‘round the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oh the Circle, sacred Circle,

where the greatest ones have stood.

A simple six foot circle made out of common wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

of country’s royalty

who have stood in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

As the house lights go down,

a lump grows in my throat.

But we break into my song,

and we're hittin' every note.

The music flows like honey,

the band is heavenly.

We’re playing in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

And like so many dreams,

this one ended with a start.

But it brings a smile to my face

And a song rings in my heart

It’s etched into my memory

for all eternity

‘cause I was standing in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oh the Circle, sacred Circle,

where the greatest ones have stood.

A simple six foot circle made out of common wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

Of country’s royalty

who have stood in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee

[Closing in the tradition of the Grand Ole Opry]

Will the circle be unbroken,

By and by Lord, by and by.

There’s a better home awaiting

In the sky Lord in the sky.

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Here's the Chords with the Lyrics

STANDING ON THE CIRCLE

[G] - I had the perfect dream

that [D] that seemed like reality.

“Twas the [C] sweetest of dreams

that ever could [D] be.

I’m [G] walkin' through

with [D] Opry's royalty

  [C] headin' for the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenne [G] ssee.

[G] I walk onto the stage,

a [D] Gibson in my hand.

I'm [C] standing at the microphone,

sur [D]rounded by a band.

There’s [G] Hank and George and Patsy,

and other [D] greats no longer seen,

[C] gathered ‘round the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

Oh the [D] Circle, sacred Circle,

where the [C] greatest ones have [G] stood.

A [D] simple six foot circle made [C] out of common [G] wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

of [D] country’s royalty

[C] who’ve stood in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

[G] As the house lights go down,

a [D] lump grows in my throat.

But we [C] break into my song

and we're [D] hittin' every note.

The [G] music flows like honey,

the [D] band is heavenly.

We’re [C] playing in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

[G[ And like so many dreams,

this one [D] ended with a start.

But it [C] brings a smile to my face

And a [D] song rings in my heart.

It’s [G] etched into my memory

for [D] all eternity

‘cause I was [C] singing in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

Oh the [D] Circle, sacred Circle,

where the [C] greatest ones have [G] stood.

A [D] simple six foot circle made [C] out of common [G] wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

of [D] country’s royalty

[C] who’ve stood in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold...] Tenn [G] essee

  © 4/28/2020