There’s a reason whiskey exists and why the songs that we love stick. Stopped for a turtle once. It was in the middle of the road. Near railroad tracks. I got out, walked toward it and noticed a few things. Walking toward it was a bad idea. Didn’t like me at all, though I was trying to save its life. Turtle didn’t care. I drove away smelling the summer air knowing I’d never forget.
-M. Taggart
My brother, Chris, yet again knocked it out of the park by capturing this incredible song while it was playing live on the radio. Thank you, Chris!
Miss you, Dad. What a gift it is to listen to this gem. And to all of my WP friends out there who’ve taken a moment to express kindness concerning my Father’s passing, thank you. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
That’s my old man singing and playing the guitar. He wrote the song.
Matt
What an amazing talent, Dad, I should have told you more often.
‘Just a Captain’ to be played on the Radio tonight! This is a song that can break me to pieces when I listen to it alone at night. The song has deep meaning and memories for myself, my brother, and family members.
My father was a talented musician. In the early 1970’s he once shared the stage with a budding group named Aerosmith. My father wrote, sang, and played guitar in numerous bands all over New England.
His song, ‘Just a Captain’ will be played tonight 4/29/21 at 6:45 PM EST on Lazer 99.3 out of East Longmeadow, MA.
If you’d like to listen to the song live you can stream it via the radio station website here:
(Just click the ‘Listen Live’ link located on the top right of their website)
https://lazer993.com/?fbclid=IwAR1ENgLo7o8A-PR9N2QUljhRZMiril-1RlElU2gqiNp4M36Ex2U7AEbu6_g
I’ll be listening! This is a large moment for my family. Special thanks to my brother, Chris, who contacted the radio station and shared the song with them. Chris also shared a bit of Dad’s life story with them. It turns out they liked the story and the song.
Keep in mind that my Father wrote this song in the mid-to late 70’s and the quality of the recording is of that time period. Either way, in my opinion, it sounds incredible.
Cheers everyone!
Matt
I wonder if a bird
cares about the loss of a tree.
-M. Taggart
My Dad would have been 66 today. It’s been a tough few days leading up to this. The emotions snuck up on me. I didn’t expect it to be like this. At night I’ve been sitting on our back deck looking at the stars waiting for him to show himself. Sometimes I play his music. I don’t always handle that too well.
I took Gavin fishing this past weekend. He met an adorable little girl who was bird watching with her mother. Within minutes they were talking and it didn’t take long before Gavin announced to them that his Grandfather died. My father was amazing with Gavin. Which, for me, was healing to see. When I was Gavin’s age my father wasn’t part of our family unit.
Things change.
Thanks everyone, for the digital support and friendship. I consider of number of you friends. Even if only through these online channels, you are great people. I’m thankful for that and I’m thankful for WP. One of the bright spots for me (concerning the writing world) was Tara and her accepting a short story of mine into a wonderful horror anthology that she edited and published. Tara, I appreciate you. I still can’t find the motivation to submit any work and you were able to get that unstuck. I know I can ‘get there’ again, but I guess not yet.
So, I think I’ll take myself fishing today and see if I can find Dad.
Matt
My father took a photo.
Me.
Feeding Gavin.
I love this photo.
I chose Gavin over my career.
I was made fun of.
By family. Friends.
Doesn’t much matter.
They are cowards.
Maybe Gavin remembers some.
This worthless drunk took care
of Gavin from the age of 0-3.
Twelve hours a day, alone.
Male.
And I kicked ass.
Scrubbing milk bottles,
changing diapers,
stepping in cat shit
knowing I had minutes
to brew coffee
before the baby was awake
We got this
Men
Don’t let them stomp your life away.
Careers come and go.
We are told opportunity knocks once.
That’s a bunch of Bullshit.
This drunk doesn’t walk in a box
full of benchmarks.
Cheers,
-M. Taggart
Thank you, Dad.
I can’t wait
to see what happens
to me when I’m dead.
-M. Taggart
It’s been cold without your voice.
I need Spring.
I need another warmth.
-M. Taggart
From a common sunrise we began.
By noon we no longer remember
the crawling from the beginning
And at sunset the pace has become
and excited action; much like the
gliding of a Raven as the search
for the deepest midnight calls to
the very structure of our souls and
in that darkest hour we feel what
we’ll discover and it’s because of this
that there’s no stopping the next
common sunrise.
-M. Taggart
When I’m finally gone I’ll have deserved it. Every breath and I know this. And all the pretty things. And all the ever lasting.
-M. Taggart
mtaggartwriter 