Tracie Lynn-Leave A Trail

Tracie Lynn

"Leave A Trail"

by TxLogCabin

Although a great many of my music purchases are a consequence of a live performance, this time, the purchase of Leave a Trail by artist Tracie Lynn, found a home in my collection because of Internet radio. I like to pull up an Internet “station” and run it in the background while dealing with other computer chores. During one of those recent computer sessions, I heard one of Lynn’s songs on the “radio” and absolutely loved everything about it. Made me want to find more music like that. I just love internet radio because you get a chance to really focus on the kind of music to suit your mood. One of the side bennies of Internet radio is the wealth of info about the current selections, unlike traditional radio DJs that may or may not even identify the selection just played. You know who the artist is, what song is playing, what CD it came from, and the cooler “stations” have a link to help you BUY right then. Is this heaven or what?

First, the sound of this song I’d never heard before impressed me, so I clicked on the browser to see who and what. I found I was listening to "Night I Can’t Remember" by Tracie Lynn. Had never heard this artist before, so I stopped my other computer multi-tasking chores and focused all my attention on what was playing. The music was good solid country, the lyrics were clever and funny, and best of all, this music had a very personal relevance, as well. Since I liked what I heard, I clicked a few more times, listened to a few audio clips of other songs by this artist, and I was hooked. So I made a purchase and looked forward to more of the same.

When the CD arrived a couple of days later, I was not disappointed. All the music was sassy, solid honky tonk, shuffle, swing, and blues and all written or co-written by Tracie Lynn. The lyrics were strong and compelling, telling stories of strength and vulnerability from a woman’s perspective, without an ounce of anything vacuous or silly. In short, this celebrates the essence of women without turning men (or intelligent women) off.

Lynn lists her musical influences as Patty Loveless, Hank Williams, and Emmylou Harris. I also heard some Kathy Mattea as I listened. Although she spent several years in Nashville as a song writer, her roots pulled her back to her native Texas. Lynn’s music reflects her confidence, self understanding, and the heartbeat of her homeland. She offers up gripping tales of gutsy determination tempered by the nurturing love and humor of women dealing with single parenthood, adopting children, lost love, female bonding, and career tug-of-wars using catchy lyrics that snag at the soul of today’s women.

"Coming Around the Bend" is the opening track and sets a positive mood for anticipating the future no matter what has happened in the past.

“Sometimes it’s gonna rain
And that cold wind is gonna blow
I can ride out any storm if it’s a place I need to go.
I know that this broken heart of mine is gonna mend
And I can’t wait to see what is coming around the bend.”

"Night I Can’t Remember" is the number that got me steered toward Lynn’s Trail. I bet every single woman has a story like this (tequila would be optional). I love this light hearted, irreverent look at what might have been if not for that last shot of tequila.

“Ten years ago today on a cold December morn
I woke up with a stranger lying in my arms
He was a vision sent from Heaven
But my heart was filled with pain
I did not know where he came from
I did not recall his name.

I’ll never forget the night I can’t remember
I woke up with an angel who said he loved me like the devil
Damn that tequila
Damn that bartender
I’ll never forget the night I can’t remember.

He might have been the one true love to call my very own.
Every year I toast his memory with a shot of Cuervo gold.”

"Living Out Loud" became my favorite selection from the CD. The narrator of this episode doesn’t have a lot of purpose in her life at the moment. She meets another woman at a bar and is impressed with this confident woman whose head is on straight and her priorities lined out.

“I watched her make the rounds. I watched her make them smile.
When I finally got to meet her, I felt I’d known her all my life.

Living out loud
Living on purpose
Lots of love for her family and friends.
She makes the most of every moment.
This woman knows what life’s all about
She lives out loud.

When life gets messy and a little hard to take
I think about that woman and the things I learned that day.”

"Good Bye for Now" is a hard driving 2 step about the sarcastic ambiguity of an ended relationship. Only a few things are required to make it official. Like:

“Good bye for now
I’m on my way out
I don’t think that I’m gonna miss you anyhow
You’re free to see anyone you please
Long as she ain’t skinnier than me.
She don’t dance and she don’t kiss
She don’t wear too tight a dress
Besides that you can date the whole damn town.
Good bye…..for now.”

"Lost in the Shuffle" is a great 2 step shuffle that should be the working women’s anthem. You can leave all the work troubles behind when you dress up and go dancing with your best sweetie.

“I find my troubles one step behind
When I’m lost in the shuffle with you”

"Love Waits" is a beautiful ballad about adopting a child and all the greatly anticipated joys. This is where I heard some Kathy Mattea influence (also in "Love Has No Bounds" and "Leave a Trail"). Along the same parenthood theme, mamas celebrates the many ways mothers support their children, emotionally and financially. “She might be a woman but she takes things like a man.” is one of the greatest lines to describe the depth of female strength I ever heard.

"Love Has No Bounds" is a beautiful ballad about how love can strike anywhere and doesn’t recognize fences or other bounds. Another take on love is described in the quick-paced tonker "Best Kept Secret". This wacky woman is going to keep the wonder of her new love all to herself, for fear that other women will try to get in on her good thing. That thought is a little paranoid, but guess that’s what makes it unique.

"Bad Case of the Blues" is a snappy, but bluesy tune about missing someone that’s moved on, but you’re not ready for that yourself.

“I’m not myself anymore
As far as I can see
The only cure for me
Is a little bit of loving from you.”

The blue side of love is covered in "Happy Hour", a melancholy ballad that explores the dichotomy of happy hour. Although I won’t dwell on the gloomy details, this selection really illustrates the depth and diversity of this artist. Also in blue-love vein, "Wish I Didn’t Want You Back" explores giving in to your feelings against better judgment.

"Leave a Trail" inspires us to follow a dream and pave the way for others to follow. It’s autobiographical message is the perfect ending to this collection of the trials and celebrations of lives from a woman’s perspective.

“I never travel down that road of least resistance
Long ago I made my stand
I had a vision
I would do what I choose
Only answer to myself
I will go where there is no road
And leave a trail.”

Whether you are male or female, you will find something in which to identify, chuckle once or twice, and find yourself totally absorbed in the magic of the music. Since enjoying this CD, I look forward to trying some of Lynn’s previous releases like Girl Talk and Is Anybody Listening. Check out more information, find live performance near you, or contact Lynn via the internet at TracieLynn.com. You can order up your copy of Leave a Trail at that site or try LoneStarMusic.com. If you catch a live performance, you could also buy direct from the artist.

Written by Cheryl Arthur, September 2006

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