Last Days on Earth - Not just a parlor trick!

[Ken Olmstead]

Ah ha got your attention!

Sadly I am playing this tomorrow at a memorial service. I am kinda freaking out about it! I am comfortable playing where folks are there for a good time but sending off a good pal in front of people in this state of mind has me very nervous!!

Anyway, the tune. I youtubed this one and I did it in the alternate tuning which obviously is extremely cool! However, I don't have time to retune during the service and I don't have a second mandolin available so I learned how to play it in standard tuning. The melody is so good that it stands on its own. Don't get me wrong, I adore the alternate tuning version, however, there is not a lot lost in translation with this tune. WSM was pure genius!!

I was gonna play Amazing grace along with a couple others but he would have preferred this one. RIP Joe!

[swampstomper]

More power to you, when you play or sing for someone departed. I did this for my own mother-in-law some years ago (Darkest Hour is Just Before the Dawn, Going up Home [to live in green pastures] were my choices).

I also play Last Days in standard tuning, and it really doesn't lose its beauty. You don't get the little cross-tuned bridge between sections, but otherwise it's fine.

As we say in the Netherlands for this situation, "Sterkte!" (Strength! or Be Strong!)

[Rob Powell]

That's a real tribute to your friend Ken. I have wanted to play and sing a few times for departed loved ones and have never been able to get it together enough emotionally to pull it off.

I salute you and your friend. May God's blessings be on you both.

[JEStanek]

Play from the heart, Ken, and your gift will be well received. Good luck.

Jamie

[Ken Olmstead]

Thanks guys, it went really well. I will have to tell his story on the cafe sometime soon. It is amazing what one guy did for the acoustic music and especially mandolin community in this town!

[Dan Adams]

I played 'Amazing Grace' at my Mother-in-Law's service last August. I can't think of a better tribute than to play music at a family member or friends funeral service. Nice tribute to life on your behalf!! Dan