The lyrics that Shane Leonard, the principle maker of the songs of Wisconsin band Kalispell, wrote for his song, "Lucky A Hundred Times," are about enough. They are evidence of that old as it comes spirit to folk and bluegrass songs. It's about the bluebirds singing. It's about being buoyed by what hits as good fortune and it's about being shattered by all of the misfortune that you can count on finding you whether you deserve it or not. It's about mourning and it's about seeing your father or mother outlive everyone else they grew up and old loving. It's about looking back at all of the written and pasted together pages that have been collected in a live and then staring into an abyss that's not twitching or giving off any sign that it's alive. It's about feeling a cold draft and it's about feeling all of the warmth in the world envelope you at a time when you needed it the most.
"Sighing at the cold bedside
'Mother, won't you tell me when it feels like flying?'
'Darling, gladly.
I've been lucky a hundred times'
"Walking out of whispering pines
Free enough to drown it in a fear of life
Dying slowly
'I've been lucky a hundred times'
"Glowing from a television mind
Honesty as currency - it feels like lying
Go then, proudly
'I've been lucky a hundred times'
"Staring down a cold street light
'Darling won't you tell me when it's in the right?
Your goodbyes had me.
I've been lucky a hundred times'"