Album Notes

INTO THE FIRE by the author Patrick Michael Karnahan (Firefighter- United States Forest Service 1979-1993) Fire Notes This introduction was first used as a silent message on the bands music video of Into the Fire. Michael Martin Murphey had the perfect voice for this intro. Into the Fire- Music video at www.blackirish.com Words & Music by Patrick Michael Karnahan ASCAP © 2005 This ballad song is based on both the past & present experiences of wild land firefighters. In the old days when a fire broke out it was common for people to drop everything they were doing and grab a shovel and go. They would wear whatever they had on at the time and take up the challenge. Today units are highly trained by the Forest Service for specific roles such as smoke jumpers, hotshots, and engine crews. The protective clothing worn by these firefighters has a name known as Nomex. Production notes: Michael Martin Murphey was a big help in making this song have true grit. It was such a thrill to have one of my longtime favorite singers in the studio. When I was in high school I played his classic, Wildfire, all the time. The fire names listed at the end of the song were ones that claimed the lives of Forest Service Firefighters. (Chorus) Into the Fire where you will feel the embers burn And the darkness, where the smoke & wind will turn Your heart it will beat faster when the hot air fills your lungs. Better thank your God or Nomex. And pray that fire won’t run! Fiddle Fire Melodies Fire on the Mountain & Crazy Creek, are trad. David Rainwater wrote “Grab yo ass & run” & Dance of the Embers. © 2007 I had heard the instrumental song “Fire on the Mountain” many years ago. The title alone sold the idea of having the song on the album. Being that Dave was such a great master of the fiddle I knew that we could pull this off. Jim Nelson came in with a nice old-time Americana Banjo Style. One of Dave’s ideas was to introduce the melody “Dance of the Embers” into a Celtic Style song, which is rooted in most Early American Music. Cold Missouri Waters- music video at www.blackirish.com Words & Music by James Keelaghan© 1995 Bug Music OBO, Green Linnet Music The story of foreman Wag Dodge is a sad one. Being that he was one of the few survivors of the tragic 1949 Mann Gulch Fire, investigators made him a target of blame! James Keelaghan wrote his story song about the time I wrote “Underneath Montana Skies”. The same story told in two different ways looking at the facts of history and trying to find the truth. Bold Dirt Devils Words by Patrick Michael Karnahan ASCAP © 2007 No one said that the work would be without dirt! Having started my firefighting career out as a member of a 20 person line crew taught me many things. I learned to live in the dirt & smoke. Day after day you get used to the long hours and smoke. The greatest thoughts however were of fire camp, a large meal, and a chance to wipe dirt off your face. Production notes: With a work song you need to use a real fire crew! The call went out to the Forest Service and we were lucky to get firefighters Tracy Stelman and Scot Brush. The rest of the crew was made up of the band members. I just thought it was about time that wild land firefighters had their own song to keep the hand tools moving in time with the work. Smokey---Music video at-www.blackirish.com Words & Music by Patrick Michael Karnahan ASCAP © 2002 When I was young my parents bought me a Smokey Bear doll. It came with a book about the life of the bear. Years later I would end up singing his famous song at many forest service campfire programs. When writing the ballad I wanted to explore the history of the famous bear with his roots in New Mexico to his great national fame. Production notes: Jim Nelson was picked for lead because of his deep dark voice. At times I think his voice sounds like the way Smokey sometimes talks. (Words) Once there was a stor