Somewhere to Lay My Head

You get “Somewhere.”

Driving, fun and just a little desperate, this lively tune credits its inspiration from the style and spirit of the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ rendition of “Cornbread and Butterbeans” on their 2010 album Genuine Negro Jig.

Aubrey hatched the chorus after re-tuning her ukulele to sound infallibly harmonious as her toddler strummed along with her banjo practicing. In an attempt to kill cabin fever that chilly spring afternoon and feeling only slightly frustrated that the kids had mutinied on naptime (again), she finally set down the banjo, picked up the re-tuned ukulele, and pounded out a melody over some power drones. These words came through almost immediately:

Give me them corn and taters

Give me that butter and bread

Give me a happy baby

Somewhere to lay my head

Somewhere to lay my head

With the chorus effectively stuck in her head on repeat, she sent the idea to Craig. Craig, on his way to work the next day, had the novel idea to overlay the chorus with the story of a canoe misadventure he had with his brothers on the Scioto River in southern Ohio a few years back.

On their trip, the canoe really tipped, they discovered that a 24 pack of Pabst floats, and one of the brothers donated his phone and most of his clothing to the bottom of the river. Who is at fault for the collision is still a hot topic to this day.

Just as the tune “Cornbread and Butterbeans” pairs a chorus that celebrates love around the table with anecdotes from daily life’s frustrations, “Somewhere to Lay My Head” matches a chorus of yearning for creature comforts with the humorous tale of a canoe capsize. Somehow, it works.

A Noteworthy Moment

While recording the vocals on this song, Ron noted that “you guys just seem like you’re having so much fun.” Yep.

Listen Here: Somewhere to Lay My Head from Carried Along

We hope the energy and delight that we feel comes through the airwaves as we sing this song for you, reliving vivid memories of good times mixed with desperation. When struggle and joy meet, we sing! It doesn’t have to be pretty. That’s how we are all carried along.