I’LL TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT JASPER McPHEE
HE CAME FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF EAST TENNESSEE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OR SOMEONE, I’M SURE
WHEN HE FIGURES IT OUT, I’M SURE HE’LL FIND HIS CURE
HIS DADDY HE FOUGHT IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
PLAYED POKER, CHASED WOMEN, FREED PARIS, MONSIEUR
HE RETURNED FILLED WITH MONEY AND STORIES TO TELL
TO A LIFE ON THE FARM, TO HIM IT WAS HELL
CHORUS
TAKE HEED MY CHILDREN, DON’T TRAVEL TOO FAR
LIFE IT WILL TRICK YOU LIKE A GIRL WHO PLAYS CARDS
STAY CLOSE TO THE HEARTH; AND BE TRUE TO YOUR KIND
WRAPPED IN THE ARMS OF THE PEACE YOU WILL FIND
THE MOUNTAINS HAD BEAUTY, TO HIM IT WAS HOME
THE LIFE WAS NOT EASY YET HE HAD NO URGE TO ROAM
UNLIKE HIS DADDY HE DIDN’T WANT NO ESCAPE
DIDN’T NEED WAR OR RICHES FOR HIS LIFE TO MAKE
HE WENT OFF TO SCHOOL TO FIND HIS OWN WAY
HIS DADDY WOULD TELL HIM THERE’S A WORLD FAR AWAY
WITH WOMEN AND MONEY AND A MUCH FASTER PACE
JUST NEVER LOOK BACK GET AWAY FROM THIS PLACE
CHORUS
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN NAMED JASPER McPHEE
HE RETURNED TO A SIMPLE LIFE, NO REASON TO FLEE
HIS LIFE ON THE MOUNTAINS, WORKING HIS LAND
IS THE BEST LIFE ON EARTH AND PART OF THE PLAN
Eric Danton of the Hartford Courant on "What Remains" 10 August 2010
It's entirely possible that Steven Mednick is the most prolific musician on the local scene.A lawyer by day, the New Haven singer and songwriter cranks out songs by night -- enough for seven releases since 2008, including his latest, "What Remains" (Cottage Sound Recordings) He has a lot to say, clearly, and he communicates in '60s folk-rock style, building songs around acoustic guitar and his voice, with adornment from electric guitars, keyboards and the occasional string arrangement and harmonica.