On this day in 2007, one of the greatest warriors and Recon Marines I ever had the honor and privilege to serve with, Maj Doug Zembiec was KIA in Sadr City while leading an Iraqi counterterrorism unit on a raid targeting the Mahdi Army. When his Iraqi unit called over the…

These dudes are at every reputable BJJ gym. We have at least 5. The 58 year old purple belt and above archetype. All are fit, happy, and consistently get laid. Gents, if you’re over 45: BJJ 3x per week lift 3x per week 200g protein per day = bliss. Unfuk yourself. You need a real combat sport in your life but you’re too old for wrestling, judo, boxing, and Muay Thai.

Let’s close it out with his autobiographical tune from 1980. The following year he’d release Pressure Is On with Country Boy Can Survive and All My Rowdy Friends that forever changed how we’d view Bocephus. Like Jimmy Buffett before him and his ‘77 Changes in Latitudes record. For whatever reason, both decided to become novelty acts after their stardom and rarely wrote another great song afterwards. Enjoy your weekend. All In Alabama youtu.be/-3pht5ZqvTw?si=jrgt… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This one by Hank Jr from 1979 off one of the greatest country albums ever made, Whiskey Bent, was so good Merle himself covered it. Bocephus’ run from 79-81 produced almost 20 country standards. Don’t get caught up in the post ‘81 novelty act. As Keith Richards said: “I just love that high lonesome melancholy shit.” I Don't Have] Anymore Love Songs youtu.be/fbV0V81NZDo?si=9JSV… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

How bout the lead track off Bocephus’ 1977 New South record? Hank Jr’s second best album. Yes, that’s ol Waylon on lead tele and harmony. The Big Hoss also produced it. Our boy popularized the name dropping and autobiographical lyrics. The final record before Jr became famous. Feelin' Better youtu.be/hAB0N1nTaXU?si=J0RG… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

Let’s do some old school Hank Jr this week. People need to put respect back on ol Bocephus’ name. His run from 1975-81 rivals anyone’s in country music history. Almost 50 great songs deep. Outstanding singer, songwriter, and musician. Enjoy this one from ‘75. Clovis, New Mexico youtu.be/AE08Jy28les?si=k692… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

Let’s close out our Richard Thompson week with this one. I wonder if the Talking Heads and David Byrne were influenced by ol Richard? Our boy also gave us the origins of Blondie, Fleetwood Mac 2.0, and Warren Zevon. But, when he got off tour in 1975, he left the music business to join a commune just as his sound was about explode. In an alternate universe, Richard and his wife Linda decided to join Mick Fleetwood and John McVie instead of Lindsey and Stevie. Man in Need youtu.be/YykY4-cp32Q?si=PHjK… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This one by Richard Thompson from 2007 goes out to all you 03s and 11s who got some in Sadr City. By far the best song about the GWOT and arguably one of the most accurate war songs ever written. How a 70 year old redcoat could write a song like this I can’t tell you. Dad is referring to Baghdad. Dad's Gonna Kill Me youtu.be/ud4gq3WmXpM?si=8CNA… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This is such a great tune from 1973 by Richard Thompson and his wife Linda. Richard left Fairport Convention in the early 70’s and decided to go solo with his new wife. You think ol Deborah Harry, the pride of Hawthorne, NJ liked this song? I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight youtu.be/8NoVJo0dlZ0?si=5Wn-… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This week let’s learn about the great Richard Thompson, the pride of Notting Hill, London. A pioneer of British Folk Rock in the late 60’s with Fairport Convention, to the inspiration for Fleetwood Mac 2.0 and Blondie. The closest thing we’ll ever hear to our original Scotch Irish descendants who played music in the Piedmont and Appalachiastan. I imagine this was the type of music ol Andy Jackson heard. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning youtu.be/MOCZwKmjR6E?si=GlEP… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

Let’s close out our tribute week to the late great David Allen Coe with this one from 1978. By the early 80’s DAC was a novelty act but his run from 1974 to 78 rivals anybody. An undisputed great songwriter who wrote #1 Field of Stone for Tanya T and Paycheck’s Take This Job and Shove It. Fair winds and following seas to The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy. Whiskey & Women youtu.be/v2Y9I-e_oWA?si=9swp… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

Let’s pick up the story in 1978. DAC reinvents himself again as a Bohemian in the Keys, moves to Key West, embraces the Gulf and Western vibe, and starts a beef with Jimmy Buffet. Ol Jimmy accuses DAC of stealing his material. During this time, DAC also begins making Pro wrestling cameos. Recommend listening to this one as part of the 5 song medley ending with Jack Daniels if You Please, on the outstanding Human Emotions album. One of his three classic records. Tomorrow Is Another Day youtu.be/6eSLV22FtuI?si=nfhT… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

Towards the end of the mid 70’s, DAC reinvented himself again as a Texas troubadour. Don’t forget he was featured on the great documentary Heartworn Highways with Guy and TVZ. By this time, DAC hung around Willie, but Waylon didn’t approve. Waylon: “David was a great, great songwriter and a great singer but he could not tell the truth if it was better than a lie he'd made up.” “David was the most sincere of the bunch of bandwagon jumpers, but when it came to being an Outlaw, the worst thing he ever did was double-parking on Music Row.” Tomorrow we’ll take a journey down to Key West. Houston, Dallas, San Antone youtu.be/y0vrtNWGHsk?si=iQdK… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This tune from 1976 off DAC’s best album Longhaired Redneck might be ol Dave Coe’s best song and one of the few that were somewhat autobiographical. In 1967, after spending a few years in jail in Ohio for burglary, DAC tried his hand as a musician playing blues rock and toured with Grand Funk Railroad. In 1971, DAC reinvented himself as the Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy, moved to Nashville becoming a prolific songwriter dressed in outrageous rhinestone suits for publicity. Think Shel Silverstein not Merle Haggard. In 1975, DAC reinvented himself again as an outlaw with an embellished backstory and tall tales of prison and biker lifestyle. DAC viewed himself as an actor playing a role through music. Do you think Deniro is a real wise guy from Brooklyn? He grew up in Greenwich Village the son of a Broadway actress and a “song and dance man.” Tupac a real gangster? He was an effeminate theater kid from Baltimore who studied ballet and poetry and loved Culture Club. Chris Stapleton? He was valedictorian and went to Vanderbilt. Don’t be a useful idiot. Spotlight youtu.be/iX7gS2WEBHs?si=7wFf… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This week let’s pay tribute to the late David Allen Coe, the pride of Akron, OH. We’re going to learn a lot about ol Dave this week. A teller of tall tales and a great songwriter. Let’s kick it off with this forgotten gem from 1974 when he reinvented himself as a country act. A Sad Country Song youtu.be/tXYmOW-hO3Y?si=487X… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

Let’s close out our week of Chris Knight with his classic. I know we usually like the deep tracks but this is some great allegory for this day and age. A story about honor, doing what needs to be done, and keeping your mouth shut. Next week we’ll pay tribute to the dude who turned himself into the mysterious rhinestone cowboy in 1970 then into the longhaired redneck in 1975. down the river youtu.be/liz7GYy3TEE?si=oD3s… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

RIP David Allan Coe. One of the last of a dying breed. This bit from Heartworn Highways was always one of my favorites.

You all are going to like this one by our boy CK. Great example of allegory. Speaking of dudes I probably wouldn’t like: leg crossers, Subaru drivers, can’t bench 225, <20% body fat with a goatee, and sleeve tats if you weren’t enlisted combat arms or in an outlaw motorcycle gang or a professional MMA fighter. Move On youtu.be/yLklvV3nJqw?si=UBHS… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This is such a great song from 2012 by Chris Knight and yes that the assist from John Prine. Our boy worked as a mine inspector in KY for over a decade and didn’t start performing until he was 30. Got his record deal at 37. You think Jason Aldean or Kenny Chesney or any of these other pop country freaks payed their dues and know about sorrow and woe. GTFOH. Little Victories youtu.be/yAFmgKRkNtA?si=AlH2… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

This week let’s pay tribute to Chris Knight, the pride of Slaughters, KY. We’ll kick it off with a deep track from his 1998 debut. Our boy is a combo of Steve Earle, with a little REK, Fogerty, and Prine. Mostly known for working class Appalachiastan anthems, but he sure could write a great country song. The Band Is Playing Too Slow youtu.be/m-bxCkAwjHg?si=2Eww… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65

How this isn’t a Western standard and why Willie and Waylon didn’t cover this gem on the Outlaws record I wish I knew. Fits well with Luckenbach. By the early 80’s ol Ed focused on acting and was the town lawman on Maverick. Talented dude. Ed Bruce - Old Wore Out Cowboy youtu.be/b-EqbmZ5kSo?si=Z20H… @StackEmUpAgain @PensAndLens1 @ChrisWesterfie7 @JeffNBigsby @ThomasServiam @fishin_me @ChestyPullerGst @genericancitizn @ZenfinityDesign @MikeSnowden65