“She Usually Hums ‘Yellow Submarine’ When She’s Thinking”

                                                                                   By Scott Coner

                                             Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author  

     Our oldest daughter turns 21 years old this Tuesday. Her name is Emily Sae, and in many ways, I believe she has been the bond that allowed my wife and I to stay together. It was pretty tough back then when Cyndi and I got together. But, when Emily came along, all bets were off. There wasn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do for my family, and you can bet my wife feels the same. I’ll never forget the day when Cyndi told me I was going to be a dad. She and I were still a long way from being on our feet financially, but we both knew God had his hand on our little family. He still does.

 

                         Emily and family dog Brandy                                    Scott Coner and daughter Emily

     Cyndi had this pretty green maternity top that I thought she looked gorgeous in. I remember walking with her holding her hand. I didn’t know how to be a dad. I didn’t know how to hold a baby. I didn’t know how to do anything. But Emily was on her way. Her arrival was special. To me, it was like the arrival of a princess. Cyndi and I took her back to our little house, and we were both mesmerized by her beauty. I remember going to her crib in the mornings and her little arms and legs would be moving with excitement. I would reach down, lift her up, and hold her next to me and I could hear her tiny sounds of satisfaction as I carried her to our bed and put her between Cyndi and me. She would lie there all warm, just looking at both of us. When she smiled, my eyes usually filled with tears. I had no idea I could love someone so much.

     As years went by, Emily continued to amaze me. She and I would turn the stereo on sometimes, and we would slow dance in our living room. Her long blonde hair made her look angelic. We would read books together. We watched television together. We did as much as possible together. I used to love watching Cyndi get Emily dressed. She always had her looking pretty sharp no matter where we went. She would put her in front of the mirror and brush her golden hair. When her mommy was finished working with her, she would bounce into the living room with her ponytail flopping as she laughed.

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     I miss those moments. I miss that laughter. But I don’t miss those feelings. That love I had back then is only stronger today because it never left. My mind still goes back to the times we have been able to share as a family. Our second daughter Taylor came into the world about three years after Emily, and it has been non-stop devotion around here. We are proud of our daughters beyond measure. I truly believe that both of our girls are something pretty special. But this week Emily turns 21 years old. She won’t hit the bars like a lot of young people. She won’t tolerate that behavior in her world. She will continue to pursue knowledge and develop into a woman of great integrity. Our lives are much, much better because of Emily Sae. If I could, I’d tell you all kinds of stories about her. The problem is, my eyes are full of water as I sit here writing this. The feelings of love, joy, pride and a bit of sadness seem to be getting the best of me. Happy Birthday, Emily. Thank you for allowing me to be in your life. I’ll be right here for you until my last breath.  

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Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at his music page.            

My Mom, The Queen of Cool

 

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

            It’s been a long time since I was a kid. Years and years have come and gone, but so many fond memories as seen through the eyes of a little boy remain. I remember my mom watching a small black and white television as she ironed our clothes in the kitchen. I seem to remember Marlow Thomas’ “That Girl”, as well as a show out of Cincinnati called “The Bob Braun Show” and another program with a host they called “Paul Baby.” My mom would iron our clothes and sometimes talk on the telephone. But amazingly, she never took her eyes off of me. I remember her giving me “Quisp” and “Cap'n Crunch” cereals, and she also gave me SpaghettiOs sometimes for lunch. (On a side note, she recently presented me with my original SpaghettiOs spoon.)

            It was a different world in middle America when I was a little kid. The cars were still awesome, the music was still exciting, and to me at least, the world was wild and wonderful. My mom was in her mid-20s back then, and she seemed to enjoy being with me as I explored my world. I remember she bought an orange-handled butterfly net, and we would chase crawdads in the creek downtown in the park and put them in a Mason jar so I could examine them for a few minutes. She wouldn’t let me take them home for obvious reasons, but believe me when I tell you it was some pretty exciting stuff.

Scott Coner's mother holds her two granddaughters.

            I recall her trying to teach me how to tie my shoes. That must have been frustrating because I was kind of a stupid kid. She would get down on her knees and grab one of my Hush Puppies and “chase the bunny around the tree” a hundred times over. I remember wondering who and why anyone would chase a bunny around a tree. But, like I have told you, I have never been a very bright light, even though I was probably a beautiful and angelic child.  

            My mom is probably the one who turned me on to music. We had a 1963 Impala with an AM radio, and I believe that may have been a pipeline to '60s rock. I remember being so excited when The Archies were on the radio singing “Sugar, Sugar”. I also remember thinking how much I hated “My Beautiful Balloon”. Man, that song sucked and still does. She would tool around in our shiny, burgundy “Chevy”, and I stood in the back seat with my Hush Puppies on rocking out way too hard to some song about “God not making little green apples, and it don’t rain in Indianapolis in the summertime.” I still don’t know where they were going with that song, but the lyrics where cool. 

The pop hit "Sweet Mary" (one of Scott's favorite songs in 1970).

            Anyway, she would put me in my bed at night, and I freaked out every time she tried to turn my light off. You see, I have quite an imagination, and I am a pretty big chicken. This can all be validated by anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing me. Usually after 20 minutes or so I would yell in my sweetest little boy voice that I was thirsty, and every single time she would bring me my glass of water. This probably went on until I was about 19 or so, but who’s counting?

  

            I could go on and on about my mom, but I’ll spare her all of my bragging. I will tell you that if there is anything even remotely artistic or good about me, it came from her. She brought style into our little town and gave it to me. She was miles and miles ahead of all of the other kids' moms as they wore their polyester. Her natural style and coolness left all of the other women in the brush. I remember how proud I was when she occasionally showed up at my school for some event. She just brought an energy to a room that others couldn’t dream of doing.

            These days, I find myself going back in time and appreciating each and every moment. We all come from something, and I came from good parents. If I have ever hurt anyone, and I know I have, it was my fault. I can assure you I was taught better than that. If I have ever misrepresented myself, once again, that would be my fault as well. However, if my music has ever given you a reason to smile or look into your own heart... well, that would be my mom’s fault. Like I've already said, she brought all of the style and all of the cool. I was merely a recipient of good parenting and excellent musical surroundings.       

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

The Perfect Song

By Scott Coner

Country Artist (and Proud Father)

            Twenty years ago this weekend, my first daughter was born. I was honestly in shock as all of the evidence of my wife’s very large stomach finally came into fruition. You see, I wasn’t really prepared for much of anything at that particular point in my life. I remember the day we were to bring her home from the hospital. I was supposed to go outside and bring the truck around to the front doors of the hospital and pick up Cynthia and the new human that I didn’t really know very well yet. I remember realizing I didn’t know how to put together a child's car seat and freaking out in front of everybody as I slammed the box on the sidewalk possibly screaming out words that didn’t match my adorable character.

            My fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel for all it was worth as we drove away from the nurses that had been helping Cyndi and me. I looked over to my right every now and again and could barely comprehend that this tiny humanoid was going to be part of my life as long as I lived. We stopped at my mom and dad’s before we went home to show my mom what I had made. We were all kind of spellbound as this tiny, skinny little baby opened her charcoal eyes. I never saw it coming, but everything in me melted like candlewax. This very small version of me and my wife took hold of me at that moment and has never let go. All I can say is that I am so glad she did. She set the stage that would allow me to feel feelings inside myself that I didn’t know existed. The love that I have felt since that day has continued to amaze me. 

 Video: Happy 20th Birthday Emi

            Three years after Emily was born, we found out that we had another little girl on the way. I remember being scared that I wouldn’t have any love left for her because Emily Sae already owned it all. But as I said, because of Emily, my heart had been conditioned to love the next baby every bit as much as the first one.

            I had started writing “The Perfect Song” as I sat on our bed watching Emily lie there as I played guitar. I must have set the song aside for quite a while, but I finished it sitting cross-legged next to my youngest daughter Taylor’s crib. I never planned on doing anything with the song, because it was so specifically about my own daughters. But, Cyndi has been making this “slide-show” for Emily’s birthday this weekend with the song as a backdrop, and I just wanted to share it with you. A lot of things are changing with my music very soon, and I don’t know how much longer I will be free to release little songs like this. The thing is, I know the song isn’t something that will speak to everyone. But it might speak to you in some way. I guess most of us have watched our kids play in the leaves or run across the yard as the sunshine danced across their hair. Those are the moments that God allowed me to have that I’ll always hold in my heart. My daughters have defined the man that I have become. So, as I’m driving to Wilmore, Ky., this weekend to see her on her birthday, I hope you can take a few minutes and allow me to share with you the story about two little girls that have truly blessed me. They are my “Perfect Song”, something far, far better than anything I could ever hope to write. Happy Birthday, Emily Sae Coner. I love you.