Nashville

After we finished the tour of Mammoth Cave (well, a very small part of it), we got back in the car and headed down to Nashville. We stopped just before the Tenessee border at Waffle House for lunch. The kids were very impressed with Waffle House.

In Nashville, we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. For Frances, it was really an introduction to a very foreign culture. To the extent she listens to music at all, it is usually classical (or the Beatles or Stones - go figure). I'm not sure if she's ever listend to country music, or could name any country performer. Well, now I suppose she can name one or two...

I like a lot of the music, especially the more "roots"-oriented music, but am not very knowledgable. Country music is really about telling stories. The melodies and harmonies are quite simple, for anyone used to classical or jazz. But they are not really the point - the lyrics are. Classic songs like George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" would be nothing without the lyrics that tell a sad story of unrequited love.

Afterwards we walked around a bit downtown, past a few bars with live music coming out the doors even in mid-afternoon. We stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe for an afternoon snack, and then it was time to get back in the car to head back up to Kentucky.