J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J O R O C K Y M O U N T A I N H I G H O H =============================================== H N The John Denver Internet Fan Club N D D E M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R E N N V M A Y 1 9 9 4 V E E R Written by: Emily Parris Email: emily@sky.net R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to Rocky Mountain High - the brand new John Denver Fan Club on the Internet. There are so many good things to be said about the Information Superhighway, and one of them is that it makes a newsletter such as this possible. With a regular fan club newsletter there would be costs for printing, postage and preparing it for mailing. But here on the internet I am as close to you as the keyboard of my computer. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Articles: John Denver is Here in Town and So Is His Ping-Pong Table St. Paul Dispatch....................6 Singer John Denver Apologizes for DUI - Rocky Mountain News........7 Lyrics: John Denver songs with guitar chords...............................8 Movies: "Walking Thunder"....................8 Parodies of JD Songs: "Thank God For The Internet".........4 Pen Pal List of members who would like to correspond via E-mail.......5 Poetry: "On The Internet"....................2 "Rocky Mountain Minstrel"...........11 Special Feature: "Ballad of Gary Hart" by JD..........3 ON THE INTERNET by Emily M. Parris Sometimes I fly like an eagle On the internet in the sky For when my message is posted It almost seems to fly From country to country it travels The speed is incredibly fast When an answer comes back it carries The data on where it has passed In packets of information My messages fly in the air For the information highway Is linked so intricately there The information highway is a Freeway of thoughts in the air Every subject can be discussed By the multitudes that are there Copyright 4/14/94 by EMP ------------------------------- Over the years many people have asked me for the lyrics to John's song about Gary Hart. So here they are: BALLAD OF GARY HART by John Denver Who's that running down the alley In the dark of Friday night As he zippers up his trousers In the inky slinky light Why, of course, it's good old Gary Leaping over someone's fence It's good old Gary Hart I wouldn't keep you in suspense He likes going out to parties He likes being a rolling stone And he ran things for McGovern So I guess we should have known He likes warm and willing women He likes being where they are He couldn't sing, he couldn't dance But he just had to be a star Chorus: So he went into the Politics Game Yes, he went into the politics game Warren Beatty told him "looky" You can get a lot of nookie If you get into the politics game When he made it to the Senate Gary started making hay Gary started making nearly Everything that came his way He liked taking a position But when all is said and done Gary's favorite position Was the missionary one Jimmy Dean was Gary's hero And he studied him with care How he stood and how he walked And even how he combed his hair But the thing that moved him most And made him swear he'd never fail If he made it to the White House Think of all the chicks he'd nail (Chorus) Well, she met him at a party And her name was Donna Rice She was Gary's kind of woman She was pure "Miami Vice" She thought he was Gary Collins And could get her on TV She suggested monkey business And the rest is history When they caught him makin' whooppee And the campaign had to cease Gary went into seclusion He just had to find some peace He's been out in Colorado Since, I can't remember when But he must be gettin' horny 'Cause he's runnin' once again (Chorus) --------------------------------- Now settle back in your computer chair and think about John stomping his foot and singing "Thank God I'm A Country Boy." Are you in the mood? THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET (TO THE TUNE OF..."Thank God I'm A Country Boy") by John Martin Sommers (Parody by James Fettgather & Emily Parris) When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low I turn on my computer and to Delphi I go It's the best place that I could ever know... Thank God for the Internet I'd play on my computer all night and all day But the Lord and my employer wouldn't like it that way So I work when I should.....and then I can play And Thank God for the Internet Well.....I got 20 hours and an AST computer The usenet is a waitin' and I don't need a tutor The Information Highway - nothin' could be cuter Thank God for the Internet I wouldn't trade my computer for diamonds or jewels I never was one of them Macintosh fools I'd rather have DOS and my Norton tools Thank God for the Internet Yeah, city folk drivin' in a black limousine Don't know about all the far places I've seen Well, folks let me tell you now exactly what I mean.... I Thank God for the Internet For I've got friends in England and the south of France I can talk to them - when I get the chance I don't need a stamp for my messages dance..... With ease on the Internet I don't believe I want to send regular mail It often doesn't make it - and it's slower than a snail But an E-mail letter - It'll never fail Thank God for the Internet -------------------------------------------------- Parody written by Emily Parris and James Fettgather Original song written by John Martin Sommers ========================================================= PEN PAL E-MAIL LIST: eric.hasselwander@dreamscape.com Eric Hasselwander NY hackes@uni-paderborn.de Markus Brakweh Germany dcoles@datlog.co.uk Margaret Coles England emily@tyrell.net Emily Parris MO david-j.smith@analog.com David J. Smith MA sherrilsc@aol.com Sherril Steele-Carlin NV lyndap@novell.com Lynda Peterson UT 345c474@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu Jon A. Prisbe MI bquiroz@aol.com Beth Quiroz MT jimfett@delphi.com James Fettgather MO [If you would like to be added to/subtracted from the pen pal list just send E-mail to emilyparris@delphi.com] JOHN DENVER'S HERE IN TOWN AND SO IS HIS PING-PONG TABLE by Bill Farmer St. Paul Dispatch St. Paul, MN 4-23-76 A ping-pong table and among other things, John Denver, has been air-freighted to our little river town for performances tonight in the St. Paul Civic Center arena. Denver and his wife Annie arrived from L.A. in a Lear jet Thursday afternoon to visit the home of his in-laws, Annie's from Edina. They rented a station wagon and hustled off immediately to St. Paul where rehearsals were in progress for a whole new show making its debut in two concerts here tonight. The sheer money of it all is entertaining. The Lear is but one of the aircraft and ground vehicles involved in assembling a suitable setting for John's light little voice that has to be one of the most popular set of vocal cords in the world. Greeting Him at the Civic Center were five sound men, five lighting men, a rigger who sets up the battery of equipment, two truck drivers and a stage manager. They and his production manager have been here a couple of days just getting ready for the moment. "The sound equipment is about $68,000 in raw materials" estimated Dan Fiala, the production manager. He was not boasting, but, upon request, itemizing this Barnumesque shopping list for a road show that surrounds John's voice. "Lighting, $35,000; revolving stage $7,000, and a ping pong table $78.98." An explanation, he was told, was in order. "We have a running ping-pong tournament on these tours. We set up backstage and everybody plays. Everyone brings his own paddle." Denver is "good, real good" at ping pong. So, while we in the audience out front think he is going through some emotional knothole backstage during intermission, he is not. He is probably playing ping pong. "It is the one vice of the tour," Fiala said. Other men and materials arrived Thursday too. A turbojet Electra and a DC3 have landed at MN-St. Paul Int'l. These two cargo carriers have been chartered because the trucks carrying the equipment to St. Paul cannot possibly get down to St. Louis in time to set up for the next on-night stand this weekend. Thus, the two aircraft are poised for the exodus, lights, camera, ping and pong and all. Another people plane has docked here, too. It is a small plane leased from Aspen Airways for the duration of the tour. It was carry the Starland vocal band of four entertainers which will share the stage with Denver tonight and throughout the tour of 15 cities. "There are 34 people with the show, including wives" fiala said. Thursday night's rehearsals, because the production is a John Denver production and because it is a new one, go beyond midnight and into Friday morning. Fiala does the faithful "I don't know how he does it" in his admiration of Denver's energy. He asked that we not publish the name of the hotel where Denver is staying. "We had trouble with that last year....several hundred people were waiting for him in the lobby." I promised I wouldn't tell. Security is, after all, a problem. That's why John travels with his friendly bodyguard, a hunk who swings more than a mean ping pong paddle. "He's personally a fan of the martial arts," meaning he can knock you sappy-eyed if you get too cute with John. "And he's teaching the martial arts to John." You try to envision bespectacled John clenching his teeth and flat handing a brick but give up in hopelessness. It is now show time. The first performance will seat 18,3000. The second show at 11PM will seat 17,500 admiring fans. Most paid $10 each for a seat, but with a little give and take the dollar figure can be placed at about $9 a head. The rental of the Civic Center will take about $20,000, although the citizens will devour $10,000 to $15,000 in goodies and shell out another three grand for parking, all of which goes to the Civic Center. At about l:30 AM on Saturday John and crew will pack up their sound and light and stage, fold up the ping pong table, grab Annie and split for St. Louis with $300,000. SINGER JOHN DENVER APOLOGIZES FOR DUI Rocky Mountain News (RM) - SATURDAY AUGUST 28, 1993 By: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS STAFF Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: 22A TEXT: Singer John Denver apologized Friday for his recent arrest in Aspen for driving under the influence. Speaking at an environmental symposium in Aspen, Denver said he is "committed to not making that kind of mistake again in my life, and committed to doing everything I can to support other people in not making that kind of mistake." Denver, who lives in Aspen, was cooperative and did not request special treatment after being stopped at 12:42 a.m. Saturday. Denver, 49, who was on his way home from a restaurant, failed a roadside sobriety test. He told police, "I'm obviously guilty," Sgt. Leon Murray said. Denver, a singer, songwriter and actor, is one of the top five selling recording artists in music industry history and is famed for songs such as Rocky Mountain High, Sunshine on my Shoulder, and Country Road. MOVIE: WALKING THUNDER Starring John Denver To be released - Fall 1994 Walking Thunder is a small film by a small production company. It is about a family moving west in the 1850's. They have run ins with grizzly bears and mountain men. John plays the father in the family and the movie is mostly about a young boy's coming of age in the process. It was filmed in the mountains outside of Salt Lake City, Utah at the height of the fall and then into the first really big snows. John said "It is a good family film that afforded me the chance to represent again the kinds of things that I like to represent in my music and what I'm doing in the world. " LEAVING ON A JET PLANE Words and Music by John Denver G C 1) All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go 2) There's so many times I've let you down 3) Now the time has come to leave you G C 1) I'm standing here outside your door 2) So many times I've played around 3) One more time, let me kiss you G C D 1) I hate to wake you up to say goodbye 2) I tell you now, they don't mean a thing 3) Then close your eyes, I'll be on my way G C 1) But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn 2) Every place I go, I'll think of you 3) Dream about the days to come G C 1) The taxi's waitin' he's blowin' his horn 2) Every song I sing, I'll sing for you 3) When I won't have to leave alone G C D 1) Already I'm so lonesome I could die 2) When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring 3) About the times I won't have to say: Chorus: (1, 2 & 3) G C G C So kiss me and smile for me; tell me that you'll wait for me G C D Hold me like you'll never let me go G C 'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane G C G Don't know when I'll be back again C D Oh, babe, I hate to go.... (3rd Verse only repeat last three lines) JOHN DENVER VIDEOS ================== JOHN DENVER - VIDEO I A unique collection of music videos and rare interview footage with one of America's favorite singer/songwriters (1992) Windstar Records. The songs are "Rocky Mtn High", "Matthew", "Calypso", "Flying For Me," "Raven's Child", "Let Us Begin", "Don't Close Yours Eyes Tonight", "Wish You Were Here", "Country Girl in Paris", "Potters Wheel" The video is 50 minutes long. The interview segments are very good. OH GOD! - Movie with George Burns (1977) WALKING THUNDER - Movie (Filmed in 1993) Not yet released VIDEO LOVE SONGS - has JD video of "Don't Close Your Eyes Tonight" HIGHER GROUND - TV Movie (1988) Set in Alaska. John plays an airplane pilot. The movie was a pilot for a tv series, but it never did become a tv series. FOXFIRE - TV Movie; Part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame Series Co stars: Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn THE CHRISTMAS GIFT (1986) TV movie with Jane Kazmarak available from Good Times Homes Video LEFTOVERS (1986) TV movie THE MAKING OF WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN - VOL. 2 (1990) Cabin Fever Entertainment, P.O. Box 2650 Greenwich, CT 06830 John sings only one song on this video. FIRE AND ICE - Movie; A love story in which John narrates the script. Narration only. This movie does not have a plot. It has views of skiing. ROCKY MOUNTAIN MINSTREL by Emily M. Parris Dedicated to John Denver Once upon a time there was a man Who sang of love, and joy and life Of the joys of raising a family And of cherishing a wife He sang of the Rocky Mountains Of the moon and stars above He sang a simple, country song Of happiness, peace and love His voice was a clear, sweet tenor His heart was immense and true If you're lucky perhaps he'll sing A country song for you For the Rocky Mountain Minstrel Has a voice and the songs to inspire My Rocky Mountain Minstrel's songs Can take me higher, higher... Into a pleasant paradise Of Rocky Mountain peace Where everything is wonderful And all my troubles cease Copyright 1989 by Emily M. Parris ==================================================== If you have poetry, articles, news items, parodies or anything else that you would like to submit for use in the RMH - John Denver Internet Fan Club, please mail them to emily@sky.net This is Newsletter #1 Rocky Mountain High - The John Denver Internet Fan Club ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~