Just A Whistle Away

I wrote this song one day after hearing the lyric “Saw him the other night at this roadside bar…I was walking in, he was walking out” from “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen (many years after the release).

It made me think, “Hey, I should write a song about my favorite bar.”

Now that’s saying something, because I’ve worked in four different bars and spent time in a few others. But I’ve got to say the “Whistling Post” in Skykomish, WA, is my favorite. I have a lot of good memories from there: dancing to that wonderful eclectic jukebox, eating chicken and jojo’s, playing pool, story telling, and the night someone ran in excited to see me after I came back from a trip. It was an important place for many of my fellow seasonal Forest Service employees.

I shared this song with the owners, Teddy Jo and Charlie, years ago but thought it was time to share with others.

I was heartbroken, like many, when I heard The Whistling Post burned down. And then happy to see it resurrected. I have been there since it reopened and it still has the charm and feel it had. In fact, the chicken and jojo’s were just like I remembered. However, the jukebox is not the same.

My friends and I loved that jukebox. It had quite a collection of different genres of music. I have thought of making a playlist of the songs that were in the jukebox when I was spending time there.

If anyone remembers any tunes that were in that jukebox, from that time, 1979-1985, please share with me.

I took a picture of the old jukebox songs after it was retired (before the fire) but my phone was a flip phone and I remember the pictures didn’t look too good. There were a couple records still in it from the 70’s. I will look for my old phone and see if I can get it booted.

I remember:

Glenn Miller – “In the Mood” – loved dancing to that

Beer Barrel Polka – not sure it was that one but I remember a polka

Bob Dylan song – ??

A friend recalled Marshall Tucker – “Fire on the Mountain”

?? – “The old Rangers Waltz” – shared by Kathee Kiefer

Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs – Foggy Mountain Breakdown – shared by Kathee Kiefer

Just a Whistle Away
Written by: Phil Kane (2010)

I heard somebody whistle and it triggered a memory
It was only a whistle away, it was only a whistle away

I'm at the Whistling Post, a cold one in my hand
It was only a whistle away
I'm at the Whistling Post, eating chicken and jojos
It was only a whistle away
I'm at the Whistling Post, with a bunch of friends
It was only a whistle away, It was only a whistle away

I'm just a whistle away, memories are just a whistle away
I'm just a whistle away, memories are just a whistle away

I heard somebody whistle and it triggered a memory
It was only a whistle away, it was only a whistle away

I'm at the Whistling Post, dancing to that juke box
It was only a whistle away
I'm at the Whistling Post, getting schooled in pool by Lloyd
It was only a whistle away
I'm at the Whistling Post, seeing Teddy's smile
It was only a whistle away, It was only a whistle away

I'm just a whistle away, memories are just a whistle away
I'm just a whistle away, memories are just a whistle away



		

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