{"id":4365,"date":"2015-04-15T10:37:42","date_gmt":"2015-04-15T15:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?page_id=4365"},"modified":"2015-04-20T09:29:23","modified_gmt":"2015-04-20T14:29:23","slug":"bluebonnets-julias-song","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/music\/the-underdog-2015\/bluebonnets-julias-song\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Bluebonnets (Julia&#8217;s Song)&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Written by Abby Wills. 15 October 2014.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Aaron Watson - Bluebonnets (Official Audio)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rRcSdOcUQPk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.7\">Aaron Watson\u2019s twelfth album <\/span><em style=\"line-height: 1.7\">The Underdog<\/em><span style=\"line-height: 1.7\"> received much praise and became his first No.1 US Billboard Top Country Album. The album focuses on his family, fans, and faith while including traditional themes of country music \u2013 cowboys, trucks, and rodeos. Each song on the album has a distinctive sound; however, \u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song),\u201d has a special meaning for Watson. \u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song)\u201d touches on family and faith, but the story behind the song is heart wrenching.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song)\u201d chronicles the loss of his daughter Julia Grace who died shortly after birth in 2011. After this loss, Watson took a break from music. He said, \u201cthe last thing I want to do is make music, to get up there and sing\u201d (Chandler). Watson struggled with the songwriting process. Around December 2011, he found motivation and wrote the majority of his eleventh album <em>Real Good Time<\/em>. However, none of the songs touched on Julia\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p>With\u00a0<em>The Underdog<\/em> and \u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song),&#8221; Watson put pen to paper and delved into his heart about the loss of his fourth child. He explained that \u201cshe was laid to rest in a field where the Texas state flower blossoms for a brief window every year.\u201d In the song, Watson reminds listeners \u201clife is like bluebonnets in the spring\u201d &#8211; beautiful but fleeting. Listeners can empathize with Watson because they sense his pain. The song is a reminder of the delicacy and fragility of life. It is both melancholy and a reminder to embrace the time we are given. This sentiment is reflected in the lyrics, \u201cWe\u2019re only here for a little while \/ It\u2019s beautiful and bittersweet \/ So make the most of every mile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To connect with his listeners, Watson effectively uses language and phrasing to convey meaning and emotion. The clear lyrics help the audience understand Watson\u2019s purpose. He uses familiar language like \u201cpain,\u201d \u201csorrow,\u201d \u201cbare,\u201d and \u201cbittersweet\u201d to dispel any confusion about how he is feeling and the loss he has experienced. However, Watson makes it clear he is not focusing on the pain. Through phrases like \u201cgive it all your heart and soul,\u201d and \u201cso love like there\u2019s no tomorrow\u201d the audience can conclude that the song is about living life and clinging to your family and faith. \u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song)\u201d has a delicate rhythm. It moves with purpose but the fluidity of the soft strums of the guitar give the song a deep and raw emotion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song)\u201d carries a powerful emotive charge through heavy figuration. The whole song is a simile \u2013 \u201clife is like bluebonnets in the spring.\u201d The song is transcending because he honors his daughter who was laid to rest in a field of bluebonnets and compares the preciousness of life to a flower that blossoms for a brief time. By including a familiar figure of speech, Watson is not only bringing life to the song, but he is giving the listeners a piece of him to connect to the song.<\/p>\n<p>The song form presented in \u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song)\u201d is Verse-Chorus-Bridge, which most listeners recognize because it is used frequently in country music today. The structure of the song helps develop the message. The verses of this song provide the listener with background information that helps convey the message. The first verse reflects on Watson\u2019s childhood and time he spent with his grandparents, wishing he cherished those moments more. In the second verse, Watson sings about saying goodbye to his daughter Julia and tells the listener to hold your kids tight and \u201cdon\u2019t blink.\u201d The chorus repeats three times and reminds the listener to embrace the time we have and make the most of life. The verses and chorus work hand in hand. The verses set up the message and the chorus reinforces the message. The short bridge near the end of the song takes the message up a notch. Watson sings, \u201cLife can be filled full of sorrow \/ Time is something you can\u2019t borrow \/ So love like there\u2019s no tomorrow \/ Because today could be the day.\u201d The simplicity of the bridge makes it clear and effective. Watson has successfully stated and reinforced his message.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBluebonnets (Julia\u2019s Song)\u201d is arguably the best song on <em>The Underdog<\/em>. It showcases Watson\u2019s songwriting talent and ability to share emotion. By utilizing clarity, rhythm, and the verse-chorus-bridge structure, Watson draws the listener into identifying with his message of embracing life. Watson is willing and able to show vulnerability and loss in his music; therefore, it is easy for listeners to connect with him.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 480px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Time<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Form<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Listening Cues<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Discussion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>0:00<\/td>\n<td>Intro<\/td>\n<td>Guitar, drums<\/td>\n<td>A soft guitar is playing. The guitar has a melancholic ring. The drums are keeping a constant beat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>0:11<\/td>\n<td>Verse 1<\/td>\n<td>\u201cIn another time and place\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td>The way he says the words &#8220;place,&#8221; &#8220;face,&#8221; &#8220;lap,&#8221; and &#8220;gone&#8221; make it sound like he is speaking. There is a slight pause after &#8220;face.&#8221; The drums have a constant beat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>0:41<\/td>\n<td>Chorus<\/td>\n<td>\u201cLong gone like bluebonnets in the spring\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td>His voice is a little bit louder. There are background vocals. There is emphasis on &#8220;bluebonnets&#8221; and &#8220;while.&#8221; A slight pause after &#8220;bittersweet.&#8221; There is emphasis on &#8220;mile.&#8221; A short pause takes place before the last phrase in the verse.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1:19<\/td>\n<td>Instrumental<\/td>\n<td>Acoustic Guitar, Steel Guitar, and drums<\/td>\n<td>Soft guitar, steel guitar,\u00a0drums keeping a beat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1:28<\/td>\n<td>Verse 2<\/td>\n<td>\u201cThere\u2019s so much I can\u2019t explain\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td>Emotion is shown on &#8220;pain&#8221; and &#8220;why.&#8221; There is a slight pause before the last &#8220;don&#8217;t blink.&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2:00<\/td>\n<td>Chorus<\/td>\n<td>\u201cCause like bluebonnets in the spring\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td>This chorus is sung the same as the last chorus. There is a long pause after &#8220;mile.&#8221; Once again sung louder than the verses.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2:25<\/td>\n<td>Instrumental<\/td>\n<td>Steel guitar, Acoustic guitar<\/td>\n<td>More emphasis on the steel guitar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2:55<\/td>\n<td>Bridge<\/td>\n<td>\u201cLife can be filled full of sorrow\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td>He almost speaks &#8220;sorrow&#8221; and &#8220;borrow.&#8221; There is a slight pause after &#8220;today.&#8221; He speaks &#8220;today could be the day.&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3:00<\/td>\n<td>Chorus<\/td>\n<td>\u201cLike bluebonnets in the spring\u2026\u201d<\/td>\n<td>This chorus is sung the same as the previous two choruses. &#8220;Bittersweet&#8221; is held out a little longer. Watson repeats the last line twice.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3:51<\/td>\n<td>Outro<\/td>\n<td>Guitar, piano<\/td>\n<td>The guitar is soft and quiet. The song finishes off with picking individual notes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Works Cited<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Aaron Watson Defies The Odds With \u2018The Underdog\u2019 Out Feb 17.&#8221; <em>Shore Fire Media<\/em>. 2 Dec. 2014. Web. 2 Apr. 2015.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;About Aaron Watson.&#8221; <em>Aaron Watson<\/em>. Web. 2 Apr. 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Chandler, Chip. &#8220;Country Star Watson Finds Strength after Loss.&#8221; <em>Amarillo Globe-News<\/em>. 24 Apr. 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Schott, Josh. &#8220;Album Review &#8211; Aaron Watson&#8217;s &#8216;The Underdog'&#8221; <em>Country Perspective<\/em>. 23 Feb. 2015. Web. 2 Apr. 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Abby Wills. 15 October 2014.\u00a0 Aaron Watson\u2019s twelfth album The Underdog received much praise and became his first No.1 US Billboard Top Country Album. The album focuses on his family, fans, and faith while including traditional themes of &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/music\/the-underdog-2015\/bluebonnets-julias-song\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"parent":3918,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4365","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4365"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4494,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4365\/revisions\/4494"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}