This is the story of the song “Hummingbird Blues” and how a little fellow, rescued after flying into a glass door, completed the illustration of the song. If you’d like to listen to the song, here is the video: Hummingbird Blues. Or, read on. It’s a good one.
Lynda and I were vacationing on St John, USVI in the Caribbean in a rental property appropriately named Romance Cottage. It is a beautiful place. We had been visiting St. John about every two years since 2007. Our first visit to the island finalized the song “Heart Attack City” out in Coral Bay. “Wrong Way” was written, well…. , as the lyric suggests “Going the Wrong Way up a One Way Street” in Cruz Bay. So, during our 2012 visit, I was hanging out in the cottage with travel guitar in tow determined to write again.
Okay. I needed a spark, a trigger, an idea from the air. As I strummed about the cottage, I looked out at the beautiful island. It was hard not to get distracted by the multiple hummingbirds visiting Mary’s flowers. (Mary and Jay own Romance Cottage, live next door, and are very nice and interesting folks.) While the hummingbirds did their thing, a thought flashed through my head. What if Tab Benoit (one of my favorite blues guys) started singing a cool tune about hummingbirds? “I’m a Hummingbird baby. You know I can’t stay ’round too long.” I could hear his New Orleans blues/swing fuel the song. “I’m a Hummingbird baby. Now if you’re sweet I might sing a song.” And, the chorus was there.
The connection was that we originally came to St John after an email about a Blues Festival dropped into my inbox at the perfect time. We traveled down to hear Jon Cleary that year. While having brunch the next day at Miss Lucy’s, a waitress named Jean informed us that her favorite singer of all time, Tab Benoit, would be at the next Blues Fest. Jean was a fan. In fact, she wanted to marry Tab although I guess Tab had other ideas.
The first verse came together imaging a hummingbird that likes the ladies having a grand old time flitting about the island. Where to go in the second verse? It hit me. I was where I needed to be. The second verse starts “I know Miss Lucy, Lilly, and Jean” and tied in Miss Lucy’s restaurant (Great Sunday brunch!). Jean introduced me to Tab Benoit’s music at Miss Lucy’s. Lilly’s was our regular mini-mart for supplies although she has since been sold and renamed.
“Mary and Mary, they’re right on the scene.” I’ve already introduced you to Mary #1 of Romance Cottage. Mary #2 was actually the first Mary we met while staying at a different rental. After landing on St John in 2007 after nightfall, we were led to our cottage. We then headed out to dinner, ate, and subsequently realized we had no idea how to navigate the turns from Ship Wreck Landing back to the cottage in the dark. Just before panic set in, there was this lovely woman walking up the road. She said “I know where that place is. Just keep taking lefts at each fork up the hill and you’ll be there. I’ll be there right after because I live above and watch the cottage.” “Hello Mary!” a very interesting and spiritual woman.
I had to get my Lynda in there with the line “Skinny Legs Lynda. She’s the one I like best.” She does have skinny legs, and I do like her best. But, “Skinny Legs” is also the hot spot on the Coral Bay side of the island serving up great burgers and drinks. It was appropriate to place a picture of the Skinny Legs sign in the Hummingbird Blues video. (Check out the video!)
So, the song provides a tour of the people and places of St John. Cool. But, what about that Hummingbird?
We returned to Romance Cottage in 2016. I was excited to tell Mary and Jay about the song. Mary says “You know. I have a picture of a Hummingbird.” A hummingbird flew into their sliding glass door and conked itself out! Jay tenderly lifted it up and set it on a planter. Mary snapped the picture. And, there was the cover for the single and EP of “Hummingbird Blues”. He’s a cute little guy. If you look closely, you can see the feathers on his head are a little flattened from the collision. He looks like he had a rough, but fun night, as he recovers on the edge of that planter. That’s OUR Hummingbird!
Hurricane Irma broke our every two year streak. We’re now overdue for a return. We miss the people, the places, and the island. Maybe that hummingbird is still flitting around, playing the field, and singing as he goes. Or, maybe he’s settled down. There’s only one way to find out. It’s time to go back!!
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