Sisters artist records in Nashville

They live among us, those quiet contemplatives who burn with passion yet rarely express it verbally. It comes out in their art, in songs and in the poems they pen. On the rare occasions when they do talk about things that interest them, it is with eloquence and purpose.

Dyrk Godby is one of them. An accomplished artist and singer-songwriter, Godby admits that he often prefers to be alone or in the presence of animals rather than in a crowd. Growing up on an Idaho horse ranch, he experienced a fairly typical rancher's upbringing - hard work, hard play, and firm beliefs.

Those beliefs come through in a new album, "Where The Fire Burns," recorded this summer in Nashville with the same band that travels 200 days a year with the Oakridge Boys. Godby is acquainted with one of the musicians, Rex Wiseman, and through him secured the use of a studio and the band. It had been several years since Godby last cut an album and he'd been writing some songs and thinking some thoughts and figured it was time to do something about it.

"These guys are the best musicians. They have a lot of fun but they still sit down and make serious music. I imagined what I wanted it to sound like and it came out just that way," he said.

The songs are a mix of originals and covers of some favorites of Godby's from the 1970s: "Gentle On My Mind," "Really Love To See You Tonight," and "Please Come To Boston" are three that got ample airtime in that decade. Two other covers, "All Around Cowboy" and "Old Dunny" were penned by musicians that Godby is acquainted with.

The original songs reflect the core of Godby's faith and his lifelong experience with horses. "That's How I Talk To God," holds the most meaning for him. The song was inspired by an article about Reba McEntire in which she recalled hearing her grandmother pray. Writing the song sparked his own memories about his grandmother and other family members who weren't shy about praying out loud.

"Snake River Outlaw" is the first song he wrote as a teen in 1974 and had never recorded. "A Man Named Jim," is a tribute to Jim Dorrance, a revered horse trainer whose input had a great influence on Godby's teenage years.

The track, "Starting With You," was written for a movie titled "Soda Springs." It is a gentle indie film made by long-time friend and actor Jay Pickett, and filmed in Idaho. The sweet love song features in the closing scene of the movie.

The closing track of the album is a surprise. Not to give anything away, but Godby does a mean imitation of Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda. Just for fun.

Godby likens songwriting to the pencil sketches he does before setting out to create a painting. The time spent in the recording studio is what adds the depth and color. Having backing musicians of the caliber he did is like using the finest canvas and best quality brushes to complete the picture.

"And now I can hang the songs up," he said.

"Where The Fire Burns" is available in Sisters at Godby's gallery (712 S. Elm St.) and at The Pony Express (160 S. Oak St.).