Billy Jim Baker wrote a song that Jerry Jeff Walker recorded called “Contrary to Ordinary.” Billy Jim, by the way, is a professional clown and a member of the Clown Hall of Fame.
Baker was a friend of the late Jerry Jeff and actually once convinced him to work at a circus with him. A picture of Walker in full clown regalia can be seen on the back of album he made by the same name “Contrary to Ordinary.”
Anyway, some of the lyrics that Billy Jim wrote and Jerry Jeff recorded (yeah, I know Billy Jim and Jerry Jeff – who he affectionately called Jacky Jack – the names can make your mind spin) are the inspiration for this collection of things that happened as I stumbled through life.
This journal is just that – a collection of stories – or (mis)adventures as I say. They aren’t anything special in the scope of the real world as it is. However, here they are for those who want to see them.
Really, they aren’t stories as much as episodes that have played out throughout my life. Stealing from Billy Jim’s writing and Jerry Jeff’s singing comes Joe Don Clemons’ (mis)adventures in football – the greatest team game in the world.
Some lines from Billy Jim’s writing and Jerry Jeff’s singing:
And I was contrary to ordinary
Even as a child
Fast freights made me wonder
The full moon still drives me wild
And stories do come true
You just got to live your life in episodes
With one eye on a lady
And one eye still on that open road
I hope you like some of them. Like my close friend Bert Hill says they are true (well mostly), but … well life still is “stranger than fiction!”
“Stranger than fiction” …. Bert Hill