This story behind the song is about a painting that hung on the wall of our living room for most of my childhood. It was one that caught my father’s eye, from I’m not sure where, but before long he was happily whistling some tune (as he often used to do) and measuring the wall to put it up.

I remember sitting and staring fondly at that painting often as I grew up; there was something absolutely magical about it for me. It was peaceful and relaxing, but also exciting and full of life at the same time. Sometimes I used to get so caught up in the mesmerizing imagery I felt like I was actually in the painting myself! There was also a particular innocence to what the painter was trying to say that I must have adored.

I’m not sure who the artist was, but I’ll describe the setting portrayed as best I can: It was centered on a farm yard of some sort with a beautiful, lazy pond in the center of it. In the pond were a small family of ducks; a mother, father, and two babies swishing along close behind. A little boy and his sister were happily chasing each other several feet away; playing what appeared to be a game of “tag.” Next was a puppy attempting to wade into the pond without getting wet to retrieve a stick someone may have casually tossed there?

As a big part of the backdrop there was a brilliant, large recently washed down red barn off to the side. A soft green grassy knoll spread around the water with a butterfly dipping around the puppy’s head to celebrate something or other it was feeling I suppose. Off to the side of all of this was the father with a brown and black handsome smoking pipe resting out of the side of his mouth as he sawed on a piece of wood for some project he had going.

Last but not least were the two bluebirds in the full, bushy green tree on the far side of the yard apparently commenting on the goings on by serenading anyone who cared to listen…

All in all for me this work of art was a simple, fascinating, joyous little slice of life where everything was good, pure, and those involved were rich with what they had and full of contentment.

I’ve used Sweet Country to try and capture the essence of this painting for you.

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