For my Sesame Street demographic:, sing now:
One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.
Or does it?
Take a look at the list of songs about Alabama and determine which doesn’t belong:
“Sweet Home Alabama”
“Stars Fell on Alabama”
“My Home’s in Alabama”
“Shout Bamalama”
“The Bigger Moon in Alabama””
You are correct if you picked “The Bigger Moon in Alabama.” The others on the list are all iconic songs about the state of Alabama.
“The Bigger Moon in Alabama””is a brand new song by a Texan who posted on YouTube. I’ve listened to it about a dozen times now.. And before I tell you what I think, meet the author and watch the video . Bruce Rutherford calls himself an amateur songwriter and former book reviewer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
To say the least Rutherford is low key on this demo.
But ladies and gentlemen I believe you are watching the birth of a great song. This song grows on you. In the right hands (voice) a great song, dare I say an Iconic song.
Close your eyes to Rutherford’s magical spark and imagine the great band Alabama on stage singing; or Lynyrd Skynyrd; or Jason Isbell ; or Alabama Shakes.
.Or, Janet Chitty, who goes by OneWomanAndSomeSongs. on YouTube.
Chitty of Birmingham, is already preparing to cover the song by next week, Rutherford said.
“She’s a great singer,” he said.
“I’m just an amateur folk singer/songwriter doing my thing on YouTube,’ Rutherford said. in an email. ” I was a book reviewer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the 80s & 90s and enjoy writing. I’ve got 30 or so original songs up on my channel. Otherwise I enjoy covering the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.”
If this leads to the next big thing for Alabama I want you to remember who discovered and tipped you all off. If it doesn’t go anywhere, well, dang, my home is still in Alabama.
And if nothing else, it commands some attention for being the only song, probably, to rhyme ‘succumbing’ with ‘Montgomery.’ I like that.
“The Bigger Moon in Alabama
I don’t know
why I can’t resist
Another taste
of your goodnight kiss
Or why it is
I’m mesmerized
when the moonlight
hits your eyes
I just swoon
I’m in a jam ah
It’s a bigger moon
in Alabama
My old friends
They can’t believe
I’m staying here
I’ll never leave
They just see
I am succumbing
to your charms
in old Montgomery
In Tuscaloosa
and Birmingham ah
It’s a bigger moon
in Alabama
On a starry night
it glows like coals
above the lake
at Muscle Shoals
I’m just glad
I can’t escape
from this moonlight
that captivates
We sing our tune
into a camera
‘Neath the bigger moon
in Alabama
It’s as though
I’m in a trance
when I hold you
when we dance
It’s just something
that I feel
like Carnival
down in Mobile
And coming soon
a wedding band ah
From the bigger moon
in Alabama
Updated to reflect correct name of song. Also published on AL.com.