31 Comments

Good'un.

Expand full comment

True artist, with words!

What you write, helps me see!

Expand full comment

Thanks for this and your other efforts to lift my spirits. Must be working as I still follow along after half of you life, if not quite half of mine.

Expand full comment

I have always heard that it is very easy to make a million dollars as a writer. You just start with two million and write every day.

Expand full comment

They say something similar about farming as well - I guess writing (and farming!) are things one does because they love the job, not necessarily to become rich.

Expand full comment

That's a great old joke. I've heard it told about bookstore ownership.

Expand full comment

Sigh. I have loved reading your words and coming to your concerts for many years. The hymn sing you led at the end of your Hollywood Bowl concert a few years ago was sublime. Recently your writing feels jaded and judgmental and just cruel. You put people down and are snarky. I miss the sweet Garrison who was kind and found something hopeful in others and in our world. What happened to you?

Expand full comment

SNARKY? The marmalade story? Really?

Expand full comment

I first came across Bonnie Raitt in 1972, 50 years ago. She played the blues on her guitar, sang the blues, and lived it. I was blown away. She hasn’t stagnated and keeps getting better. Why? Because she stays true to herself. You, Mr. Keillor, have done the same, no matter how you spell your last name. Ms. Swift should look inside herself for her own heart; when she finds it, the true fans will be there.

There may be little money in limericks,

No coin in poetic word tics.

But stay true to your school

And whatever you do

Will be as fine as Bonnie’s guitar licks.

Expand full comment

Bonnie Raitt was interviewed during the last 10 minutes of PBS Newshour on Thursday evening. The video is probably available on pbs.org.

Expand full comment

I was hoping it'd end with

"In a mental ward by a trained horse," but alas, that was not to be.

Expand full comment

This made my morning. Now I can go to the drudgery of coding

Expand full comment

The muses take you wherever their visions see for you. Lyrics or fiction are just words to hear and for others to hold important or just another monologue of someone else's thoughts. It's as important as the song from a singing bird or babbling of a running stream. Even limericks have there place in this orchestra of words and sounds. Financial gain isn't the goal, it's the participation in the music of life.

Expand full comment

You are a treasure and ontinue to amuse and amaze me. Thanks for this big smile.

Expand full comment

You set the literary bar high, sir!

Expand full comment

I've heard that Mr. Keillor is a closeted Swiftie.

Expand full comment

What a delight...finding our road best chosen.

Like Dorothy and the Wizard at the end and the next beginning, home is where the heart is: Oh, but anyway, Toto, we're home – home! And this is my room – and you're all here – and I'm not going to leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all!"

We all know Dorothy knew how to reach out to those in need, too...a little oil here and and encouragement there, and away with our own team we go.

Expand full comment

So enjoy reading your art and sharing it with my friends, who are in my age group, which is 75 soon. I teach journalism and will be using your good writing, humor and gentle spirit to inspire others as long as I can. This column is great advice for students starting out on this journey. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Not only with music, photography and writing, but all creative endeavors. It takes hours and hours to keep up with changes happening in an artist's perspective field that they lose what makes them unique. So sad that Taylor Swift has to fight to gain a new, relevant audience.

Expand full comment