While singing these words, I see the inside of a cabin with hardwood floors, meager yet well-used furnishings, old quilts on feather beds, thin cotton curtains blowing in the breeze, and a mother wiping her soapy hands on a dishtowel before starting a batch of biscuits.  I can even smell the biscuits.

This song, and countless others, were written by my father, Johnny Mullins.  Johnny was an Ozarkian.  He was a simple man with an 8th grade education whose adult working career was spent as an elementary school janitor.  He was also a man of insight and visions, of melody and lyrics.  Johnny became an humble Ozarks icon in the 1950’s through 90’s, rising to recognition as a songwriter after penning Porter Wagoner’s first hit, “Company’s Comin,” which was performed regularly on The Ozarks Jubilee TV show broadcast from the Jewell Theatre in downtown Springfield, Missouri from 1955-1960.

I’d like to not only tell you about the songs, but also about the man behind the music:  my father, the songwriting janitor; and the legacy mission that I’ve embarked upon as his daughter.  

Read continued part 1 here