Glen Hart wrote the words to ‘Let Me Know Where North Is’
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Glen Hart dislikes the cold so much he wrote a song about it.
“The cold has bothered me so much in my life,” the retired beef farmer from Emo, Ont., told Farms.com. “If it’s too cold, I’m heading a different direction.”
Hart, 82, wrote the lyrics to ‘Let Me Know Where North Is (And I’ll Head the Other Way)’ a few years ago and has been sending the words to any singer, radio station or musician he could get mailing information for.
He eventually got in contact with Brian Sklar, a western swing and polka musician from Saskatchewan.
“I talked to him on the phone,” Hart said. “I told him I wished the song had an original melody but that it follows the tune of ‘The Yellow Rose of Texas.’”
Sklar and some fellow musicians recorded the song in Calgary, Alta., last year “out of the goodness of his heart,” Hart said. “He’s never sent me a bill.”
Let Me Know Where North Is has since received some airplay on stations in Thunder Bay and 93.1 The Border in Fort Frances, Ont. KSJB in Jamestown, N.D., has also aired Hart’s song, he said.
Hearing his song on the radio brings a smile to his face.
“It’s such a nice feeling to know that other people are enjoying my song,” Hart said. “It’s a cute song and everything in it is true. It would be great if more people could hear it."
Hart’s words about the cold aren’t his first set of lyrics that’s been recorded.
In 1969, singer Del Rondo recorded Hart’s lyrics for 'Would That Make You Happy Lucille'.
Music has always been part of Hart’s life.
He grew up listening to the likes of Charley Pride and Little Jimmy Dickens. He especially liked the song ‘We Could,’ which both artists recorded a version of.
“It’s just so simple and beautiful,” Hart said.
His mother had some musical talent too and encouraged him to try music.
“She played violin and taught me how to play simple chords on the piano to accompany her,” Hart said. “I’ve always had an instinct to sing or play music.”
Hart continues to write song lyrics.
“I’ve got an armful,” he said.
One song he’s working on for U.S. listeners is about the political divide between Americans.
He shared some of the words:
“A house divided cannot stand,
That’s U.S., us, today.
We’re torn to shreds by endless spats,
Between the Republicans and Democrats.
They feel their honour, bound to fight,
When one says left the other says right.”