I’m a big fan of songwriters and poets. Dottie Rambo was one of the very best, ever…any form of music. To me, her ability to put paper to pen and illustrate a thought was equal to the Gershwins, Bacharachs, Harlan Howards, any prolific composer you can name…Dottie Rambo’s name should be included in any list of great songwriters.
Aside from that, Dottie, along with her ex-husband, Buck and her daughter, Reba made up one of my very favorite trios…ever. As a matter of fact, just this very day, on the Ipod, I was listening to the Rambos sing about being “sheltered in the arms of God.” I never get tired of that one or of “He Looked Beyond My Fault”, “If That Isn’t Love”, “When I Lift Up My Head”, “The Holy Hills”, “One More Valley”, “In The Valley He Restoreth My Soul”….I could list a ton more. Great stuff. Look ’em up on Itunes…you will be amazed and dazzled.
I can’t tell you how personally, for me, lyrics like “Let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise, they won’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God…He walks with me and none of earth shall harm me…for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God” have given my weary heart rest and reminder that I’m not doing this thing called Life by myself.
Or lyrics like “Too many sunsets lie behind the mountains, too many rivers my feet have walked through…too many treasures are waiting over yonder…there’s too much to gain to lose” have given me a little extry oomph to keep pluggin…God has been good to use stuff like words mixed together in rhyme to pump me up more than just about anything. Music is a powerful tool.
I find it ironic that Dottie, who had battled a ridiculous amount of trials in her time, especially in the last couple of decades…serious back issues, a divorce from Buck, being near death no telling how many times, that she met her end in a bus wreck, on a way to a gig in Texas…at 74 years old!
The Gentleman Formerly Known As My Boss, the fabulous David, was good enough to send this pitcher along of he and Miz Dottie. What a treasure. Look at Dave….aw…makes me miss the ol’ boy. Hadn’t seen him in awhile.
4 responses to “Sheltered Safe”
ganns
May 11th, 2008 at 22:07
I mourn Dottie’s death and rejoice in her reunion with God. Her music has reached far and wide, even finding its way to this Christian in the Philippines, halfway around the world. She was a class act, through and through.
Eddie Christy
May 11th, 2008 at 22:44
I fell in love with Dottie and back in love with Gospel when I heard Elvis sing “If That Isn’t Love”. She was a creative soul and a solid woman.
GFKAMB-Dave
May 12th, 2008 at 11:35
Sista – you know I love me some Dottie & Rambos!
Dottie and her music have had such strong influence in my life. I had the priviledge to play piano for her in Sept 2007 at a concert in Louisville, KY. Someone at the church knew me and that I could play. They called me up on stage out of the audience to play for her. She had already hit the point in concert where she’d taken off her shoes (one of her many eclectic mannerisms!) She wanted to sing “He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw my Need”. Now – This is a classic that I’ve known since I was a small child. Piece of cake – thought I! I started gliding over those keys like a virtuoso in the key of C. The monitors were not on and I was about 15 feet from Dottie. She sings about 1/2 the first verse and stops in mid-phrase and says” Oooh child – that is TOO high! Can you drop it down some” Now even tho I have a music degree, I’ve never been great at on-the-spot transposition – especially with a live audience waiting and watching.
I shifted down to the key of “G” and that was the right key for Dottie. BUT – I played the song like a man that had been victim of a horrible chainsaw accident. My fingers were like nubs the rest of the way through. I think I got all the big parts right, but some of my transitional stuff was pretty off! We go through the song and amazingly the audience seemed quite moved. Glad that they were focusing on Miss D and not me!
After the concert I apologized profusely for messing up the song. Dottie just smiles and thanks me for being willing to come up on the spot like I did. We took a picture together and I thanked her profusely again for what her music and persona had meant in mine and my family’s life. I was raised on the 3-part harmony of her songs. An amazing woman. I will miss her greatly!
Sharon Cobb
May 12th, 2008 at 13:48
Beautiful post.
Thank you.
3 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
Dottie Rambo « GingerSnaps May 12th, 2008 at 10:54
[…] Sista has a great post over at her place where she touches on how much Dottie’s songs meant to her. She also posted a couple of videos. […]
Eddie Arnold and Dottie Rambo: Local Tributes In Nashville - Fun Times Guide January 4th, 2015 at 14:39
[…] Another local blogger recounts some of her favorite Rambo songs. […]
Eddie Arnold and Dottie Rambo: Local Tributes In Nashville | The Brentwood TN Guide January 18th, 2022 at 12:40
[…] Another local blogger recounts some of her favorite Rambo songs. […]