Tondeleo: Most of the time, when Doc and Marilyn are playing music, they do all the old music that he likes and which is pretty much all Marilyn knows because neither of them listen to the radio. There doesn't seem to be any one genre that he plays, just stuff he likes and it has to have a good beat. Other than that it may be American roosts music, then blues and if her remembers an old classic Rock song he might play that (and he will deny that it is rock, for some reason) and then he may do a Motown song or something that no one has ever heard before, but he insists is an old one that everybody knows.
Doc and Marilyn are primarily street performers, and play at family reunions, festivals and pig pickin's and some country weddings and 
receptions. I was not overly surprised to learn recently that Doc is a songwriter, because he seems to be able to create whatever it is that he is lacking, and can make almost anything. I am not mechanically inclined and not very creative, so most of it is a mystery to me. From making something mechanical to writing a song he doesn't know is not that big of a jump, is it?
We were talking about songs and music, and when Doc said he'd written dozens of songs, I asked why he didn't sing them more often; I had never heard him sing any of them.
Doc: Yes, you have heard 'em Tondy! I just ain't tell you which ones I come up with and which ones is just old songs I know. I make up songs all the time, but I ain't good at writin' 'em down. Marilyn, she been writin' 'em down an' sometimes she records them on that thing you gave her. But I ain't never get the words the same way twice. I cain't hardly remember the words to the songs what was wrote by real people.
My mind goes blank an' I just start makin' up words on the spot an' sometimes I forget the tune an' make that up, too. But that ain't truly song writin. Other times I pick up the guitar an' just start singin' what's on my mind. Marilyn says that IS songwritin'. I ain't never thought of it like that afore she said so.
Tondeleo: I NOTICED that on the DVD which I posted parts from on YouTube. I never heard California Blues sung or played like that before! Is that some alternate version or did you make it up?
Doc: Tondy, my mind went blank on that , so I had to start making things up. I couldn't remember nothin, so I made up the middle parts of it an' it didn't come out too bad. It just ain't the way that song goes for most people, but next time it'll be different again, lessen I remember it right. If a man's mind goes blank, he cain't just stop playin' or singin' Peoples' LISTENIN' an' he owes them to keep on. That's all that is.
Tondeleo: You said that some of my favorite songs you sing are originals? Like what?
Doc: That one, "Some Men DO Buy the Cow." That's one of mine. I wrote it for a weddin' me an' Marilyn played at, down Bristol Tennessee when my girl cousin got married a couple years back...
Marilyn, get me those words you wrote down for Some Men Do Buy the Cow. Give 'em to Tondy...
Marilyn: They's in my notebook from school - under the couch - you can get 'em yourself Uncle Doc...the pink notebook.
Doc: (finding the notebook amongst some old socks, an empty potato crisps bag and a couple of empty coca cola bottles) Here ya go Tondy. That's one of 'em what she wrote down the words for... I done a bunch of wedding songs for folks.
Tondeleo: Can I put them on the Internet, Doc? I'm not trying to push you, but people would love to hear them. It might make people want you to play at their weddings.
Doc: Man, I don't care. Just put my name on 'em so it don't get stole an' put on a greetin' card or Randy Travis don't start singin' it as his own like what he done to Peggy Hill [of the American animated programme, King of the Hill - Tondeleo] that time. We seen it on TV what he done to her. That's a cryin' shame. Put my name on it so he don't steal it as his own.
Tondeleo: No problem, Doc. I'll make sure people know that it is your song. When did you write it, so we can list that, too?
Doc: I don't know, 'bout 2005, I expect. Marilyn were about 15. So mebbe 2003, yeah that's it.
Tondeleo: I'll get it on the web and make sure they know it's YOUR song and that no one steals it. Maybe we can video you singing it and then put it on YouTube?
Doc: Yeh when I ain't so tired like I am now. I just fixed a lady's car what got rear ended an' the insurance company gave her $680 for fixin' it an' I done it for her in one day so she could go to work tomorrow. I'm whooped. Video it later.
Some Men DO Buy The Cow
Words and Music By Doc Stevens, 2003
Well today is your big wedding day
and you know were all surprised
You look so pretty in your wedding dress
I can't believe my own eyes
You been together all these year
and never made it right
and now we're all here gathered round
and you're in your gown of white
They say a man won't buy the cow
If he can get the milk for free
But you roped him in and got him hooked
And he knows now nothin's free
I'm glad for you it's all worked out
We thought he'd break your heart
You gave and gave and paid his way
We knew that wasn't smart
But today we can congratulate
What we didn't think would come
He stepped up to the plate
And made a date and now he is your groom
They say a man won't buy the cow
If he can get the milk for free
But you won him with your lovin heart
And now he's what he oughta be
They give out samples at the grocery store
To get us to buy their goods
But a man won't sign no contract
Based only on free food
You proved us wrong and he did you right
And now's your wedding day
He got your samples an he bought the rest
We're proud as we can be
Some men really do buy the cow
After rollin' in the hay
They say a man won't buy the cow
If he can get the milk for free
You beat the odds
You're makin' vows
And before your God
You're what we'd hope you'd be
(Spoken: "Hey girl, you're a wife!" )
