I spent much of my life on bandstands all over this country. As a drummer, I sat in the back, up nest to the wall. Or in a corner, often on a riser. When you’re not singing, or singing harmony, there’s not a heck of a lot to do, but watch people. These are some of my observations.

People come into bars to have a good tine, and search for mates. It’s a very natural thing for humans to do.

It’s very interesting to watch the young women dance. Almost always, they dance with their arms up over their head. The object is to release pheromones to attract males. Sometimes people just come to drink, dance, socialize and relax. But that's not the main reason for the honky tonk. They are assignation stations.

Those bar rooms are absolutely filled with the aroma of sexual attraction. The musicians are usually higher than the crowd, and receive the full effect. That attraction is overpowering.

As a virile male, it is nearly impossible to resist, and once triggered, normal lust is virtually impossible to resist. It is sex. Just sex. Nothing more, nothing less. The love aspect, the faithfulness aspect, the fear, shame, or illegality have nothing to do with it. It is the overpowering human instinct to mate.

It is as natural for the male to become aroused, as it is for the female to me alluring.

When we are children, one of the favorite games is “Boys chase the girls”. We have all played that game, whether wittingly or unwittingly. If you watch any schoolyard, you will see that game.

The boys in the band get caught up in it. There you are, a young man, and when you look at it you will see that working musicians are usually younger than 35 or 40, caught up in the swirling scent of 60 to 100 young women in heat.

Very often they surrender to that natural urge. After the brief encounter, they go home. The wife, or girlfriend can smell the sent of another woman. Then there are accusations, fights, separations and unfortunately, divorce. I suppose this is a natural part of being a human as well.

I don't think that in cultures where men and women live separately, ths is as much a problem as it is in our “civilized” society.

Do I believe in monogamy? I'm not sure. I am, and intend to stay that way. Our Christian teaching pretty much requires it of us. It is a way to keep the bloodline pure. Women understand that, even if they don't realize it. Therein. as Shakespeare said, lies the rub.

Is there answer? Probably not. It has been going on for millennia. Will it ever stop? Not as long as there are animals, and humans are, after all, animals, and in the stated situations revert to that state.

Just something that crossed my mind.