Ortega was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico near the banks of the Rio Grande. He started learning piano at eight years of age. Through his father's work with the United States Department of State, he also spent time in Ecuador and Barbados. It is from his heritage and classical training at The University of New Mexico where Ortega derives his sound, embracing country, classical, Celtic, Latin American, world, modern folk, and rustic hymnody. Fernando Ortega currently leads worship at Christ the King Anglican Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
His album Storm reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 in 2002, and Christmas Songs reached No. 36 on the Billboard Christmas Album Chart in 2009.
Mildred Madalyn Johnson
Fernando Ortega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born in the autumn of 1916
A shy, pretty girl from East Texas
Religious and restless
Humble and kind as a person could be
She loved to sing in the choir
Her head tilted down, keeping time
Or tell stories with friends after supper
Ignoring the hour
A calico cat fast asleep at her side
And she loved to drive
Her big red car
Though she couldn't see over
The hood very far
She'd back out the driveway
And point that thing down the road
We'd say, Lord, there she goes
Her hair was silver and messy
She walked in a hurry
Worried about wasting the day
Some nights she sat at her dresser
Composing long letters
Falling asleep with a pen in her hand
And she loved to drive
Her big red car
A scarf round her shoulders
Her foot to the floor
Down to the grocery
She'd wave good-bye
And we'd pray
Lord, bring her back safe.
And she loved to drive
Her big red car
Though she couldn't see over
The hood very far
She'd back out the driveway
And point that thing down the road
We'd say, Lord, there she goes
Mildred Madalyn Johnson
Marvelous woman
I was so lucky
To call her my friend
In Fernando Ortega's song "Mildred Madalyn Johnson," the lyrics delve into the life of a woman named Mildred born in 1916 in East Texas. The song presents a vivid portrait of Mildred, who was shy, pretty, religious, restless, humble, and kind. She loved to sing loud and inspired in the choir with her head tilted down, keeping time. Mildred also loved to tell stories with her friends after supper while a calico cat slept beside her. Additionally, she had a passion for driving her big red car, although she couldn't see over the hood very far. Mildred's silver and messy hair always reflected her hurried nature, worried about wasting the day. Some nights she composed long letters while falling asleep with a pen in her hand. However, she would always make time to drive to the grocery down the road, waving good-bye to her loved ones, and they would pray that the Lord brought her back safe. In the end, the song concludes that the artist was so lucky to have called this marvelous woman, his friend.
Line by Line Meaning
Mildred Madalyn Johnson
Introducing Mildred Madalyn Johnson as the subject of the song
Born in the autumn of 1916
Providing her year and season of birth
A shy, pretty girl from East Texas
Describing her physical appearance and social nature
Religious and restless
Highlighting her religious beliefs and energetic nature
Humble and kind as a person could be
Complimenting her virtues as a person
She loved to sing in the choir
Expressing her passion for singing in a group
Loud and inspired
Describing how she sang in the choir
Her head tilted down, keeping time
Depicting the way she kept the beat with her head while singing
Or tell stories with friends after supper
Talking about how she enjoyed storytelling with friends
Ignoring the hour
Describing how engrossed she would become in storytelling
A calico cat fast asleep at her side
Painting a scene of her with a sleeping cat by her side while storytelling
And she loved to drive
Reiterating her love for driving
Her big red car
Describing her car as big and red
Though she couldn't see over
Admitting that she had trouble seeing over the car hood
The hood very far
Emphasizing the distance between her and the car hood
She'd back out the driveway
Explaining how she maneuvered the car
And point that thing down the road
Showing how she would set the car in motion
We'd say, Lord, there she goes
Expressing admiration and maybe even awe at her driving skills
Her hair was silver and messy
Describing her hair as gray and unkempt
She walked in a hurry
Noting how she moved quickly on foot
Worried about wasting the day
Explaining why she hurried everywhere
Some nights she sat at her dresser
Describing her evening routine
Composing long letters
Revealing that she liked to write letters
Falling asleep with a pen in her hand
Imagining her falling asleep while writing
A scarf round her shoulders
Depicting her wearing a scarf on her shoulders while driving
Her foot to the floor
Indicating that she would drive fast
Down to the grocery
Detailing where she would go while driving
She'd wave goodbye
Likening her departure to a farewell gesture
And we'd pray
Showing concern for her safety while driving alone
Lord, bring her back safe.
Asking for divine intervention to keep her safe on the road
Marvelous woman
Summing up her good qualities as a person
I was so lucky
Expressing gratitude for knowing her
To call her my friend
Affirming that she was a dear friend to the songwriter
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUAN FERNANDO ORGEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Janice Bultman Bogott
on Into Your Presence
Is there anywhere I can get the sheet music for piano for this song? I just love it!!