Singled Out: Fred Hostetler's Walking On Hallowed Ground

09-10-2026

Fred Hostetler just released his new album "Walking on Hallowed Ground", and to celebrate we asked him to tell us about the record's title song. Here is the story:

"Your soul is the high priestess of memory, selecting, shifting, sifting and ultimately gathering your vanishing days towards presence" ...apologies to John O'Donahue

Memories are the rich soil from which gratitude arises. "I Remember" was the working title for this song. It sprang up from an inspired raucous slide guitar thing in open tuning that I stumbled on some months back. Nothing that original, I guess, but it reminded me of a Keith Richards feel from long ago and brought to mind the legendary rock artists of the 70s. At that time I was reading a book about the importance of remembering on many levels. Those memories stirred up to become the hallowed ground of this single.

Musically speaking, it is a virtual patchwork quilt of memories from over 60 years that include the privilege to write, play, and perform everything from blues to folk to rock and beyond. The more I thought about the song as I went along, the more I decided that in numerous ways I was "walking on hallowed ground", the hallowed ground of life itself.

I tried to keep the storytelling simple, direct, and deliver it with an emotional impact that would touch and awaken the listener's memories. To paraphrase something I read, memories are the fertile compost that supports inner growth, feeds the soul and enriches one's life. Finally, a tip of the hat to the social media scrolling set; melodic breakdowns are timed to potentially carry even the casual streaming listener through the entire 3:25 minute song.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself below and learn more here