Private Project

Stories in Rhyme: The Songwriters of the Flora-Bama Lounge

Compiled from over thirty years’ worth of rare, never-before-seen footage, Stories in Rhyme is a journey through music history. Since 1984, the Gulf of Mexico’s famous Flora-Bama Lounge has played host to a gathering of songwriters from all over the world. From the country legends of old to the latest crop of budding troubadours, these are the voices behind the songs. This documentary isn’t just an ode to these characters, but to the timeless, unifying power of music itself. Full of riveting performances and heartfelt testimonials, it explores the art form, the inspiration and the camaraderie of these colorful songsters as they gather to tell their stories down on the snow-white beaches of the Florida/Alabama line.

  • Lynn Rabren
    Director
    America's Amazon, Fishslap, Redfish Tale
  • Jeff Etheridge
    Writer
    Sons of Liberty feature
  • Lynn Rabren
    Producer
    America's Amazon, Fishslap, Redfish Tale
  • Jeff Etheridge
    Editor
    commercial spots
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 24 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 15, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    130,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    16:9 , 4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lynn Rabren

Lynn Rabren has traveled the world throughout his 40 year career as a cameraman, producer, and director, working for multiple lauded clients, such as 60 Minutes, PBS, and Neil Young. He was awarded two Emmy’s for his work in videography, as well as many additional accolades. As a Director/Producer, his most recent projects have been focused on one of Lynn’s true passions, the magnificent Gulf Coast, and included an award-winning documentary feature, America’s Amazon, which aired on PBS, as well as A Redfish Tale, Fishslap, and A Gulf in Understanding: Dan Rather Reports. His current project, however, has allowed Lynn to explore another one of his loves…music.

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Director Statement

This film has been a three-decade-long labor of love to properly tell the story of these talented storytellers who have gathered at the Flora-Bama Lounge for the past 30 plus years. Their songwriting gifts lift us all and carry emotional messages to the many of us who can't say it ourselves. The task of trying to recreate the chill bumps one can feel listening in their presence is as enjoyable an endeavor as I've ever had as a filmmaker.
I hope that for anyone who sees this film, listening to a song will never be the same again.