Just Like That
June 2014-March, 2017
It looks like I have enough assorted songs to pull these together and call it an "album"..so that's exactly what I've done. These were written and recorded between 2014 and 2017. I'll go ahead and name this collection after the latest song.
Songs:
- Just Like That
- If Your Girl (2 versions)
- Shine on (At the Dawn of Every Brand New Day)
- Big Open Heart
- By the firelight of the Volcano
- You Deserve a Song (These Used up Country Blues)
- So What (If it rains a Little)
- The Return (of that Train called Reason)
- Rough Roads & Random Acts of Kindness
- Walking Song
Just Like That (3/3/17)
Exploring this style. I think the lyric fits.
Just Like That
They say that there are tigers in Peru that will tear you limb from limb and before they do
They'll let you scratch their backs like any common cat.
Snap when I heard that I thought of you.
There are women with a lack of savoir faire and who they kick around they just don't care
They say "je t' aime beacoup" then "see ya later we're through."
Snap just like that I thought of you
In 1929, with markets in decline, jumping off tall buildings was the national pass time.
By 1932, there were millions in food lines while millionaires were buying shares and planning WWII.
Snap when I learned that, I thought of you.
The waiters at La Buvette are quite the crew.
If you complain about the food, they yell at you.
Before they threw me out, they made me do their dishes too.
Snap just like that, I thought of you.
Staring sideways at the painting on the wall.
Picasso makes no sense to me at all.
How could an acrobat get twisted up like that when...
Snap just like that I thought of you.
In 2016, they bought us a new king designed to distract us from all the suffering.
While he entertained and picked our pockets too...
Billionaires kept buying shares and scheming like they do
Snap just like that, I thought of you.
They say that there are tigers...
They say that there are tigers in Peru that will tear you limb from limb and before they do
They'll let you scratch their backs like any common cat.
Snap when I heard that I thought of you.
There are women with a lack of savoir faire and who they kick around they just don't care
They say "je t' aime beacoup" then "see ya later we're through."
Snap just like that I thought of you
In 1929, with markets in decline, jumping off tall buildings was the national pass time.
By 1932, there were millions in food lines while millionaires were buying shares and planning WWII.
Snap when I learned that, I thought of you.
The waiters at La Buvette are quite the crew.
If you complain about the food, they yell at you.
Before they threw me out, they made me do their dishes too.
Snap just like that, I thought of you.
Staring sideways at the painting on the wall.
Picasso makes no sense to me at all.
How could an acrobat get twisted up like that when...
Snap just like that I thought of you.
In 2016, they bought us a new king designed to distract us from all the suffering.
While he entertained and picked our pockets too...
Billionaires kept buying shares and scheming like they do
Snap just like that, I thought of you.
They say that there are tigers...
If Your Girl 2-Versions (2/28/2017)
There are 2 versions on this track-one slow and one faster.
If your girl was my girl, I wouldn’t want to lose her
Go ahead and talk down to her
See if she don’t run into the arms of a boy like me
I’m going to tell you something you out to know
I’m going to tell you something I learned the hard way
If your girl was my girl, I wouldn’t want to lose her
Go ahead and talk down to her
See if she don’t run into the arms of a boy like me
Your girl is looking at me like my girl was looking at him
Pretty soon now you’re going to know what it’s like to be all alone
If your girl was my girl, I wouldn’t want to lose her
Go ahead and talk down to her
See if she don’t run into the arms of a boy like me
Go ahead and talk down to her
See if she don’t run into the arms of a boy like me
I’m going to tell you something you out to know
I’m going to tell you something I learned the hard way
If your girl was my girl, I wouldn’t want to lose her
Go ahead and talk down to her
See if she don’t run into the arms of a boy like me
Your girl is looking at me like my girl was looking at him
Pretty soon now you’re going to know what it’s like to be all alone
If your girl was my girl, I wouldn’t want to lose her
Go ahead and talk down to her
See if she don’t run into the arms of a boy like me
Shine On (10/13/16)
This one started with the first line that I obviously borrowed from another source and the idea was sort of something about mercy being in play at the dawn of every new day in contrast to the idea of dominion over everything. I am playing guitars and the upright bass ..oh and laid down a few vocal tracks to get the idea down. It's a jazzy sort of arrangement.
God said let there be light at the dawn of every brand new day
God said let there be light at the dawn of every brand new day
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The Earth and the Sun to God we've been doing this for years
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said I brought you something new.
These are people with love in their hearts.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said to the people take joy and behold
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The people said to God we own everything.
We’re holding onto everything we own.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said to the people you're not hearing me right.
You’re holding on much too tight.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The people said to God we can take it from here.
We hold dominion over all we behold.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The Earth and the Sun asked God should we put these people on the run.
God answered let there be light at the dawn of every brand new day.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said let there be light at the dawn of every brand new day
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The Earth and the Sun to God we've been doing this for years
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said I brought you something new.
These are people with love in their hearts.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said to the people take joy and behold
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The people said to God we own everything.
We’re holding onto everything we own.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
God said to the people you're not hearing me right.
You’re holding on much too tight.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The people said to God we can take it from here.
We hold dominion over all we behold.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
The Earth and the Sun asked God should we put these people on the run.
God answered let there be light at the dawn of every brand new day.
Shine on, shine on, shine on at the dawn of every brand new day.
Big Open Heart (8/8/16)
This song I came up with in the saddle on our motorcycle trip to Montana. I think I came up with the first verse in Montana on the way home and finished by Utah.
If you ever change your mind and want to see me one more time, put politics aside and have a heart-to-heart conversation, you’ll always be a friend of mine. I knew you before you lost your mind. You can call on me for sympathy or consolation.
There’s a big open road. There’s a big open highway. There’s a big world we could leave at any minute. There’s plenty of room for all of us to be in it. It takes a great big open heart to make a brand new start. I’m hoping you’re open for something more waiting right outside of your front door.
Some people only want to hear what they already know. Some people only want to hear the latest thing. Some people want to be right so they can tell you that they told you so. The only thing you gotta do is find your own song to sing.
There’s a big open road. There’s a big open highway. There’s a big world we could leave at any minute. There’s plenty of room for all of us to be in it. It takes a great big open heart to make a brand new start. I’m hoping you’re open for something more waiting right outside of your front door.
Get on your motorcycles, ride out to where the mailboxes are lined up in a row, where people still write each other letters to keep each other in the know. I’m no letter writer. I can write down in a song that it’s a great big world and if we wanted to I’m sure we could all get along.
There’s a big open road. There’s a big open highway. There’s a big world we could leave at any minute. There’s plenty of room for all of us to be in it. It takes a great big open heart to make a brand new start. I’m hoping you’re open for something more waiting right outside of your front door.
There’s a big open road. There’s a big open highway. There’s a big world we could leave at any minute. There’s plenty of room for all of us to be in it. It takes a great big open heart to make a brand new start. I’m hoping you’re open for something more waiting right outside of your front door.
Some people only want to hear what they already know. Some people only want to hear the latest thing. Some people want to be right so they can tell you that they told you so. The only thing you gotta do is find your own song to sing.
There’s a big open road. There’s a big open highway. There’s a big world we could leave at any minute. There’s plenty of room for all of us to be in it. It takes a great big open heart to make a brand new start. I’m hoping you’re open for something more waiting right outside of your front door.
Get on your motorcycles, ride out to where the mailboxes are lined up in a row, where people still write each other letters to keep each other in the know. I’m no letter writer. I can write down in a song that it’s a great big world and if we wanted to I’m sure we could all get along.
There’s a big open road. There’s a big open highway. There’s a big world we could leave at any minute. There’s plenty of room for all of us to be in it. It takes a great big open heart to make a brand new start. I’m hoping you’re open for something more waiting right outside of your front door.
By the Firelight of the Volcano (4/16/16)
I wrote the first 2 verses of this in a hotel room in Lawton, Oklahoma after watching the History channel 15 years ago and wrote the 3rd verse this morning and recorded it for the first time this afternoon, It's a cautionary little tale accompanied by the sound of a Gretsch 6120 guitar.
It doesn't take as much as you might think to drive society to a human sacrifice Any little threat of going extinct and they're carrying the virgin up the mountain side.I wish I had known you then to rescue you while you were being mislead. You must have been a beauty something to see by the firelight of the volcano. Oh Atlantis baby don't go. Don't you know I'm missing you so.:
When the rumblin' started down in old Pompeii, the boys took to wonderin' what could be done. It didn't take long to come to the conclusion that a little girl was just thing to get the job done. I wish I had known you then to rescue you while you were being mislead. You must have been a beauty something to see by the firelight of the volcano. Hey Pompeii, baby please stay. Don't you know I'm missing you today.:
Today, the ground is shakin' from Bethesda to LA and in Washington they're arguin' 'bout what can be done. Mothers keep a look out for that glow on the horizon. Hide your daughters 'fore the boys start to loadin' their guns. I wish I had known you then to rescue you while you were being misled. Your sure to be a beauty yeah something to see by the firelight of the volcano. Hey LA, baby please stay. Don't you know I'm needing you/missing you today.....You must have been a beauty yeah something to see by the firelight of the volcano.
When the rumblin' started down in old Pompeii, the boys took to wonderin' what could be done. It didn't take long to come to the conclusion that a little girl was just thing to get the job done. I wish I had known you then to rescue you while you were being mislead. You must have been a beauty something to see by the firelight of the volcano. Hey Pompeii, baby please stay. Don't you know I'm missing you today.:
Today, the ground is shakin' from Bethesda to LA and in Washington they're arguin' 'bout what can be done. Mothers keep a look out for that glow on the horizon. Hide your daughters 'fore the boys start to loadin' their guns. I wish I had known you then to rescue you while you were being misled. Your sure to be a beauty yeah something to see by the firelight of the volcano. Hey LA, baby please stay. Don't you know I'm needing you/missing you today.....You must have been a beauty yeah something to see by the firelight of the volcano.
These Used up Country Blues (4/2/16)
Keeping it simple. I re-recorded it live playing the guitar with a vocal and added a lap steel. Maybe get around to adding more verses sometime later.
Darlin’, you deserve a song
One that will take you seriously
A song that you can lean on when you’re blue
One that will get you off the ground when you’re down
Darlin’ you deserve much more than these used up country blues
But, I ain’t got the skills that some other cowboys do
Right now, I’m giving you the best I know how
Darlin’, you deserve a song
One that will take you seriously
You deserve much more than these used up country blues
One that will take you seriously
A song that you can lean on when you’re blue
One that will get you off the ground when you’re down
Darlin’ you deserve much more than these used up country blues
But, I ain’t got the skills that some other cowboys do
Right now, I’m giving you the best I know how
Darlin’, you deserve a song
One that will take you seriously
You deserve much more than these used up country blues
"So What (If it Rains a Little)" (6/23/15)
My N.C. beach song this year. There will be a home-made video and this will back that up...wanted something a bit different.
If your day at the beach turns cloudy and your blue skies turn to gray and the sun turns it’s face away from you to hide in the clouds all day, bring your pail and I’ll bring my shovel sand we’ll meet at the shore any way and if it rains, we’ll happily watch as our sand castles melt away.
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if we change a little?
Would the open over flow?
No, you can’t think it’s so
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if it rains a little?
What if we cry a little?
Would those tears stop the rain?
No, why then complain
So, what if it rains a little?
In a dream, I drew a line in the sand.
I said , “That side is yours. This side is mine.”
The waves of the did not agree.
They washed away our lines and we were free to love agin.
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if we change a little?
Would the open over flow?
No, you can’t think it’s so
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if it rains a little?
What if we cry a little?
Would those tears stop the rain?
No, why then complain
So, what if it rains a little?
…If it rains, we’ll happily watch as our sand castles melt away.
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if we change a little?
Would the open over flow?
No, you can’t think it’s so
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if it rains a little?
What if we cry a little?
Would those tears stop the rain?
No, why then complain
So, what if it rains a little?
In a dream, I drew a line in the sand.
I said , “That side is yours. This side is mine.”
The waves of the did not agree.
They washed away our lines and we were free to love agin.
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if we change a little?
Would the open over flow?
No, you can’t think it’s so
So, what if it rains a little?
So, what if it rains a little?
What if we cry a little?
Would those tears stop the rain?
No, why then complain
So, what if it rains a little?
…If it rains, we’ll happily watch as our sand castles melt away.
"The Return (of that Train called Reason)" 1/19/15
For the writers, artists and poets in and outside my family:
When you're trembling from worry and you can't find the love for the fear
Remember all that you're holding, you'll let go of someday
Still, I wish I could see you one more time and walk hand in hand
Wishing 's for fools, so I wipe the tears away and play this song again
With these holes in our souls, is it any wonder we can't get filled
With broken parts in our hearts love won't spark and maybe never will
Reason is a train that left the station so many years ago
Left us stranded on the platform, expecting the return any minute, God only knows.
You writers and you artists, feeling fed up and ready to pack it up walk away
Hold your ground, turn it upside down, drag it into light, get to the truth of it and strip the rest away
You poets hold your tongues until you're sure you got something worthwhile to say
Don't trust in thinking, silence will show the way
With these holes in our souls, is it any wonder we can't get filled
With broken parts in our hearts love won't spark and maybe never will
Reason is a train that left the station so many years ago
Left us stranded on the platform, expecting the return any minute, God only knows
Remember all that you're holding, you'll let go of someday
Still, I wish I could see you one more time and walk hand in hand
Wishing 's for fools, so I wipe the tears away and play this song again
With these holes in our souls, is it any wonder we can't get filled
With broken parts in our hearts love won't spark and maybe never will
Reason is a train that left the station so many years ago
Left us stranded on the platform, expecting the return any minute, God only knows.
You writers and you artists, feeling fed up and ready to pack it up walk away
Hold your ground, turn it upside down, drag it into light, get to the truth of it and strip the rest away
You poets hold your tongues until you're sure you got something worthwhile to say
Don't trust in thinking, silence will show the way
With these holes in our souls, is it any wonder we can't get filled
With broken parts in our hearts love won't spark and maybe never will
Reason is a train that left the station so many years ago
Left us stranded on the platform, expecting the return any minute, God only knows