LULLABY
Key D
D4 D sus D, D4 D sus D
(D) Close your eyes and tell me. Tell me what you see. In the sleepy landscape of your reverie. (G) Can you count the blossoms in the (Em) garden (A) of your (D) mind? Think about the mountains and the…
HUNGRY EYE
He goes down to a honky tonk to see the people there
He'll pick him out an angel and he'll stare
But it does not really matter if she is alone
It's not his thot to take the lady home
Hungry eyes. Hungry eyes.
He's just come…
I have no memory of writing or recording this song. I have no idea what it's about.
CONNIE'S SONG
Em D C B...
(Em) Before I knew anything (D) about you, I (C) loved you
(Em) Whenever you would show, I stared in (D) wonder
I heard you…
Damn, Jimmy... It says this song was uploaded in March 2020. That was when Covid was just taking off and that was when my world got weird and my Day to Day went crazy. Damn, Jimmy... I missed this song when it came out. I just now listened to it tonight. Damn, Jimmy... I love this song.
Her name was Rosemarie Jean and I have lost contact with her. She wrote the poem I turned into Beneath the August Moon.
I SAW ROSE AGAIN TODAY
I saw Rose again today
And I recognized the way
My heart reached out
With unturned fingers…
SLAUGHTER MOUNTAIN
My mom’s dad was a coal miner. Her mother died of TB when she was a kid. When she was twelve, her dad, dying of black lung, slit his throat with a butcher knife. That left her with a cripple little brother to take care of…
Larry Spann
I miss him, too. When he gave me that album he told me I had to check you out. He said Townes van Zandt is a great writer, but he didn’t like everything Townes wrote. He liked EVERYTHING you wrote!
SLAUGHTER MOUNTAIN
My mom’s dad was a coal miner. Her mother died of TB when she was a kid. When she was twelve, her dad, dying of black lung, slit his throat with a butcher knife. That left her with a cripple little brother to take care of…
LANCASTER STREET - Em
James Michael Taylor
Midnight in COWTOWN. 90 degrees
Too hot for a blanket. Too hot for a sheet
The trash on the sidewalk is trying to sleep
Breathing the bus fumes on Lancaster Street...
Sunshine brings tacos…
Rose Jeffus
You have such a unique way with words James. Love your song. I will have to share it with my son in law. He is a volunteer twice a week at the homeless shelter. He is about to have surgery on his left arm this morning so he will have to miss a bit.
LANCASTER STREET - Em
James Michael Taylor
Midnight in COWTOWN. 90 degrees
Too hot for a blanket. Too hot for a sheet
The trash on the sidewalk is trying to sleep
Breathing the bus fumes on Lancaster Street...
Sunshine brings tacos…
THE GIFT - key C
An architect in Bakersfield gave him a gift of wine
Napa Valley, California, famous for the vine
When the grape is coupled with the peach, the promise is divine
But he would never pull the cork as he alone would dine…
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
KAWEAH (says the crow)
"Kaweah, Kaweah"
There's a place on up the hill
Redwood trees are standing still
The murmur of the river will invite you
Lay your head down on a rock
You'll forget about the clock
The whisper of the sun will…
The Winnowing Wind
I feel the wind blow thru me
Oh, please don't let it undo me
Let it level and true me
The Wind. The Winnowing Wind
And here I stand, alone, against the wind,
And, who am I to think that I
Can stand alone against the…
THE ONLY THINGS
Any road that leads to somewhere
Any thought that comes to mind
Any sight on the horizon
Any friend that's left behind
Any meal that's ever eaten
Any quilt that's ever lined
Any concert that is set thru
Any document that…
Robert Hayden
Like the concept, great job recognizing those unduspected little flash backs
2h2 hours ago
Reply
Hide
Lazarus Knight
Great! It's like telling her that there's never a moment when she is not the center of focus.
THE ONLY THINGS
Any road that leads to somewhere
Any thought that comes to mind
Any sight on the horizon
Any friend that's left behind
Any meal that's ever eaten
Any quilt that's ever lined
Any concert that is set thru
Any document that…
I think of you very often even when it's not spoken the words are in my mind more than just a token or poem spoken out loud I'm proud to call you a friend who also writes wonderful songs and I often sing along my voice soft or strong always makes me feel real good and I should say it happens every time I think of you. On every guitar string is a note and there's a song at the end of any pencil you might pick up and write down on a piece of paper
Any song you write always fuels my imagination and makes me think and that's a wonderful gift you have Jim thanks nice work
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
Absolutely powerfully beautiful and genius! Love the layered vocals and the lyrical flow
LeAnna
Thank you for letting me hear that!
LeAnna
LeAnna M Christian
You are awesome all-around!
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
ANGLES CRIED "NO!" About Peggy kicking me to the gutter/valley deep. How, even the angles in heaven, were horrified.
8:30 PM
Lee
Lee Snaples
Okay, I did not get that vibe but that makes sense.
Something I missed for many years was singing in a choir. Now that I have multitracking I don't miss it any more.
THE WINNOWING WIND
I feel the wind flow thru me
Oh, please, don't let it undo me.
Let it level and true me
The wind, the…
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
Where did this one come from? I think it demonstrates your range as a songwriter because most of your songs are personal experience and this is very different. Nice job. I like it.
FIREFLIES. capo @ 2
F walk down
We (C) spoke of them as (C/B) sweethearts
There (Am) in the Southern (F) sky
(C) Saturn, just a (G) twinkle, bold (F) Jupiter near (G) by
I (Am) guess we didn't (Am/G) notice
as they (Am/F)drifted a…
"Fireflies." has a stellar intro, and then you woot he listener in with your crooning and compelling vocals. I have always loved the topic of fireflies and your hook about chsing fireflies in the htickets of two hearts is Phenomenal. Lots of nostalgia in this one, especiually for the girl next door who played a game with me, a kiss for every firefly i caught for her. But man those bugs were elusive as hell. But when I got a few, I was enthralled by her gentle thank you on my lips. Matthew Blowers III
SKINNY GIRLS
Capo @ 3 in G
...and then he said,
I like skinny girls
Toothy girls
Flat chested girls
I like girls with Adam's apples
A mouth full of titty
And a hand full of ass...
A girl with a six pack
is my kind of...
And then…
Now "Skinny Girls.' is a riotus collection of just plain fun and some great humor, I was so dissappointed when the track just cut out. But then I unbderstood you were giving folks just a taste. I was actually starting to visualize all the descriptive bean pole girls you were listing. A great bar song for sure, and I can see all the slightly inebriated guys rethinking and checking out all the skinny girls nursing their beers. LOL Matthew Blowers III
CALIFORNIA
Capo @ 4 in C/Am
I’m (Am) going back to California
A little place in the San (E) Joaquin
(Am, stepping down A G F# F E)
Where the back pasture builds
To Sierra foothills
And Kaweah tumbles down cool and clean
I’m going back…
Matthew F. Blowers III
I am really liking your song on California, I have a special love for that state. You captured all the reaons I miss it, with your superb storytelling in lyrics and with the smooth harmonies and extremely well played music. It has a catchy beat, and I listened to the very last note.
I NEVER DREAM
I never dream of building bridges. I never dream I’ll build a dam
I never dreamed of a cathedral for the mighty God, I Am
I never dreamed of founding clinics or make donations to the cause
I don’t see my name on statues and…
So today, for some reason I decided to read the words first.. Just the words. And found it an absolutely beautiful experience. The metaphors you use to describe great and cosmic plans and intentions of great societal achievement, contrasted with the lines that begin with, "BUT I dreamed we met for breakfast".... (the switch and the contrast is very powerful) what a tiny, common human thing: meeting over the sharing of food,. Then followed by, "I dreamed I held your hand"... human touch/connection, as though those two simple things are worth more than all the highest achievements of worldly fame, and material ladders climbed! Which they are. They so are. The rest of the lyrics continue to develop & express that idea beautifully. Then I listened to the sing, and although it is good as a song, For me, the words in themselves stand strong and impactful w/o anything else. Not to contrast them and say one is "better" than the other. Just that sometimes I see lyrics that stand alone, And just saying, these words do that very well. Gwyn Henry
So I was locked in the broom-cupboard, checking out some old songs that need recording.
I'd just picked one and then suddenly this thing came out of nowehere. It started with one of those guitarist doodles that other musicians love so much…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
Now here's a bit of an oldie - the second song I ever wrote. In... 1978!
I think I played it once, or maybe twice, at school assemblies. My musical peers and colleagues back then dismissed it as corny/rancid pop music…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I found this one while I was digging through the shoe-box for the 1994 songs. Apparently I wrote it on 10th November 1995.
Foolishly, I thought it would only take a week or so to record... I was originally expecting…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
So I got me a new geetar the other week.
Named her Lala, obviously. Seemed kind of appropriate - she wears a faded gold dress and is full of chunes and mischiefs.
This is our first effort together. It was meant…
I wrote this song after planting and fertalizing a crop of sudan grass just to have the sun shine down with no relief on it for 100 days and no rain. We, Texas Water, were heading home one night AFTER A GIG at Gringo's in Grapevine when the…
I hope Brian (one of us Proods) will forgive me for posting this before we could get together to work on it further. He first played it for me a few months ago and I've been obsessively tweaking it every chance I could get.
I like to imagine…
My attempt at this super fun sea shanty!
This is an old New Zealand whaling song. The popular recent version was recorded a cappella by The Longest Johns. I'm using the chords suggested by Piotrek_G on ultimate-guitar.
Edit: re-uploaded…
CALIFORNIA
Capo @ 4 in C/Am
I’m (Am) going back to California
A little place in the San (E) Joaquin
(Am, stepping down A G F# F E)
Where the back pasture builds
To Sierra foothills
And Kaweah tumbles down cool and clean
I’m going back…
California has a chorus that camouflages the dramatic irony of the verse narrative. If it weren’t for the unusual intro, it’d seem zirconium. Christopher Youngblood
VIDEO https://www.facebook.com/reel/629088762494393
https://www.facebook.com/100007692130538/videos/122358790913196/
THE CIRCLE OF NO REGRETS Key C
capo @ 5
C F G C C G C
If your heart must be broken…
Circle of No Regrets sounds quaint. That’s what makes it hit. Unless you turn your ears on, it’s a boring song, but once you do, it’s hard to take.
It’s almost like you’re giving the audience an option. Christopher Youngblood
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Thanks for sharing this with me. Lovely.
Excellent
Damn, Jimmy... It says this song was uploaded in March 2020. That was when Covid was just taking off and that was when my world got weird and my Day to Day went crazy. Damn, Jimmy... I missed this song when it came out. I just now listened to it tonight. Damn, Jimmy... I love this song.
Jim, beautiful lyrics. How wonderful you had that kind of affirmation from your father.
Larry Spann I miss him, too. When he gave me that album he told me I had to check you out. He said Townes van Zandt is a great writer, but he didn’t like everything Townes wrote. He liked EVERYTHING you wrote!
Larry Spann Great album! My first of yours. John DeFoore gave it to me about 15 years ago.
Rose Jeffus You have such a unique way with words James. Love your song. I will have to share it with my son in law. He is a volunteer twice a week at the homeless shelter. He is about to have surgery on his left arm this morning so he will have to miss a bit.
Leslie Young Beautiful but sad. Lee Snaples Such a great song, so poignant
"Wow!" laz
Jonathan Ashley White Oh I can totally hear that! Thats such a fun song. The time change at the “the angles said no” part was cool surprise!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/imalwaysinlove?__eep__=6%2F
Belinda Stephens Sad and beautiful too
Linda Linder That was lovely . What a wonderful sound of voices in harmony . I forgot how much I enjoy listening to a choir ! Thank you for sharing !!
Robert Hayden Like the concept, great job recognizing those unduspected little flash backs 2h2 hours ago Reply Hide Lazarus Knight Great! It's like telling her that there's never a moment when she is not the center of focus.
I think of you very often even when it's not spoken the words are in my mind more than just a token or poem spoken out loud I'm proud to call you a friend who also writes wonderful songs and I often sing along my voice soft or strong always makes me feel real good and I should say it happens every time I think of you. On every guitar string is a note and there's a song at the end of any pencil you might pick up and write down on a piece of paper Any song you write always fuels my imagination and makes me think and that's a wonderful gift you have Jim thanks nice work
Absolutely powerfully beautiful and genius! Love the layered vocals and the lyrical flow LeAnna Thank you for letting me hear that! LeAnna LeAnna M Christian You are awesome all-around!
ANGLES CRIED "NO!" About Peggy kicking me to the gutter/valley deep. How, even the angles in heaven, were horrified. 8:30 PM Lee Lee Snaples Okay, I did not get that vibe but that makes sense.
Absolutely powerfully beautiful and genius! Love the layered vocals and the lyrical flow
And people say you don't write any happy songs. :) Nice job.
Where did this one come from? I think it demonstrates your range as a songwriter because most of your songs are personal experience and this is very different. Nice job. I like it.
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
"Fireflies." has a stellar intro, and then you woot he listener in with your crooning and compelling vocals. I have always loved the topic of fireflies and your hook about chsing fireflies in the htickets of two hearts is Phenomenal. Lots of nostalgia in this one, especiually for the girl next door who played a game with me, a kiss for every firefly i caught for her. But man those bugs were elusive as hell. But when I got a few, I was enthralled by her gentle thank you on my lips. Matthew Blowers III
Now "Skinny Girls.' is a riotus collection of just plain fun and some great humor, I was so dissappointed when the track just cut out. But then I unbderstood you were giving folks just a taste. I was actually starting to visualize all the descriptive bean pole girls you were listing. A great bar song for sure, and I can see all the slightly inebriated guys rethinking and checking out all the skinny girls nursing their beers. LOL Matthew Blowers III
Matthew F. Blowers III I am really liking your song on California, I have a special love for that state. You captured all the reaons I miss it, with your superb storytelling in lyrics and with the smooth harmonies and extremely well played music. It has a catchy beat, and I listened to the very last note.
Very catchy! Too short, maybe. Gotta listen twice.
So today, for some reason I decided to read the words first.. Just the words. And found it an absolutely beautiful experience. The metaphors you use to describe great and cosmic plans and intentions of great societal achievement, contrasted with the lines that begin with, "BUT I dreamed we met for breakfast".... (the switch and the contrast is very powerful) what a tiny, common human thing: meeting over the sharing of food,. Then followed by, "I dreamed I held your hand"... human touch/connection, as though those two simple things are worth more than all the highest achievements of worldly fame, and material ladders climbed! Which they are. They so are. The rest of the lyrics continue to develop & express that idea beautifully. Then I listened to the sing, and although it is good as a song, For me, the words in themselves stand strong and impactful w/o anything else. Not to contrast them and say one is "better" than the other. Just that sometimes I see lyrics that stand alone, And just saying, these words do that very well. Gwyn Henry
This is cool. It gives me ideas.
WoW! Knocks me out. Really sizzles.
Makes me want to find a partner and do a little dance...very nice.
You had me at, "If I back off and shut my mouth..." Know exactly where you are. So afraid the answer is, "No."
Sounds like a 50s Buddy Holly era song. Very sweet sentiment. And, yes, I can dance to it.
Great characterization. Great kick drum sound.
WoW! Rock me, dude! Love the imagery.
Kim Triolo Feil James Michael Taylor that's a fantastic story and a very lovely song
Yes! A MONKEES song, for sure.
Interesting sounds. Cool chord shifts.
Aaah, if Love could only be forgotten... Nice.
Like it.
Very nice...
California has a chorus that camouflages the dramatic irony of the verse narrative. If it weren’t for the unusual intro, it’d seem zirconium. Christopher Youngblood
Circle of No Regrets sounds quaint. That’s what makes it hit. Unless you turn your ears on, it’s a boring song, but once you do, it’s hard to take. It’s almost like you’re giving the audience an option. Christopher Youngblood