The story is at www.iburymydead.com
THE CHILD WITH THE BEAUTIFUL NAME
What remains of an eagle that's fallen
The roots of an oak tree now claim
To draw sap for the shade for the cattle
O're the child with the beautiful name
The law…
The story is at www.iburymydead.com
THE CHILD WITH THE BEAUTIFUL NAME
What remains of an eagle that's fallen
The roots of an oak tree now claim
To draw sap for the shade for the cattle
O're the child with the beautiful name
The law…
I first heard this song yesterday when I was listening to you reading "I bury my dead", and I immediately loved it. I'm sure I would have loved it without hearing the story too, but it sure adds a lot of meaning and depths to it.
Great work, James!
This song tells about a guy I know named Gene.
GENE
Gene had a girlfriend
The band would play and they would dance
She was tall and Gene was tall
A lovely late romance
They'd smile and hold each other
They'd sit and share a drink
Holding…
> First there was Spring Time. Then there was Summer.
> Then there was Autumn.
>
> And then there was Winter. Her daddy mowed lawns
> She was a smart little doll
> River loved Winter. His dad was a singer
> But River…
Dad wanted me to write him some funeral music. This is it. He's still alive at 91 and sings this song to himself and tears come to his eyes. I have a video of Dad and me singing a duet of this song.
EULOGY
He grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma…
Dad wanted me to write him some funeral music. This is it. He's still alive at 91 and sings this song to himself and tears come to his eyes. I have a video of Dad and me singing a duet of this song.
EULOGY
He grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
Yeah, I know.
I can't understand it either.
TESLA
Who invented remote control? TESLA
Who invented the fluorescent light? TESLA
Who invented the radio? TESLA
And who died alone and forgotten in 1943? TESLA
So, you say now, “Don’t be…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
It's great the way you remember so many of the details of your life.
You so beautifully weave bits of memory into a story cloth. Every line holds my attention always waiting for your next thought.
Thanks again for sharing your amazingly human and heartfelt stories.
I REMEMBER THEM
Capo @ 5 in C (F)
C CM7 C CM7
I stare at a picture of you and me thirty years ago
G C CM7
Sitting on the porch at a cheap motel in Midland
C CM7 FM7
Glad I didn't know way back then what I didn't know
G C CM7
Stars in…
Song well done and voice good. Guitar and chords very nice. Not sure about the way words fit, or something, sounds too much like a commercial. Just a collection of facts.
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
this is just beautiful...lovely vocals...guitar solo in sundown mode...sweet indeed
I first heard this song yesterday when I was listening to you reading "I bury my dead", and I immediately loved it. I'm sure I would have loved it without hearing the story too, but it sure adds a lot of meaning and depths to it. Great work, James!
Hey, that's an unexpected style from you. Nice old-school (60s) feel.
You are a proof for my conviction that a good lyric is a requirement for a good song. All your lyrics are great IMO, and so are your songs.
interesting song,,,very nice story telling,, i think i'll need to listen a few more times
Great great James. I like the picture you took of him thru the window on FB.
Wonderful that you got to do this while he's still around to appreciate it!
This is really beautifully done.
Well, at least you know who you are, that's a lot more than some.
Great song James!
Love it James!
Dig it! Oh yeah.... LG
Beautiful song, Jim.
honesty and info rolled into a nice melodic thread. enjoyed very much. Telsa. thanks JMT!
Right on, I would say.
Good stuff, James!
It's great the way you remember so many of the details of your life. You so beautifully weave bits of memory into a story cloth. Every line holds my attention always waiting for your next thought. Thanks again for sharing your amazingly human and heartfelt stories.
I can relate to this. Good one Al
Song well done and voice good. Guitar and chords very nice. Not sure about the way words fit, or something, sounds too much like a commercial. Just a collection of facts.
love the stumbling drunk feel to the bass and drums great vocal
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