This story is a poem sent to me by Lesley Sawyer from a blog on her MySpace site and I put it to music and am posting it so she can hear it and maybe see if it's alright. We don't know who wrote the poem. If anybody does please tell me. j mt
Same old story.
Something just broke and I think it's my heart.
It wasn't an arrow. It wasn't a dart.
Mighta been a meteor that tore it apart
Something just broke and I think it's my heart.
Something just broke and I think it's my heart…
One night this lady, unbeknownst to me, on the verge of suicide, asked me to write a happy song for her. Instead of killing herself, she left her husband. Now she's married to someone else and is acting very happy, herself.
UPDATE: She killed…
Do you see that girl? Do you see that boy?
Walking hand in hand? They're on top of the world.
Can you see that boy? Can you see that girl?
Kissing in the park. They're on top of the world.
I can see that girl. I can see that boy.
Walking…
Do you see that girl? Do you see that boy?
Walking hand in hand? They're on top of the world.
Can you see that boy? Can you see that girl?
Kissing in the park. They're on top of the world.
I can see that girl. I can see that boy.
Walking…
Do you see that girl? Do you see that boy?
Walking hand in hand? They're on top of the world.
Can you see that boy? Can you see that girl?
Kissing in the park. They're on top of the world.
I can see that girl. I can see that boy.
Walking…
Do you see that girl? Do you see that boy?
Walking hand in hand? They're on top of the world.
Can you see that boy? Can you see that girl?
Kissing in the park. They're on top of the world.
I can see that girl. I can see that boy.
Walking…
HAPPY
Everybody asks me why I'm so happy
They will get the message when they see your face...
(C) 2011 Royal T Music
Buddy Holly's music has been very central to my life.
Sometimes I try to write a Buddy Holly song.
One night this lady, unbeknownst to me, on the verge of suicide, asked me to write a happy song for her. Instead of killing herself, she left her husband. Now she's married to someone else and is acting very happy, herself.
UPDATE: She killed…
HAPPY
Everybody asks me why I'm so happy
They will get the message when they see your face...
(C) 2011 Royal T Music
Buddy Holly's music has been very central to my life.
Sometimes I try to write a Buddy Holly song.
HAPPY
Everybody asks me why I'm so happy
They will get the message when they see your face...
(C) 2011 Royal T Music
Buddy Holly's music has been very central to my life.
Sometimes I try to write a Buddy Holly song.
I really REALLY like this . . . . I really dig the hard sound. This rocks . . . very Beatleseque in a good way.
Surprised I never checked out your stuff before now.
This is just plain terrifying! Musical imagery of truly epic proportion. I imagine they are hearing this in night skies over Libya tonight. Perhaps they'll stop murdering their citizens.
For a short clip of of a video of this:
https://vimeo.com/214337550/f68cc0c21b
This song made me a professional songwriter when George Sluizer, the director of THE VANISHING, put it in the movie by that name.
SWEET RAIN Key G
G…
For a short clip of of a video of this:
https://vimeo.com/214337550/f68cc0c21b
This song made me a professional songwriter when George Sluizer, the director of THE VANISHING, put it in the movie by that name.
SWEET RAIN Key G
G…
One night after three month of no rain, as we were driving home from singing at Gringos in Grapevine a splash of water hit the windshield.
I said to myself, "Sweet Rain."
I went home and wrote the song. It's on the soundtrack of a movie called…
I've been told that drowning is a dreamy way to go.
THE ANGELS CRIED "NO!"
He lived high on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
When she gave him a shove
And when he hit the valley deep
It must…
(C) 2011 Royal T Music.
LET IT GO 032011 Key - G
I do a lot of walkin' so I find a lot of stuff
I fill my pockets up with bolts and nuts
Once upon a while I find a diamond in the ruff
But mostly dimes and nickels in the ruts…
Probably anyone who plays the guitar could write this song....
Someone asked if I was actually in Spain in 2003. Actually, 2000. Working on the movie, THE STONE RAFT with George Sluizer, from a book by Jose Saramago.
Inspired by something Jenni…
I had this house I had been working on and I had all my movie making stuff in it. It burned down. That's sort of like this song but not...
WASTING OF YEARS by James Michael Taylor
I have a brain that I must keep busy
I have a heart with…
After Brook drowned.
Ra Byn did everything but rhythm guitar.
He must have been about 12.
Open 9th tuning...
Well, you say that you're lonely
I see that you are
Tell me, where have you been
Life ain't no lay pen
Yeah, you call it a…
Gwyn Henry
Meet Me at the Club-- darker than its exterior. I love it. Barbara and Peggy sound great! What a lot of pain must have been wrapped in those sassy harmonies. This song has a Bopcat feel,. musically--- apples that fell from the same tree, and didn't roll too far from ea other. Your vocals especially good in this.
BEAVERS AND WILLOWS
Capo @ 5 in C
FCG FC FCFG
F C G F C
Like beavers and willows
Bats and mosquitos
F) Toad C) frogs and F) flies (G
DA DA - E Am G C
Algae and oil spills
Shovels and coal hills
Black holes…
TWO POUNDS - (Diethylstilbestrol Daughters)
"DES, which was once prescribed to prevent miscarriages, caused obesity, rare vaginal tumors, infertility, and testicular growths among those exposed in utero." http://www.motherjones.com/environment…
I wrote this after I sang with a friend
at his mother's funeral.
He had always wondered
why he looked nothing like his brothers...
DOOR MAT
Key - A
A) My daddy treated Mama like a door mat
D) Me and little brother didn't like that…
I wrote this after I sang with a friend
at his mother's funeral.
He had always wondered
why he looked nothing like his brothers...
DOOR MAT
Key - A
A) My daddy treated Mama like a door mat
D) Me and little brother didn't like that…
I dreamed this song a while ago. Sort of a music circle in a pub. Lots of instruments and percussion and what not. I quite like it :)
(Bass, lyre, bodhran, bongos, shaker, 2 mandolin tracks, multiple clap tracks)
Here's an instrumental folk Celtic sort of tune I made today. Guitar, bass, pennywhistle, mandolin, bodhran.
Took about 4 hours to record all the parts properly. The result is a delightful minute and a half, I think!
A cover of Great Big Sea's cover of Ron Angel's song. I love both versions. I used guitar, bodhran, vocals.
Edit: reuploaded; fixed up the vocals a bit.
Messing around, playing a classic. Recorded on my phone. Lots of fun!
(Merle Travis, Tennesse Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash all did popular versions; probably a million others have played it at some point.)
It's a long-distance love song
Yes, a long-distance love song
I'll sing it just for you
I'll sing a long distance love song
When the night is long
And you've been gone from home
Sing a long-distance love song
Yeah a long-distance love…
When I was a kid, my dad was the preacher at the Church of Christ in Tehachapi, California. We lived in Palmdale, so we'd get up early on Sunday mornings, pile the 5 of us into our 1950 Chevy coupe and head up thru Lancaster and Mojave, over the…
There is nothing like the presence of a horse. The quiet understanding. The gentle strength.
Woodlake, California...1961. I had a horse. She was my friend.
There were times in my teens when Babe was the only being that did not judge me…
ADOBE & BLOOD
Thanks to David Kneller
for bringing up the subject
and creating that phrase:
ADOBE & BLOOD
I read a lotta stories about a lotta stuff
But I tell ya folks, I'll never read enough
To block out the memories what…
This is my adaptation of a poem by Rosemarie Kempton.
"I always felt that it was fitting that you turned the poem I wrote into a poignant hymn that captured the feeling of loss of a loved one. My words sprang from my attempts to understand…
Her real name isn't Luanne and she was so drunk when this all happened (tho she has a cd with this song on it) she has no idea it's about her.
Singing this song always makes me cry...
ABOUT LUANNE capo @ 2 in Am
Am G F E repeats
Luanne…
It’s an exceptional piece... I like pieces that “bother” and flip a phrase to a point... this one intrigues me....
You must keep writing James!!! Hope to cross paths again soon...
Blu (Sharon Walker)
The lyrics of this song,
as they pertain to plot,
are my exact memory of the event.
I had spoken to the kid maybe a minute before the "action" started about how the pressure of the water was very strong. He was nestled down with his back…
what awesome lyrics mate!
Reminds me of good old Robert Zimmerman... but it also doubles as metaphorical mastery!
The boy represents an issue within your community... one for which you are there, and MUST help... but which the community just sits back on, not really seeing the "problem" you are attempting to fix...
Powerful stuff, mate.
Love it. Mark Brookman
GHOST TOWN
Key C Capo @ 2 or whatever works for you...
C Em F G C
I live in a Ghost Town somewhere on the edge of space
C Em F G
Everything is dusty and everything is in it's place
Am Em F G C
All the doors hang open and when it rains…
...after reading John Steinbeck's IN DUBIOUS BATTLE and watching the John Ford movie of GRAPES OF WRATH. The opening and closing statements are quotes from the Preacher in the movie.
A friend said he wanted to do a video of this track. I…
Gwyn Henry
The Stienbeck excerpt: Especially the 2nd paragraph. My Gawd! I had forgotten how that man could write!!! I had forgotten why he is an icon among American writers,. Touched by the gods. As is your song, In Dubious Battle. It is an opus. imhop. If you had never written another song, just leaving this one would earn you a place in the echelons!! (OK, I'll calm down now.) These two pieces in combination have moved me greatly for their Truth. And so totally relevant today.
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Nice , i like your tunes lots man
Great song man , put a smile on my face
This is a nice song. I enjoyed it. LG
Love it! LG
Perfectly Taylored. Fits nicely!
Nice and lively...the glass is half full never empty...keep looking forward kinda song...love those Trumpets
Joyous!Like the trumpet....an announcment...
Yeahh!! I detect a pattern here..
Crumbs, that's stirring stuff! Really well done. What a track!
This is great. Lovely music and lyrics. Most tender.
Well, what can I say. This is happy. Nice one! You can rock it too!
I really REALLY like this . . . . I really dig the hard sound. This rocks . . . very Beatleseque in a good way. Surprised I never checked out your stuff before now.
This is just plain terrifying! Musical imagery of truly epic proportion. I imagine they are hearing this in night skies over Libya tonight. Perhaps they'll stop murdering their citizens.
Beautiful soulful piece.
Beautiful song! Soooo lovely!
Oh I lost this one, found it!!!
All you need now is an Irish accent and you are now a folky!! Welcome to the club!
Yeah, love yer chorus there. Great song!
Another lyricful gem from you JM.
tender...
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Gwyn Henry Meet Me at the Club-- darker than its exterior. I love it. Barbara and Peggy sound great! What a lot of pain must have been wrapped in those sassy harmonies. This song has a Bopcat feel,. musically--- apples that fell from the same tree, and didn't roll too far from ea other. Your vocals especially good in this.
Rocking the loops?
Bruce Balmer I listened to “My New Shorts.” Brilliant use of time. Like mini-oreos or something. Interesting production, nice vocals.
Holy cow. What a song. Michael Rehahn
Gwyn Henry Thanks for writing this, Jim.
"Powerful stuff." Ray Russell
Great "slap-back" feel.
Cool. I had to look up bodhran.
Love it when men sing these songs in unison. Well done.
Great old song, well done.
Very sweet. Nice solo.
That's some sweet guitar playing. Ray Russell
'Very good capture." Gwyn Henry
Visions and emotions that I haven't felt in a long time. Thank you so much. Jere Reiser
"EXCELLENT POINTED SONG RIGHT TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER!" -Don Law
That may be the most beautiful thing I ever heard. Breathtaking. Thanks for sharing. - Janet Fawcett
It’s an exceptional piece... I like pieces that “bother” and flip a phrase to a point... this one intrigues me.... You must keep writing James!!! Hope to cross paths again soon... Blu (Sharon Walker)
what awesome lyrics mate! Reminds me of good old Robert Zimmerman... but it also doubles as metaphorical mastery! The boy represents an issue within your community... one for which you are there, and MUST help... but which the community just sits back on, not really seeing the "problem" you are attempting to fix... Powerful stuff, mate. Love it. Mark Brookman
I ❤️ that song...Kavin Me too. One of his many good ones. JS Savage
Gwyn Henry The Stienbeck excerpt: Especially the 2nd paragraph. My Gawd! I had forgotten how that man could write!!! I had forgotten why he is an icon among American writers,. Touched by the gods. As is your song, In Dubious Battle. It is an opus. imhop. If you had never written another song, just leaving this one would earn you a place in the echelons!! (OK, I'll calm down now.) These two pieces in combination have moved me greatly for their Truth. And so totally relevant today.