In the corner stands a guitar that plays only sad songs
Give me when a friend lost his wife
And this fine leather jacket came in a package
The day after he took his own life
In a bar down in Austin, he was drinkin' and boastin'
This ring…
In the corner stands a guitar that plays only sad songs
Give me when a friend lost his wife
And this fine leather jacket came in a package
The day after he took his own life
In a bar down in Austin, he was drinkin' and boastin'
This ring…
THE SIGN
The sign on the fence at the signal
Was whippin' in the wind
I felt on the dash for a pencil
And a Taco Bell napkin
The naked prayer of a family
Was written on the tarp
Rain-drenched and torn by the weather
The message, razor…
My mom is 91 and still holding on.
The people that help her make it thru
each day have learned that there is no
sense in arguing with her about who they
are or when it is...thus the song.
MAMA HAS A TIME MACHINE key - Em
Mama has a…
Anyone see the pelicans and the dead fish floating in the oil? (In the midst of the Great Gulf Leak.)
I'M NOT GONNA CRY
Oil-covered pelicans smother
Feathered brother.
I'm not gonna cry.
I'm not gonna cry
Turtles and dolphins and…
What's to say? That we actually have anything to do with what our government does? Ha! Even Woody Guthrie knew the truth. They just leave that verse out of his "anthem".
No Man's Land
Easy come, easy go. Nothing lasts for long
Pay your…
THE LEAP
Well, a man took a walk down a trail with his buddies. Everybody came along.
And they came to a cravis with a pumas at the bottom and he was singing this song
"Well, you can go back or you can leap forward, or you can leave it up…
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…
You look out the window and the creek is swelling. Slowly crossing the lawn and heading up the driveway.... Time to get the lawnmower to higher ground.
TODAY IT’S GONNA RAIN - Key C
G
Today it’s gonna…
THE LEAP
Well, a man took a walk down a trail with his buddies. Everybody came along.
And they came to a cravis with a pumas at the bottom and he was singing this song
"Well, you can go back or you can leap forward, or you can leave it up…
You look out the window and the creek is swelling. Slowly crossing the lawn and heading up the driveway.... Time to get the lawnmower to higher ground.
TODAY IT’S GONNA RAIN - Key C
G
Today it’s gonna…
You look out the window and the creek is swelling. Slowly crossing the lawn and heading up the driveway.... Time to get the lawnmower to higher ground.
TODAY IT’S GONNA RAIN - Key C
G
Today it’s gonna…
You look out the window and the creek is swelling. Slowly crossing the lawn and heading up the driveway.... Time to get the lawnmower to higher ground.
TODAY IT’S GONNA RAIN - Key C
G
Today it’s gonna…
You look out the window and the creek is swelling. Slowly crossing the lawn and heading up the driveway.... Time to get the lawnmower to higher ground.
TODAY IT’S GONNA RAIN - Key C
G
Today it’s gonna…
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…
Talking about listening to "criticism:" A producer who lives down toward Houston called me one evening after he listened to , MY NEW SHORTS and he gave me advise on how I could and should "go ahead and finish," those songs. He had detailed suggestions for every one of them. I listened and thanked him for taking the time to listen and respond. Everything he said was sound advice about how to expand each of the short clips...one thing though, he missed the point of what I was doing. One GETS IT or one DOESN'T GET IT.
This Jack Hardy song is about one of Kerrvill's favorites. Gone now. Had a weekly song circle and spigetti feast at his apartment in New York for years. I nail his voice at a place or two. I also step a bit across the worshipful attitude line everyone had for him. He and I had an immediate connection. One night I was singing in some east Texas town and he was there, so, he got to hear my song before we lost him. Maybe the fact I was older than him allowed me a certain playfulness.
When it becomes apparent that the poor inheriting the earth means they become dirt when they die,
The Rich Man's Prayer - Em to D
I kneel down on a calloused knee
Hold my children close to me
And I pray The Rich Man's Prayer
It's…
I kneel down on a calloused knee
Hold my children close to me
And I pray The Rich Man's Prayer
It's not one that Jesus spoke
That one turned into a joke
So I pray The Rich Man's Prayer
Not the prayer that Jesus said
Not, "This day our daily bread."
No, no, I pray The Rich Man's Prayer
God only answers The Rich Man's Prayer
I kneel down on a calloused knee
Hold my children close to me
And I pray The Rich Man's Prayer
(C) 2011 Royal T Music
THE COUCH - key - C
https://fb.watch/lIEUn31mBZ/
https://www.facebook.com/100054814402634/videos/2856132984527543/
1-C 4-F
Today we put the couch out by the road
5-G…
THE COUCH - key - C
https://fb.watch/lIEUn31mBZ/
https://www.facebook.com/100054814402634/videos/2856132984527543/
1-C 4-F
Today we put the couch out by the road
5-G…
THE COUCH - key - C
https://fb.watch/lIEUn31mBZ/
https://www.facebook.com/100054814402634/videos/2856132984527543/
1-C 4-F
Today we put the couch out by the road
5-G…
THE COUCH - key - C
https://fb.watch/lIEUn31mBZ/
https://www.facebook.com/100054814402634/videos/2856132984527543/
1-C 4-F
Today we put the couch out by the road
5-G…
THE COUCH - key - C
https://fb.watch/lIEUn31mBZ/
https://www.facebook.com/100054814402634/videos/2856132984527543/
1-C 4-F
Today we put the couch out by the road
5-G…
THE COUCH - key - C
https://fb.watch/lIEUn31mBZ/
https://www.facebook.com/100054814402634/videos/2856132984527543/
1-C 4-F
Today we put the couch out by the road
5-G…
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…
I wrote this song with Lisa Aschmann. CAPO @ 3
Video - https://www.facebook.com/100001011201926/videos/1285714588695761/
HICKORY STIX
Dm Am
Billy Mac and Don McCray drive to work each dawn at six
Down the mountain to the factory, makes…
As I wrote the verses, Lisa would guide me by saying, "No, that one is another song, a song about the depletion of the hickory forest." Like that. When we finished the 4th verse Lisa declared it done and we danced around and hugged each other...but later, I said, "Nothing has happened. We have just set the scene. So I wrote the next verse...and we danced and hugged each other again. On the last verse I was stumped for a meaningful rhyme with "trucks" and she came up with "deluxe." Then I said, "We really need a refrain/chorus. The next morning Lisa sang me three notes. Said that was the chorus. Instead of humming or "oooing" the notes I did the "aaaooo" and we knew that was right, so, we danced again and hugged each other. (Maybe not.)
Well, I was up on the ladder cleaning the leaves out of the gutters and this song came to me. What could I do? I climbed down and wrote this song.
YOUR VOICE
G Gyp 4 Bar 5 Gyp 5
I hear your voice and I go…
DEAR PEGGY
Dear Peggy,I thot you'd like to know
That blue tile in our bathroom you said would have to go
I replaced with the slate that we bought at Home Depot
mmmmm mmmmm
Dear Peggy, The heat has killed the lawn
And water is so expensive…
My motto is INWARD THRU THE FOG. One day about a month ago, Laura 'Taylor' Whitfield told me I should, "write that song." Thinking back on a fog-bound night in California, I wrote it. Norman Pilcher, a friend from Texas, and I were headed north…
Paul Smith
Fun song. There seems to be at least 5 comments on Alonetone. Some from way back too. Smith Yes. I just saw that. Don't know why I didn't see them earlier...
My mom is 91 and still holding on.
The people that help her make it thru
each day have learned that there is no
sense in arguing with her about who they
are or when it is...thus the song.
MAMA HAS A TIME MACHINE key - Em
Mama has a…
My mom is 91 and still holding on.
The people that help her make it thru
each day have learned that there is no
sense in arguing with her about who they
are or when it is...thus the song.
MAMA HAS A TIME MACHINE key - Em
Mama has a…
My mom is 91 and still holding on.
The people that help her make it thru
each day have learned that there is no
sense in arguing with her about who they
are or when it is...thus the song.
MAMA HAS A TIME MACHINE key - Em
Mama has a…
BIG FAT HORSE
I wish I had a big fat horse. Corn to feed him on.
Pretty little girl to say at home. Feed him when
I’m gone. Wish I had a big fat horse...
I wish I had a mountain top to look out to the sea
I wish I had a mountain top to…
Tony Desmuke
I just listened to the title cut. All I can say is WOW. You have an exceptional way with words. The music was really nice too. Loved the banjo in the last verse.
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
this is a well crafted piece
love the sound of this one
you are truely gifted!
your vocals remind me of Neil Young on this and many of your other pieces - love your stuff man!!
great tune, lyrics, harmonies!
love the message here
love your wit and your writing skills - both lyrically and musically - you put me in mind of John Prine a bit.
this put me in mind of Bo Didly a bit
a fun piece
very interesting - different - a little wacky - but I like it!
good song all around - well crafted!
I can relate to the "about" description :) Sweet tune, love the backing vox a lot!
This is classic! Very cool. "Time is meddlesome and cruel" Love that!
Good stuff James!
Good song! I like the talky bits and the echo vocals.
Hope your heads above water my friend, great tune!
I really dig that line: I'm a loner can't take me homer man, this reminds me of Neil Young. great sh*t!
interesting.
this is gorgeous stuff. is this original?
oh yeah. nice stuff JMT!
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Talking about listening to "criticism:" A producer who lives down toward Houston called me one evening after he listened to , MY NEW SHORTS and he gave me advise on how I could and should "go ahead and finish," those songs. He had detailed suggestions for every one of them. I listened and thanked him for taking the time to listen and respond. Everything he said was sound advice about how to expand each of the short clips...one thing though, he missed the point of what I was doing. One GETS IT or one DOESN'T GET IT.
This Jack Hardy song is about one of Kerrvill's favorites. Gone now. Had a weekly song circle and spigetti feast at his apartment in New York for years. I nail his voice at a place or two. I also step a bit across the worshipful attitude line everyone had for him. He and I had an immediate connection. One night I was singing in some east Texas town and he was there, so, he got to hear my song before we lost him. Maybe the fact I was older than him allowed me a certain playfulness.
I kneel down on a calloused knee Hold my children close to me And I pray The Rich Man's Prayer It's not one that Jesus spoke That one turned into a joke So I pray The Rich Man's Prayer Not the prayer that Jesus said Not, "This day our daily bread." No, no, I pray The Rich Man's Prayer God only answers The Rich Man's Prayer I kneel down on a calloused knee Hold my children close to me And I pray The Rich Man's Prayer (C) 2011 Royal T Music
Nola Lloyd Griffiths Wolley A story in a song - loved this ❤️
Roland Brown That is beautifully done, Jim! Seriously vivid storytelling it with genuine pathos. ❤️ I’m sharing.
Linda Linder I really enjoyed this song. A story song. They are the best. You played and sang it Very nicely. Thank you.
Marion Flowering-Sun Great old couch tribute…old years of memories
Ken McIntyre Love this
Naad Kaur Khalsa OMG...you are way to cute! That was just so adorable and real....laughter and tears all at once
Shawnee Smith Ray James Michael Taylor Beautiful and sad at the same time.
Chris Harper Love all of the short songs! I think my favorite was The Recliner……..
As I wrote the verses, Lisa would guide me by saying, "No, that one is another song, a song about the depletion of the hickory forest." Like that. When we finished the 4th verse Lisa declared it done and we danced around and hugged each other...but later, I said, "Nothing has happened. We have just set the scene. So I wrote the next verse...and we danced and hugged each other again. On the last verse I was stumped for a meaningful rhyme with "trucks" and she came up with "deluxe." Then I said, "We really need a refrain/chorus. The next morning Lisa sang me three notes. Said that was the chorus. Instead of humming or "oooing" the notes I did the "aaaooo" and we knew that was right, so, we danced again and hugged each other. (Maybe not.)
Beautiful song. Theo Carracino
Belinda Stephens James, your song breaks my heart.
Paul Smith Fun song. There seems to be at least 5 comments on Alonetone. Some from way back too. Smith Yes. I just saw that. Don't know why I didn't see them earlier...
Naad Kaur Khalsa James Michael Taylor yup super cool Like
Cool song. Karen Mason
Leslie Young James Michael Taylor I like that a lot.
Tony Desmuke I just listened to the title cut. All I can say is WOW. You have an exceptional way with words. The music was really nice too. Loved the banjo in the last verse.
Leslie Young James Michael Taylor That is very pretty but sad.