PORTAL and HAPPINESS and TIME are three of the songs on my new CD, EUREKA. Short pieces.
TIME
There was a time when I figured my Chevy van would last forever
I guess that was back when I was about thirty
And there was a time when I thot…
key of C - no capo
We listen for years for words to explain ourselves. "I'm good but not THAT good," was such a moment for me. Good enough to stay in the game but never good enough to win.
Last night I kissed somebody
I kissed somebody…
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…
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…
ROCKING CHAIR
Well, I got one on the porch and I got one in the den
And just enough umph for the condition I'm in
I sit myself down and close my tired eyes
And I lean back. Go for a ride. "Rocking chair."
I rock off to sleep and I dream…
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…
This lady at the Tap-In in Grapevine said she didn't like this song. She asked me if I really feel this way. I said, "Not right now."
BORN
I curse and complain when I hear that refrain
They say. "Happiness comes from within."
If we are…
This lady at the Tap-In in Grapevine said she didn't like this song. She asked me if I really feel this way. I said, "Not right now."
BORN
I curse and complain when I hear that refrain
They say. "Happiness comes from within."
If we are…
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…
PORTAL and HAPPINESS and TIME are three of the songs on my new CD, EUREKA. Short pieces.
TIME
There was a time when I figured my Chevy van would last forever
I guess that was back when I was about thirty
And there was a time when I thot…
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…
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
James, I got so busy that I forgot you sent me notice on this. I hope I followed up and gave you the writer's name. I'm sorry if I haven't. It's an old children's book that I fell in love with.
Hope you are doing well.
Happy Thanksgiving
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…
This song is just what it is and says what it says.
It's where I am and where my hopes lie. It all just happens to fit into a song...
WHEN PEGGY COMES HOME - G
When Peggy comes home I’ll have the dishes put away
The floor will be swept…
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…
Something just broke and I think it's my heart
It wasn't an arrow. It wasn't a dart
It mighta been a meter that tore it apart
But, something just broke and I think it's my heart
G.
A bedside bomb with no alarm…
Growing up is hard.
For everyone.
I once had a Facebook Friend named Shannon Elizabeth Hardwick. A poet, from Midland, Texas, doing advanced studies at Sarah Lawrence. She was so good she could write a hundred pages about how she couldn…
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…
DOOR MAT
Key - A
A) My daddy treated Mama like a door mat
D) Me and little brother didn't like that
We E) never understood what was going A) down
My daddy was the guy to fix your tv
And he could fix a Fender or a Peavey
(But) Daddy…
DOOR MAT
Key - A
A) My daddy treated Mama like a door mat
D) Me and little brother didn't like that
We E) never understood what was going A) down
My daddy was the guy to fix your tv
And he could fix a Fender or a Peavey
(But) Daddy…
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.
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
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Yay, this is a diversion. Super!
Oh my, what a lovely song and I love the guitar too.
And a fave from me, what a great song.
love the warm real feel to this ..very entertaining.
Master of the perfect delivery. Wonderful stuff.
Well, that may be so, but you've still got it.
Beautiful melody here, funny how things come to us. Sweet lyrics too.
This is awesome!!! I wish I'd done this one.
Well, I have to give you credit for the unusual subject matter. Very well played and sung and great lyrics too.
Another great tune. You could do any of Neil Youngs stuff to a T.
Great tune.
Nice work JMT!
Good to see you back here, James. Great songs as always!
I love this track, and Ms Taylor's voice.
James, I got so busy that I forgot you sent me notice on this. I hope I followed up and gave you the writer's name. I'm sorry if I haven't. It's an old children's book that I fell in love with. Hope you are doing well. Happy Thanksgiving
Nice song..
Ah, Karma then! Lovely set of tracks here. Thanks for the info.
Who is the lady with the beautiful voice? This song is wonderful.
This is just so great on so many levels!
Good call Alex, this is spot on.
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
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.
"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