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…
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…
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 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…
Loved it. I used to ride my Suzuki 750 up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Barbara to Big Sur/Monterey so this song brought back memories. We road all over the central coast. Once we rode out to the site of James Dean's fatal accident. Thanks for posting.
MOTHER'S EYES
I used to chide my mother
She saw the loss in every face
The cemetery. The old folks home
along the way
I used to laugh at Mother
She saw the pain in every eye
Now time has passed
and Mom is gone and here am I
And…
Jim and I both loved listening to this beautiful song. Besides enjoying the tight harmony we identified with your mother's words - our mothers also used to say "...some day you will understand."
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.
This is my mom's story.
Lula Teeters got off to
a pretty rough start.
She finally turned it
all lose last November.
May she rest in peace.
SISTER SAID
Daddy was a miner. He worked himself to death
Company said he killed himself, but…
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.
My favorite song by Jane Bowers
She was still alive back when I 1st learned
this song from the Kingston Trio.
I didn't know, back then, that I could have met her.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG by Jane Bowers
When I was young and dreams were new…
LAMENT FOR WILD BILL in C - Capo @ 3
The moon shone like diamonds on mirrors in puddles shaped like horse's feet
Deadwood was quiet. The smoke had all settled. The blood was dry.
Young Jack McCall sat awake in his cell, alone and quiet…
This one is different from you usual. As we've discussed, most of your songs focus on personal experiences. This starts out as a western song and then becomes personal, I'm going to have to get the back story.
Maia was from Georgia. The Georgia that was part of the the USSR. She drew pictures of her sisters. She lived on orange juice and tea. (Horns by my brother, John.)
MEETING MAIA
Where the tram stops in front of the Van Gough Museum, I waited…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here's another song from 1994, with a sparkling new "Andrew Russe Band" arrangement fresh from the broom-cupboard.
Like most of my songs, it was written with an acoustic guitar, a pen, and an A4 pad. The ones…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here's another song from 1994, with a sparkling new "Andrew Russe Band" arrangement fresh from the broom-cupboard.
Like most of my songs, it was written with an acoustic guitar, a pen, and an A4 pad. The ones…
Hey, I was just describing the love of my life. The girl I write all those sad songs about...gone, 13 years now and she is still ever-present in my thoughts.
WHEN WE GET TO COLORADO
Capo @ 5 in C positions
C G
Thirty one years in this city
Thirty one yers on this street
Fighting in the morning
Fighting at night
This place has the smell of defeat…
Jim Lamb said, I just listened to James Michael James Michael Taylor’s song, Colorado... just a random selection of his music, I want to do a production of that song... I tell you what, Jeff Prince, you have one extraordinary songwriting friend there!!!
Jeff Prince said, Taylor is the songwriting king of the jungle around these parts
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here is the first reply to In Your Hands.
I say "first" because I've found another one, When I Try To Be Me, that Mrs R says I have to do too... but that's unlikely to be the next one I post because I'm working…
I'll try again. lost the comment. I said, I love the clean guitar and vocal. Why don't we ask more questions. We make such lousy assumptions. Sometimes e find out too late.
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here is the first reply to In Your Hands.
I say "first" because I've found another one, When I Try To Be Me, that Mrs R says I have to do too... but that's unlikely to be the next one I post because I'm working…
(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…
Love is always a teeny bopper thing. You capture it here. I have learned never to dismiss a song just because someone dismiss it, too. I had no idea how beloved I PLAY C would become. And thank you for listening commenting on my Shorts.
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And this is the last of the little threesome of In Your Hands, Little Thing, and this one, When I Try To Be Me.
It's in the key of 4th fret and was written just over a month later than the other two, on 19th March…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here's another song from 1994, with a sparkling new "Andrew Russe Band" arrangement fresh from the broom-cupboard.
Like most of my songs, it was written with an acoustic guitar, a pen, and an A4 pad. The ones…
A track over twenty years in the making. I came up with it sitting in front of the TV with an unplugged borrowed Rickenbacker 360 (thanks, Mark). The Santana vibe just happened. I made a four track cassette recording of it just to get it down…
Originally recorded for my 2019 RPM Challenge album, "The Dark Side of the Moo." This is how I cry musically.
I added some verbs, an additional minor organ line, tweaked the bass, and remixed it on 09.05.20.
You know this story the apple tree, the snake.
it takes Hope and latin drums to kill a snake
don't leave home without your hand drum and you will thrive
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…
Guest (47.189.109.204) said Thursday I love that you don't hold back and anything goes. I never know what's going to jump out of that brain of yours! Love the arrangement, the harmonies and nature! Fun and short. I think I could have gone a little longer, but I'll just play it, awgain or put it on a loop if it will let me!! Write on!!! Thanks for the share!! Connie
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…
Andrew Russe (86.155.32.98) said Thursday Short but very sweet... These short ones encourage me to add all sorts of extra meaning myself as I'm listening. That's kinda what happens when we listen to songs anyway - no matter how much the lyrics are designed to lead us to certain conclusions or "points of view"... a song never really says what the songwriter thinks it says ... but these short ones encourage this "listener completes the song" process even more, they let my mind run free ... love it.
BEAVERS AND WILLOWS
Like beavers and willows
Bats and mosquitos
Toad frogs and flies
Like algae and oil spills
Shovels and coal hills
Black holes and light
(C) 2020 Royal T Music
Guest (47.189.109.204) said Thursday I love that you don't hold back and anything goes. I never know what's going to jump out of that brain of yours! Love the arrangement, the harmonies and nature! Fun and short. I think I could have gone a little longer, but I'll just play it, awgain or put it on a loop if it will let me!! Write on!!! Thanks for the share!!
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…
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…
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
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……..
These are like little audio poems which create a rich visual idea in my head when I hear them.
These are great songs.
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...
Loved it. I used to ride my Suzuki 750 up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Barbara to Big Sur/Monterey so this song brought back memories. We road all over the central coast. Once we rode out to the site of James Dean's fatal accident. Thanks for posting.
Jim and I both loved listening to this beautiful song. Besides enjoying the tight harmony we identified with your mother's words - our mothers also used to say "...some day you will understand."
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.
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.
Deanie Hamilton Berry That was beautiful James, and the harmony was a very nice touch.
I'm going to bug you for chords on this one.
This one is different from you usual. As we've discussed, most of your songs focus on personal experiences. This starts out as a western song and then becomes personal, I'm going to have to get the back story.
Maia Simonia You woke up my old memories… Thank you James
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Exactly!
Hey, I was just describing the love of my life. The girl I write all those sad songs about...gone, 13 years now and she is still ever-present in my thoughts.
Jim Lamb said, I just listened to James Michael James Michael Taylor’s song, Colorado... just a random selection of his music, I want to do a production of that song... I tell you what, Jeff Prince, you have one extraordinary songwriting friend there!!! Jeff Prince said, Taylor is the songwriting king of the jungle around these parts
I'll try again. lost the comment. I said, I love the clean guitar and vocal. Why don't we ask more questions. We make such lousy assumptions. Sometimes e find out too late.
Great clean guitar and vocal. How oblivious we can be. We make assumptions. Why don't we ask more questions?
Love is always a teeny bopper thing. You capture it here. I have learned never to dismiss a song just because someone dismiss it, too. I had no idea how beloved I PLAY C would become. And thank you for listening commenting on my Shorts.
"I want you to be happy I long for you to be free..." That scares me. It sounds like, "Goodbye." Love the clean guitar sound.
Love how you g from the simple to the huge...great guitars. And the lyric, so intense.
I kept expecting a vocalist...
You really capture the sadness...
Yousra Fouani Beautiful.
"Sweet." Deborah Andruscavage
"Insightful and beautiful." Rosemarie Kempton
I like this. I need to learn those chord changes.
LISTE!!
Guest (47.189.109.204) said Thursday I love that you don't hold back and anything goes. I never know what's going to jump out of that brain of yours! Love the arrangement, the harmonies and nature! Fun and short. I think I could have gone a little longer, but I'll just play it, awgain or put it on a loop if it will let me!! Write on!!! Thanks for the share!! Connie
Andrew Russe (86.155.32.98) said Thursday Short but very sweet... These short ones encourage me to add all sorts of extra meaning myself as I'm listening. That's kinda what happens when we listen to songs anyway - no matter how much the lyrics are designed to lead us to certain conclusions or "points of view"... a song never really says what the songwriter thinks it says ... but these short ones encourage this "listener completes the song" process even more, they let my mind run free ... love it.
Guest (47.189.109.204) said Thursday I love that you don't hold back and anything goes. I never know what's going to jump out of that brain of yours! Love the arrangement, the harmonies and nature! Fun and short. I think I could have gone a little longer, but I'll just play it, awgain or put it on a loop if it will let me!! Write on!!! Thanks for the share!!
Greg Connor (208.187.116.207) said Thursday Short and sweet! An impression of a thought to be completed by the listener, maybe.
Colleen Dillon (75.73.189.201) said Thursday Ahhhhhh! The great outdoors....