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…
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…
MAN THAT I AM - Key Dm
Dm
Train pulls out the station and the shades are all drawn
Cold steel bites my ankles and I am on my way home
G
I would jump out of that window. Risk a bullet in my back
Dm
But I'm shackled to a bunk…
BEDROOM AND A BATH
At the end of the hall
is a bedroom and a bath
A place he never goes
Way back there,
buried in the past
but she'll never know
When the kids moved out
he took one of their rooms
He made the bed
Closed the shade…
James Michael Taylor
Roland Brown Thank you for listening and commenting, Roland. Especially, Room @ the end of the hall. You are the 1st to mention that one. I debated putting that one on the list.
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Roland Brown
James Michael Taylor That is , IMHO, a powerful mind journey. I was enthralled by it.
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BEDROOM AND A BATH
At the end of the hall
is a bedroom and a bath
A place he never goes
Way back there,
buried in the past
but she'll never know
When the kids moved out
he took one of their rooms
He made the bed
Closed the shade…
Roland Brown
I sort of slowed down a bit weekend before last and listened to and enjoyed “My New Shorts”. On first listen I was particularly struck by Room at the End of the Hall (love that one!), Fireflies (thoughtful), Cattails and Butterflies, Broken Cookies and Day Old Bread, and Everyone I Need to Talk To. Well done!
This one explains itself...for Eric.
WORLD OF HURT Capo @ 3 Key G
G
A friend of mine called yesterday
Em
To try to cheer me up
C
He said I should be happy
D
Things could be much worse
He told me he was…
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…
VIDEO - https://www.facebook.com/100001468692811/videos/1120270078888215/
https://www.facebook.com/true.taylor.3/videos/397153049918748
GHOST TOWN capo @ 2 in C
C Em F G C
I…
Naad Kaur Khalsa
Well that was just gorgeous...beautiful poetry in its own right...all the way through, lovley lyric, lovley playing polished and easy tonkick bk to despite the ghostly disappearing act...which actually I quite enjoyed
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James Michael Taylor
Naad Kaur Khalsa Thank you for listening and commenting...
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Naad Kaur Khalsa
James Michael Taylor my absolute pleasure...was really fun...you're in TX right? What town? Your whole vibe is so there...it just has me grinning from ear to ear ....so much of the American I love...from my uniquely un-American vantage point
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…
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post, where we would divide up into groups and have a new song ready to perform in one hour) was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. When I got home I had the Tejas/Chaos…
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post)
was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. I had the Tejas/Chaos rhyme and when I rhymed "confetti" with Texas City, I had the local. Once I saw her on that shrimp boat it wrote itself.
LANCASTER STREET
Midnight in Cowtown. 90 degrees
Too hot for a blanket. Too hot for a sheet
The trash on the sidewalk is trying to sleep
Breathing the bus fumes on Lancaster Street
Sunshine brings tacos. Sunshine brings beans.
Sunshine…
Connie Pittman Ramsey
Jesus, James! Brilliant. Powerful. Heart-wrenching. Thank you. I had not heard this album!!! I will have to listen later, but thank you, thank you for sharing this one! We should be ashamed. I know I am.
I never sing this song the same two times in a row.
The lyric below is pretty close to how I sing it now.
Listening again, this is an awful version of this song...
I have my recording machine working again...I must redo this.
I PLAY C…
One day as I was turning into my driveway I saw Rita on her porch. She's a lot like me.
AL & RITA Capo @2 in C
C stepping down to F
Al was a smoker. He's dead now, of course
Al has Alzheimer's. Alcohol made it worse
D stepping down…
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
As for the song, you did a nice job of imagery and I wasn't sure what was really happening. I'm used to the stories being biographical and the "and then he died" threw me a little. I don't think it flows off the tongue like some of your others, but I like it. - Lee Snaples
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
I just listened to your ' I mistook it for the moon' I wanted to comment and lost the post so I'm commenting g here. You are such an amazing writer. Karen Lee
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
Randy Brown and I did a little co-write this evening and this is what we came up with...
I MISTOOK IT FOR THE MOON Capo @ 2 Key D (Play in C positions)
I was coasting across West Texas/Had my top down, it was late at night
I caught a coyote…
Just in time for St Patrick's Day . . . . And with any luck we might have a bonus "LIVE" Leprechaun track coming soon. The Minnesota Coffee table met and recorded a fun version last night.
________________________________________
I was…
We have a great bunch of singer/songwriters and their beloved here in Cowtown. You would love being here and you would be loved. Your little creative contingency feels like a more intimate group and more involved in projects together. It gives me the sense of warmth on a winter day in an old log cabin, too cold to go out so you all just make the best of it. I wonder what kind of treats you all bring. What kind of liquids you share... How far you travel to get together. We had what we call a house concert night before last at one of "our" houses. Levi Ray and his dad and husband/wife duo. We all put some money in the kitty and each played for about an hour. After, we always do a little song circle for the rest of us. Tamales, chips and salsa, ice water and wine, cheese cubes and cookies. I would guess many of us drive 15/20 miles. Starts about 7 and we get home about midnight. We also have a weekly, Wednesday evening song circle around a fire pit in the patio at a biker bar called Dirty Water. Everyone plays along. Girls and guys. Some of us go back many years.
If Texas Water had heard this when we were in our hayday (sic) we would have done this one up in three-part harmony. I'm sitting here singing along. Great song for a Fort Worth Saloon.
In 1984 George Sluizer, a Dutch director filmed RED DESERT PENITENTIARY in and around Sweetwater, Texas. This is the theme song of the lead character, Danny McMann. I played that role in the movie and wrote the music to the film.
Video at:https…
IF I WAS A LUTHERAN - capo @ 2 in C
If I was a Lutheran I might have married Dodie Harris
Learned hill-side irrigation and I'd have learned to weld
And all the city fathers would have slapped me on the shoulder
And all the city mothers wished…
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 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…
Barabara's voice was perfect for your song, " Sweet Rain". Her voice reminds me of a cross between Linda Rondstat and an old friendgiel of mine.... Lazarus
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 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…
Capo @ 2 in D (E) Dropped D tuning
Actually, it was almost two years. 1965-67.
Leavenworth, Kansas U S Army prison. I played the organ at the daily Protestant chapel. Took dictation and typed letters for the Protestant chaplain. Wrote 2-page…
That's the date I recorded it. My prison number was 41515. My army number was RA 19845014.
Enter
You sent
RA stood for Regular Army.
Enter
You sent
It interested me from the 1st that it started with 1984.
Capo @ 2 in D (E) Dropped D tuning
Actually, it was almost two years. 1965-67.
Leavenworth, Kansas U S Army prison. I played the organ at the daily Protestant chapel. Took dictation and typed letters for the Protestant chaplain. Wrote 2-page…
Hauntingly True
Prison is exactly like that.
Fantastic Song
Another #1 Hit
Enter
Kat
Love love love It!
Enter
Kat
Kat Angel
112814 .. was that ur of number?
Capo @ 2 in D (E) Dropped D tuning
Actually, it was almost two years. 1965-67.
Leavenworth, Kansas U S Army prison. I played the organ at the daily Protestant chapel. Took dictation and typed letters for the Protestant chaplain. Wrote 2-page…
As If It Really Matters - A A J Russe
Written 16th January 1999
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
Crumbs, even this is 23 years old!
We used it as a set-opener in the last band I was in.
I've been trying to make…
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
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
Maia...not really… but partly..
"I listened to that song and loved it." Scott Grace
James Michael Taylor Roland Brown Thank you for listening and commenting, Roland. Especially, Room @ the end of the hall. You are the 1st to mention that one. I debated putting that one on the list. Like Reply3h Roland Brown James Michael Taylor That is , IMHO, a powerful mind journey. I was enthralled by it. Like
Roland Brown I sort of slowed down a bit weekend before last and listened to and enjoyed “My New Shorts”. On first listen I was particularly struck by Room at the End of the Hall (love that one!), Fireflies (thoughtful), Cattails and Butterflies, Broken Cookies and Day Old Bread, and Everyone I Need to Talk To. Well done!
Gerald Ray Lovely my friend
I really like this song. I don't remember it if have heard it. Maybe just now I understand it. Time presents new perspectives and lessons.
Naad Kaur Khalsa Well that was just gorgeous...beautiful poetry in its own right...all the way through, lovley lyric, lovley playing polished and easy tonkick bk to despite the ghostly disappearing act...which actually I quite enjoyed Like ReplyHide2h Active James Michael Taylor Naad Kaur Khalsa Thank you for listening and commenting... Like Reply1h Active Naad Kaur Khalsa James Michael Taylor my absolute pleasure...was really fun...you're in TX right? What town? Your whole vibe is so there...it just has me grinning from ear to ear ....so much of the American I love...from my uniquely un-American vantage point
thank you James for sharing that with me. Hope you don't mind if I share it further. Judith
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
The story our song that night (Songwriter night, Tuesday, at The Post) was about railroads and a girl from San Antone. I had the Tejas/Chaos rhyme and when I rhymed "confetti" with Texas City, I had the local. Once I saw her on that shrimp boat it wrote itself.
Connie Pittman Ramsey Jesus, James! Brilliant. Powerful. Heart-wrenching. Thank you. I had not heard this album!!! I will have to listen later, but thank you, thank you for sharing this one! We should be ashamed. I know I am.
Stefan Prigmore James Michael Taylor thank YOU for writing such a powerful song and for letting me sing it
https://www.facebook.com/richard.vannoy.77/videos/1278352819609892/ Violet's Al & Rita live...
As for the song, you did a nice job of imagery and I wasn't sure what was really happening. I'm used to the stories being biographical and the "and then he died" threw me a little. I don't think it flows off the tongue like some of your others, but I like it. - Lee Snaples
I just listened to your ' I mistook it for the moon' I wanted to comment and lost the post so I'm commenting g here. You are such an amazing writer. Karen Lee
Steve Satterwhite this. is. great.
Lazarus Knight I don't quite understand what happened, but that doesn't diminish my appreciation of this song.
We have a great bunch of singer/songwriters and their beloved here in Cowtown. You would love being here and you would be loved. Your little creative contingency feels like a more intimate group and more involved in projects together. It gives me the sense of warmth on a winter day in an old log cabin, too cold to go out so you all just make the best of it. I wonder what kind of treats you all bring. What kind of liquids you share... How far you travel to get together. We had what we call a house concert night before last at one of "our" houses. Levi Ray and his dad and husband/wife duo. We all put some money in the kitty and each played for about an hour. After, we always do a little song circle for the rest of us. Tamales, chips and salsa, ice water and wine, cheese cubes and cookies. I would guess many of us drive 15/20 miles. Starts about 7 and we get home about midnight. We also have a weekly, Wednesday evening song circle around a fire pit in the patio at a biker bar called Dirty Water. Everyone plays along. Girls and guys. Some of us go back many years.
If Texas Water had heard this when we were in our hayday (sic) we would have done this one up in three-part harmony. I'm sitting here singing along. Great song for a Fort Worth Saloon.
Em LeFever Comedy so dry, you might forget to laugh.
Markolapogous Saurus I really like this.
Barbara White Lane Oh how I miss her voice.
Barabara's voice was perfect for your song, " Sweet Rain". Her voice reminds me of a cross between Linda Rondstat and an old friendgiel of mine.... Lazarus
Very rich and beautiful - Kat Angel
Tim Tandy Wonderful song on so many levels - the lyrics, melody, harmonies, instrumentals. Mighty fine.............and timely!
That's the date I recorded it. My prison number was 41515. My army number was RA 19845014. Enter You sent RA stood for Regular Army. Enter You sent It interested me from the 1st that it started with 1984.
Hauntingly True Prison is exactly like that. Fantastic Song Another #1 Hit Enter Kat Love love love It! Enter Kat Kat Angel 112814 .. was that ur of number?
Kat Angel James Michael Taylor please make your song shareable. It gave me chills....so good!
Love it. Not used to you and that acoustic guitar. Sounds solid with your voice. If it’s really like you say it is, there’s no need to worry..."