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…
Dad wanted me to write him some funeral music. This is it. He's still alive at 91 and sings this song to himself and tears come to his eyes. I have a video of Dad and me singing a duet of this song.
EULOGY
He grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma…
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…
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT Key G (open G tuning GGDGBD)
Also, called THE BUG SONG
On Feathers in the Wind album
They’re flying in from miles around - C
They circle and they settle down – Bm
They sit and feel the world go round with you – Am…
About "If I'd Been A Lutheran *"
Dodie told me not to use her real name.
C Csus C Csus
C Csus C
If I had been a Lutheran I might have married
Csus
Dodie Harris…
...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…
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…
HOME
(Am D) or (F C)
VERSE 1.
Where the (G) windmill sings to the mocking bird
And the (CM7) prairie wind, without a word
(Am) Whispers thru tall (D) grass, I’ll be (G) home
(F C G) or (Am D)
VERSE 2.
Where the butter cups and…
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.
Seasons
OsCKilO
Changing Room 2013
What is the Earth without the wind
To turn the soil
To let the water in
When it comes
At the moment of the rain
Those cracks the wind swept
Now left to drink the whole sky in
Till its bubble rise a top on…
Dear Listener, Thank you for your comment. It's a brand new song and still being written. Your comment helps me figure out what needs to be done to make the song understandable.
I read Siddhartha when I was young and tho it promised a beautiful mate it also promised the loss of that beautiful mate and ending life alone. For some reason that frightened me at the time and sure enough, 28 years with my beautiful mate and she walked out...
FEATHERS IN THE WIND is about a high school girlfriend, dead now. But Keren is still alive.
I look forward to hearing your music. j mt
First installment of a record of "experimental" tracks, mostly me doing weird stuff around the house and at some point deciding to record "that". Well, in fact that's how most of my music gets done, but well, you get the point. Don't say I didn…
The first version of this is on Songs of The Heart. This version was written around 9/11 and is a plea for America to hold on to God, not move away from Him.
The first version of this is on Songs of The Heart. This version was written around 9/11 and is a plea for America to hold on to God, not move away from Him.
This is one of the saddest must beautiful songs I have ever heard. Listening to it over and over. A love song to a love that has forsaken you. Yet you cling.Yet you hope. Yet you believe.
The first version of this is on Songs of The Heart. This version was written around 9/11 and is a plea for America to hold on to God, not move away from Him.
The first version of this is on Songs of The Heart. This version was written around 9/11 and is a plea for America to hold on to God, not move away from Him.
This is about Mary, the Mother of God and mother of us all. For those who aren't Catholic, Catholics don't worship Mary, we honor her and pray for her intercession, just as people ask other people to pray for them. Mary brings us to Jesus.
Finally, finished this one. Its been a battle finding time and fending off a few bouts with allergies and colds etc...A very windy winter and early spring season in the desert was one of the worst in many years. Hoping to get to working on some…
Such clean acoustic guitar sound. Like the way it grows/builds...how the sound of the voice fills out. Cool voice and song. Starts to sound like the Beatles at the end.
I wrote this in the early 1990's during Desert Storm and after a conversation with my brother-in-law, Er4ic, t the time who was sent over there to fight.
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Martha Es I love it!! That's an amazing song! It's emotional, but also mystical magical. I like how you put the lyrics with the song.
Is that the melody from East Virginia Blues? It fits very well with your words.
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.
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
Enjoyed that one, I think I've actually heard you do that live once.
A great song about how conditions early in life shape our future and how some great potential just disappears.
No doubt you my friend are genius. Ghost dance.
Gwyn Henry Thanks for writing this, Jim.
"Powerful stuff." Ray Russell
I like coming back to listen to this one in particular sometimes. Sweet tune!
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.
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Dear Listener, Thank you for your comment. It's a brand new song and still being written. Your comment helps me figure out what needs to be done to make the song understandable. I read Siddhartha when I was young and tho it promised a beautiful mate it also promised the loss of that beautiful mate and ending life alone. For some reason that frightened me at the time and sure enough, 28 years with my beautiful mate and she walked out... FEATHERS IN THE WIND is about a high school girlfriend, dead now. But Keren is still alive. I look forward to hearing your music. j mt
Mix this with OSMPTS and I bet it would work.
Reminds me, right ff, of 50's tv music. Those great vocals again.
Love the vocal sound.
very sad...
Paul, PLease tell me the words of this. There are some I can't understand. My email is: jamesmichaeltaylor@jamesmichaeltaylor.com
This is one of the saddest must beautiful songs I have ever heard. Listening to it over and over. A love song to a love that has forsaken you. Yet you cling.Yet you hope. Yet you believe.
...bespeaks such loss of innocence. A real tearjerker because the betrayal seems so unanswerable.
Gorgeous. Lovely.
...another beautiful vocal and melody.
This really rings... Like it.All the energy and brightness and that little dip into darkness. And the cool guitar work at the end. j mt
Such clean acoustic guitar sound. Like the way it grows/builds...how the sound of the voice fills out. Cool voice and song. Starts to sound like the Beatles at the end.
The link to your web site isn't working for me.
Beautiful. Voice, voices.
This is beautiful.
...really like your story about your childhood at your web page...
Raw and Rockin'...
Beach Boys and Beatles showing thru...always good.
Great groove. Like the voices... .../the little reference to Good Vibrations.
This and djorklandia sound like movie music to me. Grand landscapes and epic travel shots.