Jimmy, I like this one. You mentioned the other day, that you might consider adding some cello to one of your new songs... ??? This version is only 2:09... seems to me... there might be plenty of room for a few bars of cello instrumental to float around between the words! But you know me... I have often mentioned to you, how good some of your instrumentals really are... and I have often thought that you, yourself, under appreciate yourself... when it comes to your own instrumentals. Good song... JohnQ

The lyrics are so descriptive and visual, such as the lipstick from NYC. Did you read about a suicide or make up the song from scratch? Jeff P

"Your songs are so heartbreaking sometimes. I love it. Don't change a thing." Violet

Thank you for sharing

I love that...reading and listening to it..! Love the sounds...i can feel the amercan poet in the music...and the vocal sound is really full... That song just makes me want to buy an old guitar....i keep lookin in the second hand stores around here...but theres no guitars...i dream that someday i’ll walk into anthony o hallorans second hand / antique shop, and there’ll be some old gem of a six string , archtop maybe, or a rusty old tele...full of mojo...waiting there for me to find...! I check every time im passing his place....i think i’ll never stop waiting.... But yes...thats a great track....you should send that out to dream guitars shop...in ashville....paul huemiller owns it....or some such shop....i bet one of those places would love that song for a website....im doin my website at the mo....id love to put that track on my instruments page...! Then people could send pics of the old guitars they bought and i could post those pics too...wouldnt that be a bit of craic....fun...we all buy guitars....a choir of guitar pickers could sing it....we buy guitars..✌️ Also...i never saw the link between telescopes amd guitars before....but i do now...its a cold night here...and a clear sky full of stars....Matt

Cool song, well written, vivid, and fun with a wicked twist at the end.

i buy guitars....i can't play them properly .... but i buy guitars too

Excellente

Really great track!!!!

What a gorgeous voice Barbara had and what a touching song. John O'Malley

soundtrack to riding in the West Texas desert with the top down?

A bit of a departure from your usual reflective messaging. This one is a real toe tapper.

First chuckle of the day! This has to be the only song I ever heard about an “Owie”. I wonder if your objective was to get a little attention from Harriet?

Harriet is a school nurse. She says this is a good song.

Beautiful with descriptive imagery. Nice song.

I ;ove the way y'all did that.

For years and years and years... this was the only JMT album I owned... this was the only JMT album that I knew existed; and this has always been one of my "most favorite" songs... not just one of my favorite JMT songs... one of my most favorite songs ever. I loved Barbara's voice and her timing and her range... and how she sang the song so... realistically. It was as if she and I were actually having this exchange in some noisy crowed smoke filled lounge. I never meet Barbara in person... but I knew her for years and years and years, Bye' Barbara... you are remembered.

Cool vibe eerily married to the dark content... I kind of want more verses to see what happens!

Thanks for the comment James! I love your story about your Senior year. This "Skating" song is fun to listen to. I'm on my second time thru. Definitely unique!

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