Buddy Holly said he made songs out of things he'd heard his mother say all his life...
A E A D A
I'll always remember what mama said
I'll never forget what my mama said…
Some people have someone to hold them when they are lonely
Some people have someone to call their one and only
Some folks miss the boat, or get a boat that won’t float
Or get a goat that eats their grass
Some people have someone to call their…
It's about Fog...
The fog that crept into the window at the Fort Ord stockade back in 1965, when I would skip breakfast and sit by the barred window in the barber chair and smell the ocean air.
Some people have someone to hold them when they are lonely
Some people have someone to call their one and only
Some folks miss the boat, or get a boat that won’t float
Or get a goat that eats their grass
Some people have someone to call their…
C w Capo @ 5
C G C G
Thirty one years in this city.
C G C G
Thirty one years on this street
Fighting in the morning. Fighting at night.
This place has the smell of defeat…
THE BURDEN OF SANITY - capo @ 5 in An
Am F
As I turned on to Calhoun I could hear the music from the street
Dm E
A dog pissed on a speaker as I found myself a seat
Now, Buster is a caveman all hunched over his bones
Hair matted like a…
She threw her slip down on the bed spread
She threw her panties on the stack
Now she must take them to the cleaners
He said that he will not be back
She turned and reached into the corner
She took her guitar from the rack...
This song might be better suited for a girl but I don't have a girl anymore.
CAREFREE
Every time I go out looking for someone who's not like me
Someone who's learned to take their time and live their poetry
I dream that Care's a monkey…
THE BURDEN OF SANITY - capo @ 5 in An
Am F
As I turned on to Calhoun I could hear the music from the street
Dm E
A dog pissed on a speaker as I found myself a seat
Now, Buster is a caveman all hunched over his bones
Hair matted like a…
How many miles must Guillermo walk?
Before all my good intentions are more that just talk...
How many shoes must his toe wear thru?
How many miles must Guillermo walk?
Thursday afternoon and the bridge is a mess
No chance to pull over so…
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…
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…
SOMETHING ABOUT THE NIGHT TIME - no Capo or Capo @ 4
(Am)Something about the (Bm)night time makes me feel alive
Makes me want to sing a song. Think about my life
(C)Maybe light a (D)candle. I like lemon grass
(Am)Something about the (Bm…
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…
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…
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…
I wrote to my children, my answer. I told the how I watched them thru the window and enjoyed them in ways they never knew. How seeing them learn and succeed at their efforts was such pleasure to me. How discovering who they were by the talents and generosity they exhibited made me happy...The first response I got was from Embyr, now a registered nurse, mother of 4, just said, "Jim, you were mean."
Sat 11:38 PM
Christopher sent Yesterday at 11:38 PM
I listened to Kite a bunch of times, trying to think how it could be improved (it can’t be), and it occurred to me that Ben Franklin flew a key. That part of the story had never occurred to me as important before. But it’s like he was trying to unlock something.
Maybe he tried it on a clear day and let the kite rise to where he couldn’t see it. That’d be a different experiment altogether. Christopher Youngblood
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…
Love the piano. Love the brevity, and the words themselves. Love "voice like confetti"! I get more about her story from the music itself. The words set it up beautifully. But the music, the back up, the energy had me seeing those waves, and sensing the sleeping fish beneath! Love the "tip" of another story, her buying l ip gloss in NYC. Love that that is all that you gave.
Seen by Gwyn at 12:20 PM
Gwyn Henry
I BUY GUITARS
Em
One man might buy cigarettes and waste it all in smoke
Another marijuana and share a friendly toke
Am
Another, with more money, might invest in antique cars
Em
I buy guitars
A man might buy a baseball card
Keep it…
I have posted far too many wafty and generally pleasant songs. Time for something a bit more dark and malevolent - back to the dark side......
Lyrics:
I’m gonna wait until you are happy again And be waiting for you
I’m gonna wait until…
Another soothing, kind of playful fingerpicking tune, in something like E minor.
I had intended to put some lyrics over the rhythm track, but then I was having fun with the lead and decided to just keep it this way for now. Maybe another version…
My attempt at this super fun sea shanty!
This is an old New Zealand whaling song. The popular recent version was recorded a cappella by The Longest Johns. I'm using the chords suggested by Piotrek_G on ultimate-guitar.
Edit: re-uploaded…
A bit of wah lead to a song......
As the clouds start to break the suns on the run again
Keeping all that rain at bay
I’ve had enough of this damn lockdown
I want out, I want to live and have some fun again
Come on sun shine down on me…
She lies alone. She's crying.
The truth hit her like a rock
A rock thrown thru her window
The window to her heart
His eyes told her a story
And she believed it, every word
She made plans to leave forever
Her time was over on this earth…
Written for a song challenge. We were given the theme of a name found on an item, carved on a tree, on a street sign - whatever. Then off we raced all in our different directions, just to see where different songwriters would end up. I chose to…
When I was young we lived opposite a big play area - lots of grass and trees and bushes to rampage around - and in the middle a tarmac playground with the "amusements" - a witches hat (aka umbrella), a long rocking horse with saddles along its…
Ashes and dragon's breath - bright things in the sky, childhood games, battlegrounds, cemeteries.
Lyrics:
Long long days, summer holidays, staying up late
green wood on the bonfire, we danced around the flames
street lights and stars…
Ashes and dragon's breath - bright things in the sky, childhood games, battlegrounds, cemeteries.
Lyrics:
Long long days, summer holidays, staying up late
green wood on the bonfire, we danced around the flames
street lights and stars…
Summer In The Wind was written by me and recorded by the Ninja Broilers (myself and my sister). It is dedicated to our mum. A song of sad goodbyes and new beginnings.
This is one of our first "international collaborations" - so the production…
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Great songwriting. The melody is awesome. Rollicking
Cool song I like the old style picking Great lyrics, imho
wow. The guitar is really lovely and so are the vox . Angelic :)
Beautiful composition. I am reminded slightly of Neil Young :)
Lovely picking and the pads are a great support :) Nice!
Nice. I like it.
Great new batch of songs, JMT. Sounds like you’ve turned a corner. All the exquisite choral harmonies are still there.
I just like saying it.
I really like Burden of Sanity James! Sam Gross
real nice, love the lyrics !
Cool melancholy melody!
I think this is good, but it's more folk than country, but the most popular country is rock.
you paint a wonderful picture here A fine song! enjoyed! KC
I dig the desolate mood here cool vocals
not enough tacos
Awesome track. Brilliant
Great track. The high lonesome vox lead the band
Hello
Dour guitar. Lush vox. Great lyrics. Great track :)
Heart breaking. Yet, beautiful artistry. I listened and tears came.
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
I wrote to my children, my answer. I told the how I watched them thru the window and enjoyed them in ways they never knew. How seeing them learn and succeed at their efforts was such pleasure to me. How discovering who they were by the talents and generosity they exhibited made me happy...The first response I got was from Embyr, now a registered nurse, mother of 4, just said, "Jim, you were mean."
Sat 11:38 PM Christopher sent Yesterday at 11:38 PM I listened to Kite a bunch of times, trying to think how it could be improved (it can’t be), and it occurred to me that Ben Franklin flew a key. That part of the story had never occurred to me as important before. But it’s like he was trying to unlock something. Maybe he tried it on a clear day and let the kite rise to where he couldn’t see it. That’d be a different experiment altogether. Christopher Youngblood
Love the piano. Love the brevity, and the words themselves. Love "voice like confetti"! I get more about her story from the music itself. The words set it up beautifully. But the music, the back up, the energy had me seeing those waves, and sensing the sleeping fish beneath! Love the "tip" of another story, her buying l ip gloss in NYC. Love that that is all that you gave. Seen by Gwyn at 12:20 PM Gwyn Henry
"Love this! That last verse... ummm hmmmmm." Gwyn Henry
Could you please add the lyrics. I'm a bit hard of hearing and I'm missing some words.
Great guitar sound. You write great "throw-away songs."
What a great groove (with Beatle fragments).
My mother had dementia:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/mama-has-a-time-machine
It might be silly but that's great rhythm track.
I like the bendy-swooniness of this..
Fresh and lively...trying to pick along...
Love it!
Gitty Up!
Been there with my parents...so sad.
"Unbelievable..., unbuckled my jaw." Christopher Youngblood
This song makes me want to share a song of mine with you:https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/playlists/cushions/the-couch-022815-1
You are the female Pete Seeger. Talking is singing and singing is talking.
You are my new favorite singer/songwriter. I want to know everything about you.
Another gem. A picture book...
Another beautiful piece. I want to listen to everything you have written.