EVERYTHING
Everything you know or think you know
Everything you know is wrong
Life ain't no hootenanny
and you don't have to sing along
You can laugh and you can mumble
You can hold your breath
Take a little piece of my heart now honey…
THE LESSON
I saw her in a music store in Fort Worth, Texas
I'd driven in to buy some strings
It was like getting hit by a little fist in my solar plexis
when she said, “Can you help me tune this thing?”
She had a smile. A thin disguise…
TESLA
Who invented remote control? TESLA
Who invented the fluorescent light? TESLA
Who invented the radio? TESLA
And who died alone and forgotten in 1943? TESLA
So, you say now, “Don’t be angry.”
And you say, “Just tell the story…
THE LESSON
I saw her in a music store in Fort Worth, Texas
I'd driven in to buy some strings
It was like getting hit by a little fist in my solar plexis
when she said, “Can you help me tune this thing?”
She had a smile. A thin disguise…
A PICTURE I CAN'T THROW AWAY Key C
Capo @ 4
(Yes. It's a true story. I changed it to 1st person. It was a friend of my brother, Joe's.)
This audio is missing. I will have to find it in the archives or re-record it some day…
It’s a small town. Woodlake, California. East side of the San Joaquin Valley. 14 miles from where all those “Lindsey” olives you see on your grocery store shelves come from. The Woodlake Echo, says, “In the foothills of the Sequoias”.
FOOTHILLS…
STEPPIN' ON SOME TOES Key - Em and E
Em
Well, some folks got big noses
Some folks got big hats
Some folks stand out in the aisle
Make it hard to pass
Am
Some folks they got money
Em
They…
WHERE
Where will I spend the rest of our life?
Where will I live our tomorrow
Our only hope springs from within your sorrow
And if I thot your pain could be bought
I'd start saving today for tomorrow
Where, where
Our only hope springs…
" ...and if I thought, your pain could be bought, I'd start saving today, for tomorrow." My Gawd, My Gawd! Who else but JMT could write such a great line!
This song is akin to REMEMBERING BABE. Another night to Keren's. Almost got caught by the cops. Saw 'em coming so Babe and I hid in the olive orchard until they turned off the spot light and left. THEN, I did what came to be called my Night Ride…
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…
Sadly, Annie and Allan are now divorced...
The games are over...
Annie & Allan
Annie and Allan were having a problem
Made a decision to go their own ways
Annie and Allan made an announcement
Not even knowing how it saddened…
I was in Spain, in the Pyrenees, working on THE STONE RAFT. I was the only American, read, "English speaker." I was feeling very alone.
SOLITARY WALK Am
INTRO Am F Am F
Am (walking down) G F G
Tho I follow in the footprints of my friends…
Dear James, thanks for sharing this song that remains me the days we spent together in Pirineos, Spain. Congrats and big hugs from the Summertime at Madrid
The Fading Yellow Ribbon
There’s a fading yellow ribbon
around the oak tree in the yard
Each day they walk out to the mail box
but even walking’s getting hard
And they’re looking for a letter
that they fear will not arrive
It’s a letter…
Well you've made my eyes leak again. I keep listening to your songs and I keep leaking. I might have developed an allergy of some kind but I'll keep listening. Really touching.
I wrote this at my dad's urging. He likes it. We sing it together. I have YouTube Video of it up.
EULOGY
He grew up in Clinton, Oklahoma
Red dirt back yard, Gramma's place
Honey suckle in a dust bowl
Life as hard as limestone lace…
Returned today to listen, and so glad I did! It is a wonderful song. I like the timber of your vocals, too. There is a soft edge that serves the song so well because of its subject. I respond too, as an Okie, having lived for 40 years in Sapulpa and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fav lines might be, "Red dirt back yard, Gramma’s place
Honey suckle in a dust bowl
Life as hard as limestone lace
Remembering the red dirt...
Know these accents and sounds like the back of my hand... thanks for posting! --Gwyn Henry
THE SWING
When I was a child we'd drive 200 miles
To Gramma’s in the Spring
I’d hop out of the car. Run to her back yard.
Gramma had a swing
The times have changed...
And when I became a dad I took all the rope I had
And tied it to…
Another Minnesota Coffee Table Song! Written and recorded “live” in one evening.
Memories: Written and performed by John Bennet, Joe Passofaro, Mark Lofgren, Colleen Dillon & Greg Connor. Listen to Minnesota Homebrew Radio w/ Carl Unbehaun…
Florencia - I would telll you the chords
but I don't know what they are...
The tide is going out in Avila
I can feel it in my blood
Here I am in South beach Florida
Just like you knew I would
Florencia, I've been waiting…
Florencia Di Concilio It’s not the first time someone writes me a song, though it is the very first time I actually like it. I love the song, to tell you the truth! You’re awesome James Michael Taylor! You made my day. ❤️
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…
"This Balloon" was written for the Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show hosted by Carl Unbehaun. A March songwriting Challenge - Write a song about Balloons. Listen to Carl's radio show on the internet:
Pioneer Radio 90.1 Thief River Falls, MN…
You asked me who Jack Hardy was...He was a friend of mine, now gone. Beloved by many. This was a bit of teasing him, imitating how he sang. He and I shared a mutual respect. The first time I met him I was sitting under an awning at the Kerrville Folk Festival and he pulled up a chair and said, "Sing me a song." We were buddies from then on. The day he would arrive at Kerrville was always joyfully anticipated, not just because he made such great spigot. Here is a link to more about him:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Hardy_(singer-songwriter)
This song is a spin-off from "Hold On". Tez found the original music and wanted to use it for his own lyric, so we assembled a new band, and Gabro replaced my original piano track (while still using the original harmonies).
The new lead melody…
THE CIRCLE OF NO REGRETS Key C
Capo @ 3
VIDEO - https://www.facebook.com/reel/629088762494393
https://fb.watch/lQdzfYTriA/
https://www.facebook.com/100007692130538/videos/122358790913196/. With Martha - practice
C. F. C…
Refuge into the imagination:
Is it crazy?
Is it survival?
Is desire to survive crazy?
THERE SHE WAS Key - G 102811
G
She'd been gone for three years now so he'd been on the road
Playing every truck stop bar and every song he…
Easing my way back into music production. This is a work in progress, but I have so many ideas floating I don't know how long it will take to make progress. I do like the way this turned out so far. Enjoy.
Mid-tempo, loud, and sans vocals. You want to sing (or play) on it? Drop me a line.
EDIT: I may have a taker on turning this into a proper song. If he does, this is "off-the-market", but if he doesn't, then I'll put it back on or do my…
This is such a solid track it could go a dozen ways.
Also, thank you for your comment. I had a 7th line clear up until my final mix when I realized how useless it was...your response verifies my thot. The song was start to finish this afternoon.Thanks again.
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…
"The years can kill your spirit. The years you can’t explain
The years that simply melt away... like mascara in the rain."
Damn... what great words. JMT words.
Words that paint a picture... on the canvas of my spirit. `
Jon McCabe
SWEET AND FREE - Version B
Lyrics: Mohamed Ibrahim
Vocals, Vocal Melody: Kim Noble
Guitars: Frank Zax
Bass: Andy Gupta
Drums: Robert Cudmore
Original Music & Production: Steffen Offermann
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Love the melody and harmonies on this one! Good toe tapping this morning
Love your voice. What a great story.
LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE!!!!!!!!!
Enjoyed this story and the song. Thank you for uploading it!
Wow!
Great lyrics and imagery. Love this. Feels like an anthem!!
Love it Jim!
" ...and if I thought, your pain could be bought, I'd start saving today, for tomorrow." My Gawd, My Gawd! Who else but JMT could write such a great line!
Great song!
lovely....
very very nice !
Dear James, thanks for sharing this song that remains me the days we spent together in Pirineos, Spain. Congrats and big hugs from the Summertime at Madrid
Well that makes me happy.
Besides you that is.
Russ Emerick wondered, who is singing?
Well you've made my eyes leak again. I keep listening to your songs and I keep leaking. I might have developed an allergy of some kind but I'll keep listening. Really touching.
A great day-starter!
Full of drama, sounds like a movie track
That's the way it happened.
Returned today to listen, and so glad I did! It is a wonderful song. I like the timber of your vocals, too. There is a soft edge that serves the song so well because of its subject. I respond too, as an Okie, having lived for 40 years in Sapulpa and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fav lines might be, "Red dirt back yard, Gramma’s place Honey suckle in a dust bowl Life as hard as limestone lace Remembering the red dirt... Know these accents and sounds like the back of my hand... thanks for posting! --Gwyn Henry
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
"That was brilliant. We are crying." Maria Moss
If I lived near you I would want to be part of this tribe.
Florencia Di Concilio It’s not the first time someone writes me a song, though it is the very first time I actually like it. I love the song, to tell you the truth! You’re awesome James Michael Taylor! You made my day. ❤️
Laurie Callinan - Its very beautiful. Love the line about the garbage trying to sleep.
Connie Pittman Ramsey Visually sorrowful and heartfelt.... Thank you James, once again, for going where most dare not go
First, the guitar sound is amazing. This friendly little project is is special in so many ways.
You asked me who Jack Hardy was...He was a friend of mine, now gone. Beloved by many. This was a bit of teasing him, imitating how he sang. He and I shared a mutual respect. The first time I met him I was sitting under an awning at the Kerrville Folk Festival and he pulled up a chair and said, "Sing me a song." We were buddies from then on. The day he would arrive at Kerrville was always joyfully anticipated, not just because he made such great spigot. Here is a link to more about him:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Hardy_(singer-songwriter)
That bass is awesome! Great build!
This is beautiful.
Wonderful, James. Thank you for singing the songs in your heart. This world needs them.Summer Loraine Russell
Mighty powerful feelings of aloneness and independence, songs and songwriting/singing a perfect fit! Keith Haas
This immediately puts me in a mythical meadow with fairies and crickets and lightning bugs at dusk...
This is such a solid track it could go a dozen ways. Also, thank you for your comment. I had a 7th line clear up until my final mix when I realized how useless it was...your response verifies my thot. The song was start to finish this afternoon.Thanks again.
"The years can kill your spirit. The years you can’t explain The years that simply melt away... like mascara in the rain." Damn... what great words. JMT words. Words that paint a picture... on the canvas of my spirit. ` Jon McCabe
Crisp and crystal clear!
Perfect for your voice. "aging Silverado..." "so, I don't say a word, my order is heard."
Love your voice on this. Like 50s American pop song.
So clean! Really rocks. Sounds like your first language is American English.
Great production! Is that all you playing everything?
So clean. Very interesting...I'm missing some of the words tho. What country are you from?