Probably anyone who plays the guitar could write this song....
Someone asked if I was actually in Spain in 2003. Actually, 2000. Working on the movie, THE STONE RAFT with George Sluizer, from a book by Jose Saramago.
Inspired by something Jenni…
STRICKEN - James Michael Taylor
Boy's Theme (River Phoenix) in River's last movie,
DARK BLOOD.
...none the less, in my broken mind,
some of the false hope leaks thru...
Key D capo @ 2 in C
I've been C stricken. I've been pierced…
More "love is mislabeled" music.
ROCKS
How many times have you heard someone say, "I thot it would go on forever"?
How many times have you scratched your head and thot, "How clever."?
There's a rock in Yosemite that will probably stand…
James, ThANKS for taking the time to comment on my songs. You are certainly a prolific writer and have so much uploaded. Isn't it a blessing to be gifted by God this way. There is tremendous satisfaction from making music!
Paul
This is, actually, the instrumental version of I Play C and THEN comes SNAPSHOTS, which was written one morning at a campground between Comfort and Welfare, Texas called OLD NUMBER NINE Depot. It was a weekend songwriter retreat with Liza Gilkyson…
I asked my love to take a walk
Just a little old walk. Just a little old walk
Down beside where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio
If you’ll just say that you’ll be mine
And in no other’s arms entwine
Down by the banks where the…
I asked my love to take a walk
Just a little old walk. Just a little old walk
Down beside where the waters flow
Down by the banks of the Ohio
If you’ll just say that you’ll be mine
And in no other’s arms entwine
Down by the banks where the…
I have a video called THE BROKE PIANO on line at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JON_poM_sdY
Ironically, it does not include this song.
Key D
D (figure is D D sus, D D sus)
I am a BROKE PIANO. Got no damper and no keys
G…
Standards
capo @ 5 in Am
I got my standards
Oh, yes, I do
Don't allow no smoking
No tobacco chew
Don't allow no boozin'
Don't allow no grass
If I catch you hurting yourself again
I'll leave your ass
Oh, yeah, you're pretty
and yes…
Standards
capo @ 5 in Am
I got my standards
Oh, yes, I do
Don't allow no smoking
No tobacco chew
Don't allow no boozin'
Don't allow no grass
If I catch you hurting yourself again
I'll leave your ass
Oh, yeah, you're pretty
and yes…
A friend of mine sent me a poem and asked me to put music to it. I took the liberty to mangle a bit of the lyric.
MANGO
I like a mango. I like a mango.
Well, I like mangos mornin' noon 'n night
I like's in the dark. I like 'em in the light…
ACID TEARS
As the hours turn into days and the weeks turn into years
I am happy, but I'm always close to tears
Surely as the love that we share will last forever
Our bodies will die and our love will go on
And tho the thot that love will…
ACID TEARS
As the hours turn into days and the weeks turn into years
I am happy, but I'm always close to tears
Surely as the love that we share will last forever
Our bodies will die and our love will go on
And tho the thot that love will…
Guilty Roses
Three dollars at the drug store
For a rose as real as life
Can't pass the display
I want to take one to my wife
But she's one suspicious lady
A rose herself you see
"I'm not that complicate."
That's what she said to me…
Nice work, lyrics are even poetical, but stay within a song-form context.Pretty g'tar flowing in tha background. Tha backup vocals at end are a nice fade out... c):~)
Guilty Roses
Three dollars at the drug store
For a rose as real as life
Can't pass the display
I want to take one to my wife
But she's one suspicious lady
A rose herself you see
"I'm not that complicate."
That's what she said to me…
IN MY DREAM by James Michael Taylor
Last night I held your hand
Reached out and touched your hand
I know it's just a dream
I say, "What does that change?"
Today the sun will shine
Because you made it mine
IN MY DREAM
I held…
IN MY DREAM by James Michael Taylor
Last night I held your hand
Reached out and touched your hand
I know it's just a dream
I say, "What does that change?"
Today the sun will shine
Because you made it mine
IN MY DREAM
I held…
IN MY DREAM by James Michael Taylor
Last night I held your hand
Reached out and touched your hand
I know it's just a dream
I say, "What does that change?"
Today the sun will shine
Because you made it mine
IN MY DREAM
I held…
This is the title song from my first LP.
FEATHERS IN THE WIND by SNOWGEESE.
Snowgeese was my first wife, BarbaraAnne and me. Michael was a new friend we met when we moved to Texas that liked my songs enough to produce and arrange and record…
Jenni Mansfield Peal
Thanks for posting these beautiful songs. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. Bittersweet listening; hearing Barbara, I am grieving her loss.
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…
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 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…
... that's great! It's all very lighthearted until you get to the part about them not leaving. I guess the companion that remains true will always be the one with strings. Lazarus Knight
I was told that even tho she left me after 28 years it doesn't negate the idea.
There’s a place in my mind where your face had a home
Long before you came into my life
Before you were a known
There’s a note in my song that I knew fit somewhere…
was a Texan.
Quannah Parker was the son born to Cynthia Parker, a white girl, stolen by Comanche raiders who grew up to be the wife of the chief. Quannah, in turn became the leader of his tribe. Eventually, Cynthia returned to her people. This…
The Winnowing Wind
I feel the wind blow thru me
Oh, please don't let it undo me
Let it level and true me
The Wind. The Winnowing Wind
And here I stand, alone, against the wind,
And, who am I to think that I
Can stand alone against the…
Candy Davis
That's so much fun, singing with oneself, laying down multiple tracks. Your Winnowing Wind is such a polished, beautiful example of the magic of music.
Love
The Winnowing Wind
I feel the wind blow thru me
Oh, please don't let it undo me
Let it level and true me
The Wind. The Winnowing Wind
And here I stand, alone, against the wind,
And, who am I to think that I
Can stand alone against the…
Lazarus Knight
Beautiful arrangement and vocal peformance. When I noticed the 2007 copyright it made me wonder if the song was written and recorded before or after a certain life changing event that year.
FOR A PENNY
From the moment Toy saw the light
he was the center of attention.
In a room full of sunlight and 'Welcome,"
he was a new dimension.
Tiny traveler, arriving wet
Peggy hardly breaking a sweat
Toy was born in the middle of the…
Rahim Quazi - I love that. What did you mean when you said that you had wished you had kept the penny?
Enter
You sent
It would be a nice thing for him to have as a keepsake. The actual penny that saved his life.
Enter
You sent
Peggy had aborted the previous two pregnancies.Really didn't want any more kids. True is my best friend. I don't know what I would do without him. He is what I have left of Peggy.
Enter
Rahim
Rahim Quazi
Ahhh, I get it now. It’s a beautiful song
The Winnowing Wind
I feel the wind blow thru me
Oh, please don't let it undo me
Let it level and true me
The Wind. The Winnowing Wind
And here I stand, alone, against the wind,
And, who am I to think that I
Can stand alone against the…
The Winnowing Wind
I feel the wind blow thru me
Oh, please don't let it undo me
Let it level and true me
The Wind. The Winnowing Wind
And here I stand, alone, against the wind,
And, who am I to think that I
Can stand alone against the…
FOR A PENNY
From the moment Toy saw the light
he was the center of attention.
In a room full of sunlight and 'Welcome,"
he was a new dimension.
Tiny traveler, arriving wet
Peggy hardly breaking a sweat
Toy was born in the middle of the…
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…
...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…
Tony Desmuke
I still think "In Dubious Battle" is one of the best songs that you wrote. If nothing else, the production was incredible. We still listen to it occasionally.
...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…
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…
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…
One night I was singing Wild Bill at Fort Worth Live and there was so much talking that I stopped in the middle. No one had any idea what I had just done. The silence just meant, "Clap now."
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
very nice, James, really dig your writing ...quite nice story intermingled in a comforting prose...the guitar is patient.
Riding your pony,and ponying on down...
Love it so much!, Harold
James, ThANKS for taking the time to comment on my songs. You are certainly a prolific writer and have so much uploaded. Isn't it a blessing to be gifted by God this way. There is tremendous satisfaction from making music! Paul
Always great Harmonies and vintage guitar sounds!
Still holding up well I like it a lot.
love the harmonies here, as usual. Unusual venetian sound tucked in there too.
Love the spring reverb. Always creative mixes and vocals.
All old lost instruments are so beautiful. Beautiful song and lyrics.
This is really great JM! Love the perky feel, the lyric and the music. Bethan
Oh go on, I'm fascinated! What brought this on? I love it, by the way! Bethan
Nice dancy tune and well played James. A bit different coming up with an instrumental. Yeah, most enjoyable! Bethan
Oooh thats a hoot James!Love it!
had 2 hear it 2wice...
My favorite one of yer ditties... c):~)
Beautiful
Nice work, lyrics are even poetical, but stay within a song-form context.Pretty g'tar flowing in tha background. Tha backup vocals at end are a nice fade out... c):~)
OMG, James that's superb. Bethan
Are you going to leave it like that I wonder? Bethan
Lovely and tinkly James. That is so short and to the point. Delicate!
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Lazarus Knight Yep, the G is up there - Orbisonish indeed!
Kat Angel Yep, that was a high note. I can't hit it. Pretty song.
I like In my Dreams!! It does have an Orbison vibe! LIke the way it builds. Operatic. Orbison. Gwyn Henry
Jenni Mansfield Peal Thanks for posting these beautiful songs. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. Bittersweet listening; hearing Barbara, I am grieving her loss.
Paul Smith Some of your tunes fit right in with a soundtrack feel like "Pulp Fiction". I love it. 🎶
That was great, thanks Jim Jim Kempton
... that's great! It's all very lighthearted until you get to the part about them not leaving. I guess the companion that remains true will always be the one with strings. Lazarus Knight
Lazarus Knight That's a great album!
Jenni Mansfield Peal Beautiful. Thanks so much for posting.
Candy Davis That's so much fun, singing with oneself, laying down multiple tracks. Your Winnowing Wind is such a polished, beautiful example of the magic of music. Love
Lazarus Knight Beautiful arrangement and vocal peformance. When I noticed the 2007 copyright it made me wonder if the song was written and recorded before or after a certain life changing event that year.
Rahim Quazi - I love that. What did you mean when you said that you had wished you had kept the penny? Enter You sent It would be a nice thing for him to have as a keepsake. The actual penny that saved his life. Enter You sent Peggy had aborted the previous two pregnancies.Really didn't want any more kids. True is my best friend. I don't know what I would do without him. He is what I have left of Peggy. Enter Rahim Rahim Quazi Ahhh, I get it now. It’s a beautiful song
David Young We both loved it! Very beautiful!
Paul Smith Very cool
Listened and such a biographical song, really captured me. Rahim Quazi
Kat Angel Interesting song 🙂
Tony Desmuke I still think "In Dubious Battle" is one of the best songs that you wrote. If nothing else, the production was incredible. We still listen to it occasionally.
Tony Desmuke Definitely. One of your best.
There She Was definitely captures that longing that the imagination tries but fails to satisfy Lazarus
One night I was singing Wild Bill at Fort Worth Live and there was so much talking that I stopped in the middle. No one had any idea what I had just done. The silence just meant, "Clap now."