THE LAST TIME I SAW GRAND PA
The last time I saw grand pa was sixty years agp
Palmdale, California and I was four years old
He was stooped and withered
A worn-out little man. I remember him the best I can
I swear I saw my grand pa in…
This is a mess but when we tried to clean it up it killed the spirit of it so we decided to just take off our critics hat and just enjoy the energy of it.
FOREVER by James Michael Taylor
My baby say she loves me. Gonna love me forever…
"Is one dead baby worth all this sorrow?"
"Gotta get outta bed if you're going to make history."
Scenes from John Steinbeck's book, IN DUBIOUS BATTLE.
"There's something going on out in California and I'd like to know what it is." Preacher…
I don't remember ever hearing a song of yours so upbeat. I mean it seems like your totally revitalized, i like it good job on content and music. such fresh inspiration makes me think your in love again.
There's not a drop of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the puddles of this war.
But the blood that's spilled's become a flood
of the hungry and the poor.
There is not a trace of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the bags that hang beside
the beds of legless soldiers…
Here is Kavin's post in the alonetone forum:
http://alonetone.com/forums/togethertone/topics/vote-for-jmt
That's great news about getting a song in the movie!
Sounds like we have a celebrity in our midst.
There's not a drop of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the puddles of this war.
But the blood that's spilled's become a flood
of the hungry and the poor.
There is not a trace of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the bags that hang beside
the beds of legless soldiers…
There's not a drop of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the puddles of this war.
But the blood that's spilled's become a flood
of the hungry and the poor.
There is not a trace of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the bags that hang beside
the beds of legless soldiers…
MAN THAT I AM - Key Dm
Dm
Train pulls out the station and the shades are all drawn
Cold steel bites my ankles and I am on my way home
G
I would jump out of that window. Risk a bullet in my back
Dm
But I'm shackled to a bunk…
Even we who think we are too good to watch soap operas watch soap operas.
HOUSE Key - D (C capo @ 2) 0516/1712
I don't have a life/Not a real life
Tho I may be bold/I don't have a hand to hold
I don't have a life/Not a real life
No…
I can say with a clean consience that I don't watch any soaps - because I never watch tv. :)
I don't know "House", but I'm sure my mother would love it. :)
Nice song, James! About time to listen to some of your recently posted songs. If only there were more hours in a day ...
Regards,
Steffen
There's not a drop of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the puddles of this war.
But the blood that's spilled's become a flood
of the hungry and the poor.
There is not a trace of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the bags that hang beside
the beds of legless soldiers…
There's not a drop of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the puddles of this war.
But the blood that's spilled's become a flood
of the hungry and the poor.
There is not a trace of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the bags that hang beside
the beds of legless soldiers…
There's not a drop of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the puddles of this war.
But the blood that's spilled's become a flood
of the hungry and the poor.
There is not a trace of RICH MAN'S BLOOD
in the bags that hang beside
the beds of legless soldiers…
I was making a list of all the senses I could think of and it all began to make no sense.
She was everything I ever dreamed of
... and I was hers for the taking
She was everything I ever dreamed of
The last piece in the puzzle
A dream in…
DIGGIN’ A HOLE by Jeff Prince
This is Jeff on the vocal
From an album we made as THE GHOST OF JOHN MURPHY
All that fun guitar stuff is Jeff.
Diggin’ a hole is a natural thing to do.
Out in Odessa searching for Texas crude.
Or up in the…
Even we who think we are too good to watch soap operas watch soap operas.
HOUSE Key - D (C capo @ 2) 0516/1712
I don't have a life/Not a real life
Tho I may be bold/I don't have a hand to hold
I don't have a life/Not a real life
No…
When I read the lyric, I wondered at you watching "House".
Well, the song is really brill and you sing it so well. The strings give it a wonderful melancholy flavour.
Even we who think we are too good to watch soap operas watch soap operas.
HOUSE Key - D (C capo @ 2) 0516/1712
I don't have a life/Not a real life
Tho I may be bold/I don't have a hand to hold
I don't have a life/Not a real life
No…
MAN THAT I AM - Key Dm
Dm
Train pulls out the station and the shades are all drawn
Cold steel bites my ankles and I am on my way home
G
I would jump out of that window. Risk a bullet in my back
Dm
But I'm shackled to a bunk…
MAN THAT I AM - Key Dm
Dm
Train pulls out the station and the shades are all drawn
Cold steel bites my ankles and I am on my way home
G
I would jump out of that window. Risk a bullet in my back
Dm
But I'm shackled to a bunk…
The first track on the new FONTANELLE album.
HAPPY Key - Am
Happy is the anvil as the hammer strikes the blade (AM)
A fleeting spark that fades as the memory is made (G)
Happy is the spark when the hammer strikes the steel (F)
Before the…
The first track on the new FONTANELLE album.
HAPPY Key - Am
Happy is the anvil as the hammer strikes the blade (AM)
A fleeting spark that fades as the memory is made (G)
Happy is the spark when the hammer strikes the steel (F)
Before the…
CALIFORNIA
Capo @ 4 in C/Am
I’m (Am) going back to California
A little place in the San (E) Joaquin
(Am, stepping down A G F# F E)
Where the back pasture builds
To Sierra foothills
And Kaweah tumbles down cool and clean
I’m going back…
Matthew F. Blowers III
I am really liking your song on California, I have a special love for that state. You captured all the reaons I miss it, with your superb storytelling in lyrics and with the smooth harmonies and extremely well played music. It has a catchy beat, and I listened to the very last note.
I NEVER DREAM capo @ 2 in C
C
I never dream of building bridges. I never dream I’ll build a dam
I never dreamed of a cathedral for the mighty God, I Am
F
I never dreamed of founding clinics or make donations to the cause
C
I don’t see…
So today, for some reason I decided to read the words first.. Just the words. And found it an absolutely beautiful experience. The metaphors you use to describe great and cosmic plans and intentions of great societal achievement, contrasted with the lines that begin with, "BUT I dreamed we met for breakfast".... (the switch and the contrast is very powerful) what a tiny, common human thing: meeting over the sharing of food,. Then followed by, "I dreamed I held your hand"... human touch/connection, as though those two simple things are worth more than all the highest achievements of worldly fame, and material ladders climbed! Which they are. They so are. The rest of the lyrics continue to develop & express that idea beautifully. Then I listened to the sing, and although it is good as a song, For me, the words in themselves stand strong and impactful w/o anything else. Not to contrast them and say one is "better" than the other. Just that sometimes I see lyrics that stand alone, And just saying, these words do that very well. Gwyn Henry
So I was locked in the broom-cupboard, checking out some old songs that need recording.
I'd just picked one and then suddenly this thing came out of nowehere. It started with one of those guitarist doodles that other musicians love so much…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
Now here's a bit of an oldie - the second song I ever wrote. In... 1978!
I think I played it once, or maybe twice, at school assemblies. My musical peers and colleagues back then dismissed it as corny/rancid pop music…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I found this one while I was digging through the shoe-box for the 1994 songs. Apparently I wrote it on 10th November 1995.
Foolishly, I thought it would only take a week or so to record... I was originally expecting…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
So I got me a new geetar the other week.
Named her Lala, obviously. Seemed kind of appropriate - she wears a faded gold dress and is full of chunes and mischiefs.
This is our first effort together. It was meant…
I wrote this song after planting and fertalizing a crop of sudan grass just to have the sun shine down with no relief on it for 100 days and no rain. We, Texas Water, were heading home one night AFTER A GIG at Gringo's in Grapevine when the…
I hope Brian (one of us Proods) will forgive me for posting this before we could get together to work on it further. He first played it for me a few months ago and I've been obsessively tweaking it every chance I could get.
I like to imagine…
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…
CALIFORNIA
Capo @ 4 in C/Am
I’m (Am) going back to California
A little place in the San (E) Joaquin
(Am, stepping down A G F# F E)
Where the back pasture builds
To Sierra foothills
And Kaweah tumbles down cool and clean
I’m going back…
California has a chorus that camouflages the dramatic irony of the verse narrative. If it weren’t for the unusual intro, it’d seem zirconium. Christopher Youngblood
VIDEO https://www.facebook.com/reel/629088762494393
https://www.facebook.com/100007692130538/videos/122358790913196/
THE CIRCLE OF NO REGRETS Key C
capo @ 5
C F G C C G C
If your heart must be broken…
Circle of No Regrets sounds quaint. That’s what makes it hit. Unless you turn your ears on, it’s a boring song, but once you do, it’s hard to take.
It’s almost like you’re giving the audience an option. Christopher Youngblood
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
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Wonderful and melancholic - and I think everybody can relate to this superb lyric. Regards, Steffen
I like the way you all "mess" around..
I don't remember ever hearing a song of yours so upbeat. I mean it seems like your totally revitalized, i like it good job on content and music. such fresh inspiration makes me think your in love again.
Here is Kavin's post in the alonetone forum: http://alonetone.com/forums/togethertone/topics/vote-for-jmt That's great news about getting a song in the movie! Sounds like we have a celebrity in our midst.
How are you doing with the Texas Songwriter contest. I found Kavin's comment on the forum. I think that is pretty neat James! I hope you win!
Great performance JM. There must be some wealthy people who died for their country, surely!
Not quite what I had expected from the title. This song sounds like a Native American hymn. Great vocal arrangement!
And again you sound like Harry Chapin. And your songs are no less versatile. You are very prolific. Regards, Steffen
I can say with a clean consience that I don't watch any soaps - because I never watch tv. :) I don't know "House", but I'm sure my mother would love it. :) Nice song, James! About time to listen to some of your recently posted songs. If only there were more hours in a day ... Regards, Steffen
Thought provoking. It gives me a sick feeling when I think about how we are all being manipulated.
I just listened again...It is a very good song, done just right.
SHARED this one on my facebook page.
Not your average James Michael Taylor. Entertaining none the less.
See you guys at Prairie Fest on May 26. Can't wait!
When I read the lyric, I wondered at you watching "House". Well, the song is really brill and you sing it so well. The strings give it a wonderful melancholy flavour.
TV the confidant of generations
Brilliant lyric JM! Very down to earth yet helpless. "American kid" "Kid" that's the operative word! Good one!
Great song mate excellent vocals
Happy, happy, happy...Grin
"holding to the moment, no matter where it went." I like that!
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Matthew F. Blowers III I am really liking your song on California, I have a special love for that state. You captured all the reaons I miss it, with your superb storytelling in lyrics and with the smooth harmonies and extremely well played music. It has a catchy beat, and I listened to the very last note.
Very catchy! Too short, maybe. Gotta listen twice.
So today, for some reason I decided to read the words first.. Just the words. And found it an absolutely beautiful experience. The metaphors you use to describe great and cosmic plans and intentions of great societal achievement, contrasted with the lines that begin with, "BUT I dreamed we met for breakfast".... (the switch and the contrast is very powerful) what a tiny, common human thing: meeting over the sharing of food,. Then followed by, "I dreamed I held your hand"... human touch/connection, as though those two simple things are worth more than all the highest achievements of worldly fame, and material ladders climbed! Which they are. They so are. The rest of the lyrics continue to develop & express that idea beautifully. Then I listened to the sing, and although it is good as a song, For me, the words in themselves stand strong and impactful w/o anything else. Not to contrast them and say one is "better" than the other. Just that sometimes I see lyrics that stand alone, And just saying, these words do that very well. Gwyn Henry
This is cool. It gives me ideas.
WoW! Knocks me out. Really sizzles.
Makes me want to find a partner and do a little dance...very nice.
You had me at, "If I back off and shut my mouth..." Know exactly where you are. So afraid the answer is, "No."
Sounds like a 50s Buddy Holly era song. Very sweet sentiment. And, yes, I can dance to it.
Great characterization. Great kick drum sound.
WoW! Rock me, dude! Love the imagery.
Kim Triolo Feil James Michael Taylor that's a fantastic story and a very lovely song
Yes! A MONKEES song, for sure.
Interesting sounds. Cool chord shifts.
Aaah, if Love could only be forgotten... Nice.
Like it.
Very nice...
California has a chorus that camouflages the dramatic irony of the verse narrative. If it weren’t for the unusual intro, it’d seem zirconium. Christopher Youngblood
Circle of No Regrets sounds quaint. That’s what makes it hit. Unless you turn your ears on, it’s a boring song, but once you do, it’s hard to take. It’s almost like you’re giving the audience an option. Christopher Youngblood
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