Just a silly song about a sad situation.
WHEN THE SUN SHINES THRU
The moon is a hole in a canopy blue
A hole in the sky where the sun shines thru
The sun shines thru, The sun shines thru
The scientist will tell you that I've got it all wrong…
CHRISTMAS@#$%&
I don't want to seem obnoxious
I always try to be polite
But there are some things that bother me
That keep me up at night
And I ain't no damned atheist
and I ain't no Hebrew
And I ain't one to hold my tongue
when the thots…
The story is at www.iburymydead.com
THE CHILD WITH THE BEAUTIFUL NAME
What remains of an eagle that's fallen
The roots of an oak tree now claim
To draw sap for the shade for the cattle
O're the child with the beautiful name
The law…
Sequoia Memories...Capo @ 5
C
Off the coast of California
Where the dolphins ride the waves
We stood and watched them from the cliffs above
Until the sunlight went away
Then we slept in ancient shadows
Underneath the redwood trees…
I wrote this one day when Peggy went to the store. Had no idea it would ever be worse than that.
THE LAST TIME Am capo @ 3
The last we said goodbye I didn't even look her in the eye
The last time I kissed her mouth I didn't even think about…
After seeing a quick pick up at the Leather Ball Saloon in Dallas one 1974 evening. This is a song from the album, FEATHERS IN THE WING by Snow Geese/Barbara, Michael Jeffrey and me. 1976
(50 years later, I am stunned at the starkness of this…
BAND AIDS
Words won't heal what's wrong with me
and I suspect it's true
all these band aids made of words
won't heal what's wrong with you.
(C) 2011 Royal T Music
400 BULLETS
400 guns. 400 bullets.
400 babies in the grave.
You got your New Pearl Harbor
Now it’s time for a new Passover.
400 guns
400 guns. 400 bullets.
400 babies in the grave.
Buy your $10,000 dog
One bad steak and he’s a…
Written one morning at OLD Number NINE weekend with Eliza Gilkyson.
SNAPSHOTS
Life's a million snapshots, all lined and flashing
It seem like a movie but it's the persistence of our vision
It all goes in circles, hashing and rehashing…
key of C - no capo
We listen for years for words to explain ourselves. "I'm good but not THAT good," was such a moment for me. Good enough to stay in the game but never good enough to win.
Last night I kissed somebody
I kissed somebody…
GROWL
In the middle of the night my stomachs growling’
The windows rattle and the coyotes howling’
Tip toe to the pantry to do a little prowling’
The cupboard’s empty and the well’s run dry
Not enough water to tear my eye
In the middle…
TEENAGERS ARE STUPID
Teenagers are stupid
At least I was
All the silly things we'd say
Silly, silly things
"Everyone is doing it."
It's a wonder we lived to be this old
Teenagers are stupid
Teenagers are stupid
What a hoot
How can…
FALSE FLAG
If you fall I will pick you up
If you're thirsty i will give you a drink
If you're hungry I will feed you
If you're lonely I will hold you
If you're slow I will slow down
If you're fast I will hurry
But I won't salute your…
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…
TEXAS RAIN
They're stopping cars near Tyler
Just want to check your breath
They think they can prevent another death
And a skunk is eating June bugs beneath a light in Cedar Hill
Before day light, he's sure to get his fill
Texas nights…
(Snakeskin Sally)
Open E tuning - EBEGBE
She wears a snake skin belt that says SALLY
and she's working at the lumber yard
I know you're thinking, "With a job like that
the lady must be hard."
She cuts my glass. Threads my pipe.
She really…
Capo @ 2 in D (E) Dropped D tuning
Actually, it was almost two years. 1965-67.
Leavenworth, Kansas U S Army prison. I played the organ at the daily Protestant chapel. Took dictation and typed letters for the Protestant chaplain. Wrote 2-page…
Lee Snaples
And I've never heard you do this live because...
James Michael Taylor
...because. I've never sung it except when I was recording it as I "wrote" it. Are you suggesting I should?
You might notice that it's been on line since 2007 and not one comment.
SLAUGHTER MOUNTAIN
My mom’s dad was a coal miner. Her mother died of TB when she was a kid. When she was twelve, her dad, dying of black lung, slit his throat with a butcher knife. That left her with a cripple little brother to take care of…
Kat Angel
James Michael Taylor awesome 💞 Your song is incredibly beautiful and soulful. My fav part was your narrative at the beginning. Haunting. My sister's name is Loretta 💕 My mom ....chose her namesake to tag her beautiful baby girl. Time. Goes. By.
For some reason this one demanded to be written...
So here's to all of us that have been in this situation a time or two! Hugs and love to us all!!!
Feel Just Like A Loner
Verse 1
We sit across the table
We share the same old food…
Here is the latest song challenge offered by the Minnesota Asscociation of Songwriters:
. . . . . . . .
Your mission this month is twofold:
1. Try creating a boundary between the production of content versus the judging…
I haven't listened to this for a while. Still knocks me out. Amazing presence. If this is not multitracked, if this is one of your coffee table productions, it... nope. No way. Every element is crisp. Flawless delivery. Master vocal. Pristine guitars...da da.
There is nothing like the presence of a horse. The quiet understanding. The gentle strength.
Woodlake, California...1961. I had a horse. She was my friend.
There were times in my teens when Babe was the only being that did not judge me…
There is nothing like the presence of a horse. The quiet understanding. The gentle strength.
Woodlake, California...1961. I had a horse. She was my friend.
There were times in my teens when Babe was the only being that did not judge me…
BEAVERS AND WILLOWS
Capo @ 5 in C
FCG FC FCFG
F C G F C
Like beavers and willows
Bats and mosquitos
F) Toad C) frogs and F) flies (G
DA DA - E Am G C
Algae and oil spills
Shovels and coal hills
Black holes…
There is nothing like the presence of a horse. The quiet understanding. The gentle strength.
Woodlake, California...1961. I had a horse. She was my friend.
There were times in my teens when Babe was the only being that did not judge me…
This is my mom's story.
Lula Teeters got off to
a pretty rough start.
She finally turned it
all lose last November.
May she rest in peace.
SISTER SAID
Daddy was a miner. He worked himself to death
Company said he killed himself, but…
Gwyn Henry said, "Your song spoke of a much more major event, than my struggling to take that picture... my picture being my art, your song being your art in this train of logic. But even capturing images from what you see in the world around you that calls out to you... it is a life saving and nurturing process for me. Art as salvation." I said, "Where I put things when I find a place for them."
This is my mom's story.
Lula Teeters got off to
a pretty rough start.
She finally turned it
all lose last November.
May she rest in peace.
SISTER SAID
Daddy was a miner. He worked himself to death
Company said he killed himself, but…
Your song spoke of a much more major event, than my struggling to take that picture... my picture being my art, your song being your art in this train of logic. But even capturing images from what you see in the world around you that calls out to you... it is a life saving and nurturing process for me. Art as salvation. Gwyn Henry
This is my mom's story.
Lula Teeters got off to
a pretty rough start.
She finally turned it
all lose last November.
May she rest in peace.
SISTER SAID
Daddy was a miner. He worked himself to death
Company said he killed himself, but…
You were talking about Salvation art earlier-- Although this is great in its own right as to what it gives to others, I can see the processing that was going on in letting this go, in a kind of creation. Just beautiful! Gwyn Henry
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Love the lyric! Cute, perky amd melodic.
HA! Brilliant!
This is beautiful!
Beautiful chorus!
"Didn't know the time was sand" Great line!
Oh, Barbara is great! I love her voice! Really nice track, the music is wonderful.
Nice one mate and thanks for listening.
Woah, I missed this stuff! Damn, JMT... What can I say?? Keep rockin!
*Dig it!*
Ahh, this is lovely too.
I love this one. Such a tender and poignant song and the music is beautiful.
raw ass rock and roll
The chorus of spiders is so cool!
I love this, James! - Violet
Thank you, my friend, you're The Man. I have written some responses to your comments in the same place where my pieces are.
Like it! Great voice and nice sound.
Yup this tune says Texas to me,Loved the feel,loved the simplicity
My wife is from Texas and we just had to give this a listen. We were very impressed. I love your voice. I also like the song writing. Great stuff.
...and Sally agreed! ;-)
Good job James- reminds me of my childhood we had to learn that song in music class. Glenn
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Jme Kinser Oh sure, couple times
Ha, I recognize that singer. Love this.
Love the breathy harmonies...
Are you English?
Love this. The pulsating...
Is that all you? Great vocal...
Great production! Such an emotional song! Great vocal mix. I'd like to hear a bit more of the lead vocal.
Deborah Claybourn Darr James Michael Taylor I completely Love this Song
Tim Robinson James Michael Taylor heavy song
Lee Snaples And I've never heard you do this live because... James Michael Taylor ...because. I've never sung it except when I was recording it as I "wrote" it. Are you suggesting I should? You might notice that it's been on line since 2007 and not one comment.
Kat Angel James Michael Taylor awesome 💞 Your song is incredibly beautiful and soulful. My fav part was your narrative at the beginning. Haunting. My sister's name is Loretta 💕 My mom ....chose her namesake to tag her beautiful baby girl. Time. Goes. By.
Could this be why she left me after 29 years? I never saw it like this.
I haven't listened to this for a while. Still knocks me out. Amazing presence. If this is not multitracked, if this is one of your coffee table productions, it... nope. No way. Every element is crisp. Flawless delivery. Master vocal. Pristine guitars...da da.
Rosemarie Kempton Love reading what you write!
Judith Ellen Lopez - that's magic
Has anyone ever told you you're like an awesome mix of Crosby Stills Nash and Young mainly Neil Young meets Frank Zappa? LeAnne E Christian
Tony Desmuke That was some mighty fine prose there James.
Gwyn Henry said, "Your song spoke of a much more major event, than my struggling to take that picture... my picture being my art, your song being your art in this train of logic. But even capturing images from what you see in the world around you that calls out to you... it is a life saving and nurturing process for me. Art as salvation." I said, "Where I put things when I find a place for them."
Your song spoke of a much more major event, than my struggling to take that picture... my picture being my art, your song being your art in this train of logic. But even capturing images from what you see in the world around you that calls out to you... it is a life saving and nurturing process for me. Art as salvation. Gwyn Henry
You were talking about Salvation art earlier-- Although this is great in its own right as to what it gives to others, I can see the processing that was going on in letting this go, in a kind of creation. Just beautiful! Gwyn Henry