In 1951 I was eight years old but it's all like yesterday. The tumbleweeds and the horny toads. Flying kites so far into the desert air that I couldn't see them.
Palmdale, California, 1951
Pretty yellow chickens hating in the sun
Fertilizer…
Sometimes it might be best not to even think about what terrible things might happen. It might be part of setting those very terrible things in motion. How can one know?
I can't remember her name. I saw her at Kerrville back in 2005. A little blond that always wore a leather cowboy had, played keys and wrote music for movies. (Someone remind me.)
COULD SHE KNOW
Could she know I think about her
Thinking…
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…
CHERRY LAUREL - James Michael Taylor - 081111
Dm C B A
There’s nothing quite so slow to grow as a cherry laurel tree
A fingerling beneath an old oak canopy
Presented as a volunteer, that creek bank west of town
One hundred yards from our…
Something of Neil Young for sure, some essence of David Crosby. And that refrain does sound spookily like you got Graham Nash in the studio with you. Nice.
Today I got an email about a lyric contest and the title had to be I WONDER...so I wrote this!
I WONDER by James Michael Taylor
I wonder, I wonder out loud
Why I wander under a cloud
A cloud with it's rain
It's lightning and pain…
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…
Tesla...maybe the smartest man that ever lived.
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…
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…
Larry Spann
I miss him, too. When he gave me that album he told me I had to check you out. He said Townes van Zandt is a great writer, but he didn’t like everything Townes wrote. He liked EVERYTHING you wrote!
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…
LANCASTER STREET - Em
James Michael Taylor
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…
Rose Jeffus
You have such a unique way with words James. Love your song. I will have to share it with my son in law. He is a volunteer twice a week at the homeless shelter. He is about to have surgery on his left arm this morning so he will have to miss a bit.
LANCASTER STREET - Em
James Michael Taylor
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…
THE GIFT - key C
An architect in Bakersfield gave him a gift of wine
Napa Valley, California, famous for the vine
When the grape is coupled with the peach, the promise is divine
But he would never pull the cork as he alone would dine…
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
"Like a cat" is an original song I made after losing my lovely rescue cat named FatBoy. He died after a short illness that could not be cured. He died too young. On my YouTube channel it features a clip of when I just had him. Making music is…
You had me from the 1st chord. What an apt simile. Great vocal. Here's my CAT SONG:
https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/just-a-cat---121511---counter%3Cclockwise
KAWEAH (says the crow)
"Kaweah, Kaweah"
There's a place on up the hill
Redwood trees are standing still
The murmur of the river will invite you
Lay your head down on a rock
You'll forget about the clock
The whisper of the sun will…
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 ONLY THINGS
Any road that leads to somewhere
Any thought that comes to mind
Any sight on the horizon
Any friend that's left behind
Any meal that's ever eaten
Any quilt that's ever lined
Any concert that is set thru
Any document that…
Robert Hayden
Like the concept, great job recognizing those unduspected little flash backs
2h2 hours ago
Reply
Hide
Lazarus Knight
Great! It's like telling her that there's never a moment when she is not the center of focus.
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
Absolutely powerfully beautiful and genius! Love the layered vocals and the lyrical flow
LeAnna
Thank you for letting me hear that!
LeAnna
LeAnna M Christian
You are awesome all-around!
THE ANGELS CRIED NO - capo @ 4 in Am
Am Em - He lived high up on the mountain top
He lived there with his love
He tumbled to the valley deep
F - When she gave him a shove
And, when he hit the valley deep
It must have broke his heart…
ANGLES CRIED "NO!" About Peggy kicking me to the gutter/valley deep. How, even the angles in heaven, were horrified.
8:30 PM
Lee
Lee Snaples
Okay, I did not get that vibe but that makes sense.
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 Brighter Candle
The brighter candle knows the truth
In golden glow of brightest sun
And knows there’s no eternal youth
The brighter candle
So many, walking, go nowhere
On bikes and skates with silver hair
It’s like a dream she once…
This song is on the soundtrack of
River Phoenix's last movie, DARK BLOOD,
(filmed in 1993 and finally completed in 2012)
now making the festival rounds.
Video at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mazlk2rM6_0
STRICKEN - Capo…
This song is on the soundtrack of
River Phoenix's last movie, DARK BLOOD,
(filmed in 1993 and finally completed in 2012)
now making the festival rounds.
Video at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mazlk2rM6_0
STRICKEN - Capo…
This song is on the soundtrack of
River Phoenix's last movie, DARK BLOOD,
(filmed in 1993 and finally completed in 2012)
now making the festival rounds.
Video at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mazlk2rM6_0
STRICKEN - Capo…
This song is on the soundtrack of
River Phoenix's last movie, DARK BLOOD,
(filmed in 1993 and finally completed in 2012)
now making the festival rounds.
Video at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mazlk2rM6_0
STRICKEN - Capo…
Comments on James Michael Taylor's stuff
Wistful though not wishful. The drum is very effective. Doubling the tempo for the spoken parts - excellent!
Your speaking voice is really believable. I like that! Sounds great! A most clever song JM Who's your friend?
Yeah, sure you would! Oh, love it! What a cracking good song.
Yep.
Great fun!
Ah now, yes lovely lyrics! Oh, I knew I had heard part of it before, well, I love the expanded version. (smiley face)
Something of Neil Young for sure, some essence of David Crosby. And that refrain does sound spookily like you got Graham Nash in the studio with you. Nice.
Some classy changes in this, and a really nice lyric.
Raw and gritty and very good
I do like the sounds James, The book of JOB. If anyone really had a pure understanding of it Nothing more would be needed.
MMMMMMMMMMMM!.
Great job. Thanks.
Just to say: you're cool man, James!
Fabulous
Great flowing vocals and interplay of sounds and instruments!
Now that is one *beep* of a storytelling song :)
Well, you got that off your chest quickly,
Very, very clever. And excellent guitar & mandolin work. I love it! Totally pro!
Really like this. I like the tempo very much and the native American sounding backing singing too. great track.
This one is a little bizarre, but very clever and really well done.
Comments made by James Michael Taylor
Larry Spann I miss him, too. When he gave me that album he told me I had to check you out. He said Townes van Zandt is a great writer, but he didn’t like everything Townes wrote. He liked EVERYTHING you wrote!
Larry Spann Great album! My first of yours. John DeFoore gave it to me about 15 years ago.
Rose Jeffus You have such a unique way with words James. Love your song. I will have to share it with my son in law. He is a volunteer twice a week at the homeless shelter. He is about to have surgery on his left arm this morning so he will have to miss a bit.
Leslie Young Beautiful but sad. Lee Snaples Such a great song, so poignant
"Wow!" laz
Jonathan Ashley White Oh I can totally hear that! Thats such a fun song. The time change at the “the angles said no” part was cool surprise!
What a tease!
You had me from the 1st chord. What an apt simile. Great vocal. Here's my CAT SONG: https://alonetone.com/jamesmichaeltaylor/tracks/just-a-cat---121511---counter%3Cclockwise
https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/imalwaysinlove?__eep__=6%2F
Belinda Stephens Sad and beautiful too
Linda Linder That was lovely . What a wonderful sound of voices in harmony . I forgot how much I enjoy listening to a choir ! Thank you for sharing !!
Robert Hayden Like the concept, great job recognizing those unduspected little flash backs 2h2 hours ago Reply Hide Lazarus Knight Great! It's like telling her that there's never a moment when she is not the center of focus.
Absolutely powerfully beautiful and genius! Love the layered vocals and the lyrical flow LeAnna Thank you for letting me hear that! LeAnna LeAnna M Christian You are awesome all-around!
ANGLES CRIED "NO!" About Peggy kicking me to the gutter/valley deep. How, even the angles in heaven, were horrified. 8:30 PM Lee Lee Snaples Okay, I did not get that vibe but that makes sense.
Leslie Young That one made me cry.
Leslie Young Wow. Beautiful but sad Me: It's about my brother, Joe. Died in an air plane crash, July 4, 1986. He was the pilot.
Robert White Excellent Song James Michael Taylor! Was that a song done for someone or relative that recently passed Away? Beautiful! 🤗
Belinda Stephens I love the live version, James. Beautiful.
Leslie Young Very nice.
Violet Lea Love you