The seeds of this song were sown years ago. If only those who left knew what they were headed for.
BACK TO SHORE
The sky was so high when you set out from shore
The sun at your back, you were longing for more
When it started to pour…
A few years back in a Portsmouth, NH bar, I saw a guy sitting across from a girl who was looking at him with such adoration and love - and I'm pretty sure the guy had no idea. This song's for you, young man. I hope you realized what you had…
There's a line in an Indigo Girls song that says, "If you need to know that you weathered the storm of cruel mortality, a hundred years later I'm sitting here living proof." For me, ever since hearing the words "cruel mortality," they have always…
Welcome to my RPM album. The line "You might not get what you want - You'll get what you deserve" came to me without me truly understanding it.
By the time I finished recording the album, it all made sense.
WHAT YOU DESERVE
Is this what…
O my brother
Where did you go?
Down to the river
To beg for your soul?
Did anyone see you?
Did you go there alone?
What did you offer
For one of their stones?
O my brother
Is there any way out?
Of the deal they offered?
Did they leave…
She stands alone in my mind
She'll make it home in her own time
I've always known that she's not mine
She gets closer to the line
Then turns and walks away
Breaks out the wine
Don't know how she survived another day
So you wanted your freedom
What from the past were you willing to take?
I'm sure you had your reasons
Too many promises you swore you'd never break
The world that you know is not coming back
Maybe it's time you start burning the tracks…
If I just slip the car in drive
I'll meet you on the other side
Or maybe I could turn back time
And we could both pretend to fly
Losing feeling inside out
No sense kneeling, no such doubt
Failed at saving, nothing lasts
Just repaving…
I know why you love The Starry Night
I know why you weren't all right
I know why you couldn't stay
I know why you're here today
I know why you couldn't see
I know why, 'cuz you were me
I know why you loved to paint in blue
I know why…
My Pepere was born before the great war
To God-fearing parents in Maine
Where the simplest of rules taught in Catholic schools
Was don't use the Lord's name in vain
Every day in that school, he'd adhere to that rule
But a loophole he often…
Walking in your footsteps
Can't see the world around me
Just a pace behind
I might as well be blind
Standing in the darkness
Nothing left to guide me
No footing I can find
The stairs, they start to wind
I might as well be blind
The…
O my brother
Where did you go?
Down to the river
To beg for your soul?
Did anyone see you?
Did you go there alone?
What did you offer
For one of their stones?
O my brother
Is there any way out?
Of the deal they offered?
Did they leave…
O my brother
Where did you go?
Down to the river
To beg for your soul?
Did anyone see you?
Did you go there alone?
What did you offer
For one of their stones?
O my brother
Is there any way out?
Of the deal they offered?
Did they leave…
I don't know
Where it comes from
Or where it goes
Just wait until it shows
You can't hold it
Too long
Then it's gone
The air off the water
The fire in your soul
A lucky man's daughter
Come in from the cold
I keep my heart open…
She stands alone in my mind
She'll make it home in her own time
I've always known that she's not mine
She gets closer to the line
Then turns and walks away
Breaks out the wine
Don't know how she survived another day
Put the phone down
Shut the cable and the lights
We're alone now
Step with me into the night
I found the candles
It really wasn't all that hard
Kick off your sandals
Tonight we dine under the stars
Don't let the moments slip away
They…
Maybe I shouldn't tell you what I was thinking
The first time I saw that sad smile in your eyes
I couldn't look away, and I don't recall blinking
It might've been better if we'd just said simple goodbyes
I've been down this road before once…
So you wanted your freedom
What from the past were you willing to take?
I'm sure you had your reasons
Too many promises you swore you'd never break
The world that you know is not coming back
Maybe it's time you start burning the tracks…
This is OUTSTANDING!!! Anyone can write a poignant song that'll make people cry, but it takes real skill to write a poignant song that'll make people laugh.
So well written... This truly is brilliant.
Hey superstar! I feel especially spoiled having heard this one from you last year!!! Damn, I love that voice of yours.
I look forward to making more music with you... Any time you'd like.
Songcrafters.org did a "Live in the living room "festival recently...
The only music I can play in my living room these days is the odd lot of contemplative classical guitar, as anything else would wake up the family at night... :)
Here is…
Songcrafters.org did a "Live in the living room "festival recently...
The only music I can play in my living room these days is the odd lot of contemplative classical guitar, as anything else would wake up the family at night... :)
Here is…
Holiday song written and recorded for the RPM Holiday Challenge 2011. This is about a California transplant waxing nostalgic about Christmas in New England.
Remastered: Nov 2015
Remixed: Nov 2023
I thought I'd share a recording of one of the first rehearsals for a show I was a part of this november 16th
It's one of the newest songs I've written and I feel very close to it, also the people who I got to perform with are absolutely amazing…
but the girls is around
...
Now you're back in town and you claim that you followed the seam fingertips tight on the dream and slapped with some mission of peace but the girls is around with that hip modern remakin' sound yeah you stole it…
I found a cassette tape the other day from 1991 which turned out to be live to 2 track demos that Scartaglen did in the studio in preparation for our 3rd and (as it turned out) final album. This tune didn't make the cut for the record but I always…
So after hearing some of Stephen Krell's outstanding picking, I asked him if he'd like to play along with any of my songs... I can't be happier with the one he picked to add his banjo to (seeing as how the song is written about my favorite Pete…
For the record, this song was written specifically with Jim's MTC goodness in mind, so I hear this version as frighteningly incomplete... But it is how it sounds when it's just me at the bonfire, so thanks to those of you who like this version as well.
Leaves everywhere today. Autumn has come late this year in London it seems.
Reminded me of a song Me Geir and Mark wrote a while back...
Written and recorded in a three hour time period from three places across the world. We just all happened…
Music and lyrics by Brian Vaughn.
I shouldn't have to say this, but I can't stand this silence.
And I wonder if you know what i'm going through.
It seems way too common for words and acts to disagree,
But I expected more from you.
I told…
Just flipped open the laptop to this here on alonetone. Just an outstanding track. The opening buck-fifty-seven of guitarwork is simply brilliant... And the song only gets better with the spot-on vocals.
Radio-ready.
I know before I've mentioned hints of Matthew Sweet (in all the great vocal delivery and outstanding songwriting) and Foo Fighters (with the incredibly guitar-driven arrangements and counterpoint of clean and edgy), but this music is so much more than the sum of those parts. I suspect that if either Mr. Sweet or Mr. Grohl heard this track, they'd say, "Damn, I wish I'd written that."
This song delivers like a powerfully honest stream of consciousness that leaves me thinking of one word only...
Integrity.
Outstanding track, Brian. This truly is music at its best.
Lyrics and music by Brian Vaughn.
Love, love, love...
Look up and down.
There are shapes in the clouds,
And ants on the ground who march in line,
To the roots of a tree,
Whose bark carries the name,
Of a girl whose boy thought her worth…
Damn, man... Always blown away by your professional sound. Music like this is the reason why I haven't bought a commercial album in years. There ain't anything on the radio I'd rather listen to.
This is just a really simple string/piano piece that resulted from two years of half-hearted tinkering. As of now the cello is too loud and the snare sounds too sample-y, but I'd appreciate any other criticism.
An unusual traditional tune from the first Scartaglen album way back in 1984. Going through stuff the other day and ran across the LP and couldn't even remember the tune or having recorded it. I played guitar on this track
This track is from the 1986 Scartaglen album "The Middle Path". The first tune "Jezaig" was composed by Breton musician Gilles Le Bigot. The second tune is one of the "Cantigas de Santa Maria" and is attributed to King Alfonso X of Spain
Roger…
Comments on Keith Landry's stuff
Wow, you got Feb, Keith! Lyrics, melody, performance...Swoon!!!!!!!!
Beautiful, heartfelt song - and gorgeous vocal from Jessica.
Keith. Seriously. This is my favourite KL track of all time. Utterly moving...stunning...
<3 Wonderful ode to our beloved RPM Challenge and a cracking album opener to boot!
Keith this is cool
Oh Keith, this gave me chills. I’m in love with it.
What a great vocal! And the guitar work is haunting.
I LOVE THIS!
This is wonderful! And the meter change even better!
I love the drone notes...all of it actually.
I love this song.
Whoa, this guitar work sounds like a 12-string, but I think it's just the way you did the various parts. Awesome!
One man, one guitar. Nothing else is needed when your name is Keith Landry.
That mid-section! Awesome change!
Brilliant, Keith.
Great song, Keith. I really like the various parts overlaying each other. Killer performance...
I like how this has an almost bluesy feel to it, and how warm it sounds. Another great song, Keith.
Loving the left-right gtr work!
Great song, Keith. One man, one guitar...all that is needed.
Another great song with cool counterpoint and tonal colors. Killer, Keith, killer...
Comments made by Keith Landry
This is OUTSTANDING!!! Anyone can write a poignant song that'll make people cry, but it takes real skill to write a poignant song that'll make people laugh. So well written... This truly is brilliant.
Beautifully told, Kavin.
Hey superstar! I feel especially spoiled having heard this one from you last year!!! Damn, I love that voice of yours. I look forward to making more music with you... Any time you'd like.
...And I have no guess what you might be thinking of, but it makes me think of the oncoming longest night of the year.
Outstanding song, T! So beautifully arranged and cleanly played. As always, I'm so impressed by your acoustic skills. Faved. Faved again if I could.
Ha! First one in. Great work man!
Always good to hear stuff is in the works, Corbin!
Ooooh... Now here's a great track. Great sound, Brett! Edgy pure music at its best. Seriously, this is some kind of excellent.
So this is what equipment check sounds like when you have limitless talent. VERY well done.
Love it! Please never stop digging through old tracks!!!
I have to fave this just for Stephen Krell's outstanding banjo addition to this song from a past RPM album.
Really cool sound... I'd love to hear these tracks without the fuzz and hiss! They hide that magnificent voice!!!
For the record, this song was written specifically with Jim's MTC goodness in mind, so I hear this version as frighteningly incomplete... But it is how it sounds when it's just me at the bonfire, so thanks to those of you who like this version as well.
Faved instantly. So good that y'all were awake at the same time!
First rate hard-driving track.
Just flipped open the laptop to this here on alonetone. Just an outstanding track. The opening buck-fifty-seven of guitarwork is simply brilliant... And the song only gets better with the spot-on vocals. Radio-ready. I know before I've mentioned hints of Matthew Sweet (in all the great vocal delivery and outstanding songwriting) and Foo Fighters (with the incredibly guitar-driven arrangements and counterpoint of clean and edgy), but this music is so much more than the sum of those parts. I suspect that if either Mr. Sweet or Mr. Grohl heard this track, they'd say, "Damn, I wish I'd written that." This song delivers like a powerfully honest stream of consciousness that leaves me thinking of one word only... Integrity. Outstanding track, Brian. This truly is music at its best.
Damn, man... Always blown away by your professional sound. Music like this is the reason why I haven't bought a commercial album in years. There ain't anything on the radio I'd rather listen to.
I'd be curious to hear how you went about composing this song... It is quite good!
...And back again to listen to this little piece of perfection. Just magnificently played.
Outstanding track!