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…
Life is a quest for knowledge and a simple realization that not only is there so much we don't know but to declare it somehow is empowering. A great collaboration with Norm who is an amazing percussionist and a super cool guy! Thanks for the…
last eve there was a beautiful moon
dancing in a blue black sky
outside my piano room, it called to me
this tune is a one take playful moment, loosely based on the main theme from the 2nd mov of my piano sonata,,, i only toned down about…
Guitars/Mandolin: Doug Sparling
Composer: Traditional
Recorded: 2005
A couple of nice reels played on guitar, the first is The Cup of Tea, can't remember the name of the second one. Unfortunately my midi flute scratch track got added in the mix…
Guitars/Mandolin/Pennywhistle: Doug Sparling
Composer: Doug Sparling
Recorded: 2006
Nothing special, the last track I wrote and recorded for this unfinished CD.
Sitting around in my shop a couple of days ago with the Goodall and the Zoom H4N. First time I've really messed with using the internal mics on the H4N in multitrack mode
Archival stuff from my distant past with former bandmates in Scartaglen. A set of traditional Irish tunes. Rescued from a cassette tape done at a concert back in the early 90's. Myself on Uilleann pipes and whistle. Mike dugger on guitar and fiddle…
More stuff from the ancient archives rescued from the same cassette tape as Last Nights Fun. This time a set of 3 Irish reels Live at a concert back around 1992
Just great stuff... I have that tendency from time to time to forget that music is a performance art, and that there's really nothing like live music. Thanks, Kirk, for putting this up!
"You gotta put your pencil to the paper. Don't bother with the intricate chords. Hell it doesn't matter if the damned thing doesn't rhyme. Write it down. Run it through. Make some noise." These were actually the first words I wrote when…
All right, so one of those silly songs needed to find its way onto the album. In an effort to teach the students on my middle school team about rhythm in poetry, I wrote this little bit of foolishness about a fictional character (so yes, you…
Just updating all the songs from "Keeping Constant Motion" with versions that have the vocals a bit more up front... Just had to favorite this one. Of all the songs I've ever written, this one and "Amy Pond" are the most requested... Just goes to show that silliness in songwriting often speaks to people more than seriousness.
A song about the five stages of grieving, as devised by the (late) Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Unfortunately knowing these stages does not help you get over them.
You've been managing expectations
Consultations end in tears
Even if you're optimistic…
Rell Sunn, the Queen of Makaha, was a beautiful spirit and graceful surfer who lives in the hearts of all who knew her before she was called back home.
Life is a quest for knowledge and a simple realization that not only is there so much we don't know but to declare it somehow is empowering. A great collaboration with Norm who is an amazing percussionist and a super cool guy! Thanks for the…
If you have the fever and the only cure is more tambourine, here it is.
MORE TAMBOURINE SOLOS!! (But you should probably wait until you have the house to yourself...)
When my daughter and I use to play computer games on the Sinclar Spectrum. ( One Kilobyte). Many years ago we combined our names Samantha And Dad, Hence Samadad.
Wow... Very nice on this one Brian. Incredibly clean, just beautiful progressions... Makes me realize just how much I still need to learn about the guitar.
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
GREAT song... What a feel to this one.
Very cool... I'm amazed by how you can play different tunings so smoothly. Just great stuff, Kavin. Damn, what a sound.
This is great! I'm a big fan of blatant anything... And even better when it's well played!
Great track, Colin! To think it was a part of the 24-hour challenge is mind-blowing!
Beautifully delicate piece, Richard!
Great track!
Very nice! How do you record your guitar to get such a clean sound?
Love that slide!!! I bow to the master.
Damn, this song is just plain beautiful... Everything I hope I can be someday as a guitarist (and know that I never will). Incredible stuff, Kirk!
Just more incredible stuff!
Just great stuff... I have that tendency from time to time to forget that music is a performance art, and that there's really nothing like live music. Thanks, Kirk, for putting this up!
All right... So I closed the album with the fun songs (note to self... next time START the album with the fun songs).
Just updating all the songs from "Keeping Constant Motion" with versions that have the vocals a bit more up front... Just had to favorite this one. Of all the songs I've ever written, this one and "Amy Pond" are the most requested... Just goes to show that silliness in songwriting often speaks to people more than seriousness.
Ahhhhh... One of the all-time-great songs!
Wow, Rick, this is great stuff!
Wow. Right from the opening, this song is just beautifully played. Great work, guys!
Verrrrrrry nice!
This is great! It takes a special kind of healthy crazy to let it all out in a tambourine solo!
Great track!
Wow... Very nice on this one Brian. Incredibly clean, just beautiful progressions... Makes me realize just how much I still need to learn about the guitar.