music journal

here’s another old Chattanooga story that I’ve tried to put in song. I think I want to add more to it, but here it is so far:

Here’s a rough demo MP3

His name was Ed Bass
He needed that road done fast
There wasnt a way around
To the south side of the town

The old warehouse was in his way
Georgia said it had to stay
But Ed was the kind of man
To take things in his hands

(chorus)
So grab your axes and your shovels boys
Here’s what we’re gonna do
We’ll take that darned old building down
We’ll split it right in two

As the night began to fall
Ed’s bulldozer attacked the wall
Soon a band began to play
And South Broad was on its way

They worked all through the night
So Georgia couldnt put up a fight
Round midnight Ed drove through
That old warehouse torn in two

After this Ed stuck around
20 years he led this town
and he should always renowned
for taking Broad street all the way down
(to the town of St. Elmo)

here’s an article about Ed and this escapade

here’s a song that’s a bit of a tribute to Norman and Nancy Blake, a legendary husband and wife guitar/mandolin duo. it’s also a little about marriage and how much I love making music and living life together. this is just a draft that could use a lot of editing and perhaps some consolidation and additions.

here’s a rough demo mp3

Be My Nancy

(chorus)
I’ll be your Norman, if you’ll be my Nancy
I’ll pick out a simple tune, nothing all too fancy
If I try the melody
Will you sing sweet harmony?
If I’ll be your Norman, will you be my Nancy?

Will you play a steady beat?
Sweet runs voiced in a different key.
Pick out notes that intertwine
Two hearts, one song: that’s oh-so-fine

We can sing some happy songs
About our little home where we belong
Or maybe a tune about long ago
When things were simple and life was slow

I might never pick too good
But honey I hope it’s understood
That if you’re playing by my side
Sweet music rings out far and wide
 

here’s an edgier one inspired by similar stuff that resulted in the last one. I’ve got something of a tune in my head…kinda blues/rock, but we’ll see what happens.

here’s a rough demo mp3

I wanna tell you something and I’m hoping that it’s true
I wanna tell you baby how much I love you
I wanna look into your beautiful eyes
But baby I’m afraid I’ll be telling lies
 
Because baby…I’ll give you my heart
But honey…I need a new start
Yeah baby…you know I wanna love you
The problem honey… is that I love me too
 
You know that I’ve been trying to get it all just right
But the part that should be dying keeps putting up a fight
I wanna tell you honey that I’ll give it all to you
With a broken heart like this what’s a boy to do?
 
(chorus)
 
Now honey let me tell you I meant just what I said
But now I start to see this old skin is hard to shed
I wanna promise baby that I always will be true
But baby I believe there’s some work to do
 
(chorus) 

been thinkin a little about my place in this world lately, so here’s this:

Is This All?

I’ve been preaching to the choir
To folks just like me
Loving everyone who loves me
Cant find no enemies
 
We all have all the answers
Sometimes we have our doubts
We whisper in the back rooms
Forgetten how to shout
 
Dear God is this all you got for me?
Dear Jesus is there anything more?
Dear Spirit is this what you have for me?
Or should I look for something more?
 
Do I really want my children
To turn out like myself?
Got everything I could ask for
And keep it on the shelf.
 
Seems like everyone around me
They already know
God is this the place you want me
Where else can I go?

Dear God is this all you got for me?
Dear Jesus is there anything more?
Dear Spirit is this what you have for me?
Or should I look for something more?

Here’s the another side of life with the sweetest kids ever. kind of a joke right now but it might be fun to work on:

Toddlerville

I want my daddy
I want my mama
I want my socks on
I want my socks off
 
I want everything that I cant get
And I need a LOT right now
Candy cookies dont forget
If not I’ll throw a fit on the ground
 
Dont wanna come in
Dont wanna go out
Dont wanna go potty
Dont wanna take naps
 
Dont you know it’s all about me
And my every little desire
So come on come play with me
I dont understand why you’re tired

I love you SO much!
We’re together!
Bible stories!
Let’s call grandma!
 
Feed me well and I’ll be nice
And dont forget the kisses and hugs
I know you love these sparkle eyes
You’ve got every little bit of my love

here’s a little song for my daughter. I think it needs some work but here it is so far:

My Aya - draft mp3 here

A picture here pinned in my cube
Little hand, you were just two
Little hand, outlined in green
I keep it close by so I see
How small you were not long ago.
Oh I love watching you grow.

Oh my Aya
I’m so happy you’re my little girl
Oh my Alice
You know I would give you the world

Your photo here, I see it each day
You sleep so late I dont see your face
I miss your smile and your curls
That sweet voice of my little girl
Your brown eyes, that spot by your ear
These truly are the best of years

(chorus)

I wonder just how you will be
Growing up, it’s so hard to see
Your way in this confusing world
But you’ll always be Jesus’ little girl
Trust Him and remember to pray
He’ll keep you close by each day

(chorus)

it seems that old-timey music from this part of the world usually touches on mining sooner or later. some of my favorite modern ones are Gillian’s Miner’s Refrain and the Miller’s Quecreek (scroll to the bottom). since I’ve been in that kinda mode lately, I figured I’d write a mining song myself, so I looked up some info and found quite a few tragic stories. one that struck me was the Coal Creek mine disaster, which happened in 1902, about 130 miles from where I’m sitting. particularly heart-rending was the notes some of the miners left behind (about the middle of the page) as they slowly died, as well as the incredible numbers of family members who died together. so here’s an ode to them:

here’s a draft mp3. this one is unique in that I’m on the octave mandolin instead of the guitar. 

One More Breath (tune: Portland Waltz)

In the Coal Creek Mine
there’s 200 lives
come to dig for one more day
 
could they have known
going down the hole
they would all be carried away?
 
a fire in the hole
and only 10 souls
were spared an instant demise
 
those who remained
seven hours they prayed
to God to spare their lives
 
the air was thick
they realized real quick
they were moments from meeting their death
 
so they wrote to their loves
pleading Jesus to trust
praying “Oh God, for one more breath”

Just for kicks I’ve got a podcast of some of my songs:

itpc://bobsmusicjournal.googlepages.com/podcast.xml

(you’ll have to copy this link into your browser address b/c wordpress is weird)

today’s edition is inspired by recent events in local politics, which you can read a little about here.

Here’s a rough-draft mp3

Hobo Hotel
 
Tell me good sir where can I go
I aint got nowhere, nothing to show
For all of those years at war and beyond
So I sit here and ask, please who will respond?
 
“Let’s build us a park, a hobo hotel
You’ll have a warm bed and warm food as well
Folks will come here from miles all around
Just vote now for me, mayor for this town”
 
(chorus)
A hobo hotel, a hobo hotel
The mayor will build us a hobo hotel
A hobo hotel, a hobo hotel
So all will be fine and all will be well
 
Oh kind sir that sounds really good,
But I’m not quite sure that I’ve understood
Explain to me please as clear as you can
How this will work, sir, what is your plan?
 
“Well each man needs his own legacy
Something to tell the grandkids you see
The details might take a little more time
But trust me and know it’ll turn out just fine”
 
(chorus)
 
OK fine sir I will take your word
But I’m wondering now if it has occurred
To you that I do not really know how
I’ll be eating my next meal right now
 
“The food will come by the truckload each day
And beds will be ready for the tired to stay
We’ll buy this small field with taxpayer money
No need for a plan, just please vote for me”
 
(chorus)
  

this one is inspired by the recent(?) phenomenon of churches moving into old grocery stores and such:

Supermarket

Is this a church, is this a store?
Can’t tell the difference anymore.
Used to come for milk and bread
Now they serve grape juice instead

Come on in, it’s on the self
Get you want, come help yourself
Come sit back, it’s what you know:
Big screen, dim lights, enjoy the show

(chorus)
What do you want? Why are you here?
To give yourself a little cheer?
If you came here for some help
You better look beyond yourself
 
Jesus cleared the house of prayer
Threw the salesmen out
We’re selling in the market’s place
Convinced that we’re devout

(chorus)

I’m inspired by the songs of Derek Webb who has a whole album of songs about and to the church, most of which is pretty hard-hitting.

this one is obviously a little more heavy-handed than other stuff I’ve done. I dont like the consumerism that’s creeping in the church, and in some cases it seems to dominate. I know it’s deeply ingrained in our culture and in myself. I dearly love the church and long to see it more and more lovely.

anyway, considering such things, I kinda get a kick out of the irony of moving a church into an old supermarket, even while I lament our consumer attitude.