so I guess I had my songs-with-words phase for a while, so now I’m back to some instrumentals. I tried some alternate tunings on the octave tonight, doing ADAD (”normal” is GDAE, although I’ve been playing ADAE for a while). anyway, here are 2 versions of my ADAD jam. they’re both pretty much just improving around a general idea.

loud version

quieter version

I got asked to play for a little local function, and I was happy to help out. it didnt turn out all that well though. in fact it was a bit of a disaster. actually I thought my playing/singing went OK, but the problem was I was pretty much the only one who could hear it. no PA, but that would’ve made it worse probably. it was in the community rec center gym, and there were kids running and screaming on the other half, so it was pretty much the worst possible “acoustics”. I’m guessing outer space or under water may have been better. they wanted “background music” and that’s certainly what they got.

so I did a couple songs, pretty much no one noticed. well one guy asked later if that was lute or a mandolin or what? I didnt even bother getting out the guitar for the other songs, as I got interrupted by announcments on a bullhorn (that no one could understand anyway).

oh well…maybe next time will be better.

This is a few years old, but definitely worth a look: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carterfamily/sfeature/sf_welch.html

the first song that kicked off my interested in songwriting was setting a tune to an old poem I wrote for Michelle. that poem/song was about the night we fell in love, and its still one of my favorites.

last night was the 10th anniversary of the events from that song, so I did an updated version for the occassion:

Lover and friend, full of beauty and grace,
Ten years ago we danced in the rain
Laughing and dancing in spinning embrace.

Your black dress swirling, a curl in your face,
The memories cause me to fall once again
Lover and friend, full of beauty and grace.

First time I held you and started to chase
Your heart and a love that would always remain
Laughing and dancing in spinning embrace.

Do you remember feeling a trace
Of beautiful oneness, a loving refrain
Lover and friend, full of beauty and grace.

We danced through the night, hearts quickening pace
Started the love song we still sing today
Laughing and dancing in spinning embrace.

Now we’ve returned to this mysterious place
Remember God’s love and grace has sustained
Lover and friend, full of beauty and grace,
Laughing and dancing in spinning embrace.

here’s the little song that Michelle and I wrote for our new neice, who was born earlier this year. I was able to sing it for her at the baby shower.

Hannah Jane, little girl,
Welcome to this big bright world,
We’ve waited oh so long
To see your little face.
 
We prayed long and we waited
We hoped until we cried
Now God’s given you
And joy it fills our eyes.

(chorus)
By grace you were born,
By gace you’re now here,
Amazing gift from God,
Amazing, amazing grace.
 
May He guide your little feet
Your heart trust in him,
So you’ll rejoice in God,
You’re whole life praising Him.

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?

well, not really, but it was kinda fun. last night was a girls-night-in, so I left the house with my guitar and songbook and headed toward the walking bridge to work on my songs.  as I was playing the Tale of Ed Johnson a handful of young kids departed from their family cluster with dollars in hand. I wasnt hoping or expecting anything, so I wasnt really prepared. my guitar case doesnt even stay open. so they laid their funds on top of the case. as it was a windy night, the money started to get away, so I put my hat on the ground and put my earnings there. I was actually planning on turning anything down, but I didnt want to take away the experience from the kids, and I was in the middle of the song, so I let it go.

it was otherwise and uneventful evening on the bridge. a cluster of college-looking kids hung around for a while, and various other people came and went on their way. I enjoy playing out there and it was nice to work on my tunes a little. I think most of my songs sound too much the same, but I suppose that’s an issue for most folks.

after the bridge I went to check out open mic night at a bar across the river. it’s a relatively nice little bar, so I worked up the nerve to go see if I could do a song or 2. when I got there there was a guy singing country kinda songs, so I figured I’d fit in. I soon discovered that the line to take a turn at the mic was quite long, and each singer was doing 4 or 5 songs. I didnt feel like staying that long, so I spent my earnings on a good beer, checked out a couple more singers and headed home. maybe next time I’ll show up earlier so I can take a turn before bed time.

oh and one more thing. I was sitting there thinking about putting my name on the list and then I thought: “there’s no way anyone is going to pronounce my name right, or remember it right”. I love my name, but it’s a tricky one. so I thought of a stage name: Bob Robertson. we’ll see if I ever use it or not.

despite reports to the contrary, I’m keeping my day job, like pretty much everybody else

I will however begin working on my next home-brewed album very soon

listening to Norman Blake today, and he’s got a happy homey song called Seaboard Airline Rag that inspired me to write about my home. I had his tune in my head when I put this down. by the way, the “Lookout Town” reference is what the Cherokee called it when they first settled the area.

St. Elmo Home - draft mp3 here

I live in the shadow of the mountain
1/2 a mile from the Georgia line
in a little neighborhood
treats me so good
founded eighteen-eighty-five
 
come spring the trees are in full bloom
cherry and pear so fine
when the wind blows
it looks like snow
with the flowers that fill the sky
 
(chorus)
call it Lookout Town
call it St. Elmo
call it Chattanooga
I dont mind
whatever you call this little old place
I’ll call it home sweet home of mine

we got ourselves a little history
got an incline railroad too
an amazing mile
will bring a smile
beautiful smokey mount view
 
got all kinds of folks round here
all colors both old and young
try to get along
‘cuz we all belong
every nation tribe and tounge

so I’ve been cranking out a lot of songs lately, and as my usual disclaimer goes, I’m not sure if they’re much good, but I’m having a good time with it. there’s a few that I actually like a lot, but who knows if in the grand scheme they’ll hold up. I try not to worry too much about that.

anyway, all these songs have started me thinking about playing them out sometime. I think it would be fun to do a little house concert sometime soon and maybe see if that leads somewhere. I’m also wanting to take my favorite original songs and make a better album with them. it would still be home-made just like my Simple Songs was, but I’d like to get better than rough drafts. then maybe I could use that as a demo CD to see if that can get me playing somewhere.

I’m sure I’m a ways from such things, but I think it would be cool to play something like Rhythm and Noon or the Chattanooga Market (if it comes back). perhaps not, but I’d think that my little collection of Chattanooga-themed songs would be appropriate for such things. it’s fun to dream but I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to play around town a whole lot, since my time these days is pretty limited. of course all this assumes my stuff would resonate with an audience, and who knows if it will? so who knows. but I’m enjoying the process and trust that God will lead this little journey. maybe it’ll just look like me playing on the bridge and such now and then, and I’m pretty sure that would be cool with me.

as I’ve been thinking about some of this stuff, I realize there’s a lot to be desired in my guitar skills especially. and my vocals too for that matter. I guess that leaves the biggest strength as the songs themselves, which may or may not be received well. I think things have come together quickly recently with my guitar playing, but there’s a lot more there obviously.

so I’m getting a Norman Blake instructional DVD, and I’m rather excited about it. I love his songwriting and playing style these days. always interesting, comfortable, staying with the melody and just plain solid. so hopefully I can glean some stuff from that and make some strides to become more than a mandolin player who also plays guitar. as for vocals, I would like to get a little voice training some day but that’s probably not happening particularly soon. oh and not to mention learning how to read music with the mandolin, but that’s probably for next year.

anyway, I’m still cranking out songs. I’m assuming this will slow down eventually, but I’m still enjoying it.