Casablanca Hotel

(by K.Brown)

I was sittin' at the bar

starin' through the bottle

at the Casablanca Hotel

when a friend walked up to me

and tapped me on the shoulder

he said

I knew I'd find you

probly chewing on another

passage of American song

sippin' on a Harpers

you got another one of those?

Jazzman

 (by K. Brown)

Jazzman, Jazzman

where you go so soon

a breeze has caught your tune

on a trip around the moon

Reach out touch the sun

bring it back, and touch someone

who loves you

Momma, sweet momma

don't worry, don't you cry

I'm gonna tell you why

feel the breeze up in the sky

Jazzman's been to the sun

come back to everyone

brought a handful back to you

Jazzman, Jazzman

doo doo doo doo do

brought a handful of the sun

brought it back to you

Tree of Knowledge (unfinished)

(by K. Brown)

You see that tree
thats standing there
weathered by
100 hundred years
it's statures old
but it's knowledge green
and comes to speak it
every spring

You think you know
your words so well
that I should listen
as you tell
what's left is right
what's right is wrong
do you know the meter
of the song

Ben Bullington

Newest favorite writer ... in my book with Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, David Rodriguez, and a few others.

on death:

"our souls might mingle in the aftertorch ... like four friends smoking on a late night porch ..."
"promise me you won't worry ... it's probably like the time before I was born ..."

on legacy:

"you got the name, you got the farm, now don't break the line ... lone pine"
"sundown and daybreak alone mark the time ..."

This Scratch on My Guitar

(by K Brown)

1
This scratch on top of my guitar
Don't pick it
It might leave a scar
Took miles of forgetting where you are
To leave it there
on this guitar

2
That scratch right there on my guitar
didn't know
could run that far
Tryin' to reach you where you are
a puff of breeze
a distant star

(Break)
That scratch it bleeds some
everyday
more than once along the way
I nearly run right off the road
tryin' to lose
a heavy load

3
That scratch there cut right to the bone
A little deeper
when you can't atone
But sooner or later you'll get home
This guitars your friend
when you're alone

4
This scratch on the top of my guitar
Don't pick it
It might leave a scar
Took miles of forgetting where you are
To leave it there
on this guitar

(Coda)
Yeah
Took a long time of forgetting where you are
To leave that scratch
on my guitar

Belle Of The Ball

(by K Brown)

Bella, Oh Bella
you're the belle of the ball
and when all of the dancin' is through
you were the one that we all want to waltz with
Oh Bella, gal, where are you

When the last fiddle plays
and the memory fades
Bella, you know
we loved you

(They say) you could not see straight, your teeth would not be straight
And cowlicks that ran through your hair
some say imperfections, but to me was all beauty
perfection for me I don't care

Now I'm as blue as the deep blue sea
Not sure whats come over me
by the light of the moon, and a sly parting glance
You left the dance way to soon

Where will you go now, what will you do
Where will we look to find you
By the light of the moon, will you show us a dance
to the lilt of a soft fiddle tune

Bella, Oh Bella
you're the belle of the ball
and when all of the dancin' is through
you were the one that we all want to waltz with
Oh Bella, gal, where are you

It's time to go home now, the dance is all through
We had us a time that is true
With a soft fiddle tune, we're sure that we'll see you
dance by the light of the moon

Bella, Oh Bella
you're the belle of the ball
and when all of the dancin' is through
you were the one that we all loved to waltz with
Oh Bella, gal, we loved you

When the last fiddle plays
and the memory fades
oh Bella,
once in a blue moon

Reach Out For The Other Side

(by K. Brown)

I made a fool of myself
singing right out loud
tried to draw a crowd
but, what for, what's it good for

Thought they might be on my side
tried to make an honest sound
then looked around
and they were gone, all gone

Reachin' out from the other side
Where you been
what you been doin'

Long ago I might of tried to hide
but now I'm goin' ...

I can't seem to find myself
voice is too loud
while I fool the crowd
but, what for, what's it good for

Tryin' to reach out for the other side
and make an honest sound
maybe look around
for you, and the love you showed

Reachin' out from the other side
Where you been
what you been doin'

Long ago I might of tried to hide
but now I'm goin' ...

(open G for reference)

Old Rockin' Chair

(by K. Brown)

That old rockin chair
sittin over in the corner, there
its got some tales that it could tell
its worn its finish
pretty well

no question its got time on me
before my baby eyes could see
and then long after I am gone
be rockin there
a long time on

It seems we run our lives so fast
its hard to make the memories last
getting there from place to place
and times we wish we could erase

But not that rockin chair
sittin in the corner there
its got some tales that it could tell
its worn its finish
pretty well

Just turned around and then got old
before I even got my story told
that chair there got it all on loan
each creaking joint
each quiet moan

One of these days I'll be gone
But I hope that chair rocks on and on
These old joints of mine now creak and groan
and that long ago
seems so far gone

But not that favorite rockin chair
sittin in the corner there
its got some tales that it could tell
its worn its finish
pretty well.

("Reward" Neal Casal for reference)

Just Want To Be

(by K. Brown)

I just want to be
and not be
called out
strung out
and hung out to dry

I just want to be
and not be
passed out
thrown out
and only left to cry

And in a time
when its cloudy
and quite shady
and hard to trust
just what you see

You must be careful
not to believe it
or deceive it
and put your trust
in what is real

I just want to be
and not be
found out
freaked out
and asking why

I just want to be
and not be
tuned out
left out
or wonder why

I want to be
just to be free

Windy Point (unfinished)

(by K. Brown)

Theres a reason we're called Windy Point
like what you've never seen

And it ain't because the boys all had
their fill of steak and beans

You can see those clouds a formin'
And rollin' from the North

Rockin' like a hurricane
from the Sault to Presque Isle Port

It might of been the 5th of May
Or maybe was the 6th

Keep On Keepin On

(Don't Wait For The Dogs To Come Home)
(by K. Brown)

You can't take back
what you done wrong
Best you can do
is keep keepin on
try to do better
try to do right
try to do what your Mom would like

Da doo doo doo, Da da da da
And keep on keepin on

Sittin here readin
all the fake news
in my Facebook feed
from friends I thought I knew
but now I don't know
Now I aint sure
if whats news is news
and whats yours is yours

Da doo doo doo, Da da da da
And keep on keepin on

Have me a boy
we don't say too much
he thinks I'm just
an old such and such
grass is blue
sky is green
tomatoes is tomattos
from what I seen

You can't take back
what you done wrong
Best you can do
is keep keepin on
try to do better
try to do right
try to do what your Mom would like

Da doo doo doo, Da da da da
And keep on keepin on

Sure would like
to kick back some
but the high cost of livin
got me feelin low down
Try to save a dollar
only make a dime
give it all to the wife
most the time

Da doo doo doo, Da da da da
And keep on keepin on

One of these days
and it wont be long
This old dog gonna
get out and run
Try to catch a rabbit
Try to dig a bone
Probably lose his mind a little
before he gets home

You can't take back
what you done wrong
Best you can do
is keep keepin on
try to do better
try to do right
try to do what your Mom would like

Da doo doo doo, Da da da da
And keep on keepin on

Just keep on keepin on

Don't wait for the dog to come home
Just keepin on


(Lester Flatt - Six White Horses, for reference)

(UnTitled)

(by K. Brown)

I been left standin' by the road
I been left out in the cold
and now, I ain't got nowhere left
that I can turn
I let my soul go wander
left my mind out over yonder
and now I can't seem to find my way
back home

Could I ask you for direction?
Could I beg for my redemption?
Just a favor that could maybe
help me through
Push the door back open
was all that I was hopin'
on my way to find my way
back home to you

Back home to you
back home to you
been a long hard road
to get back home to you

True Believer

(K Brown)

My brother he's a God fearin' man
My Momma been doin' alright
Since Daddy's 10 years buried
might see him bye and bye

You ain't no true believer
til you been washed in blood
least that's what momma told me
guess I ain't been washed enough

By day I work the furnace
that makes the cold steel hard
from fire good and hot as hell
but just make you old and tired

At night I hear them haulers
as they go rollin' by
My baby's good and gone
and I hang my head and cry

Which way do that highway run (lord,lord)
Which way do that highway run
come mornin' time I'm leavin'
And I'll be good and gone


(reference Charlie Jordon - Dollar Bill Blues)

Bernadette

by KB Brown

(guitar lick)

Bernadette
slinkin' around
makin everybody
wonder where you come from

Bernadette
look what you done
Come'n in here
like you own the town

Oh my lord
here comes Bernadette
shes a sashayin'
like a game she's playin
(with) the other girls they all hate her,
just sayin'
but the boys love Bernadette

Bernadette
pretty little pout
all those other girls
feelin' strung out

Bernadette
cattin' around
shake em all up
run em all down

Oh my lord
here comes Bernadette
shes a sashayin'
like a game she's playin
(with) the other girls they all hate her,
just sayin'
but the boys love Bernadette

Bernadette
are you stickin around
the other girls say
please make her leave town

Bernadette
pretty little pout
all those other girls
feeling left out

Oh my lord
here comes Bernadette
shes a sashayin'
like a game she's playin
(with) the other girls they all hate her,
just sayin'
but the boys love Bernadette

Bernadette
slinkin' around
shakin that tail
like to come unwound

Bernadette
with your cattin' around
Come'n in here
now look what you done

Perch Fry

(by K. Brown)

1.
It's Saturday Mornin'
Rooster crowin'
Hang the bait pot off the dock

C'mon woman
No time to waste
Be fishin' by 9 o'clock

Got fish to catch
got fish to clean
before it gets too hot

(Tonight gonna be)
A perch fry eatin'
campfire singin'
swingin' kind of spot

2.
Well the Party Barge
been a workin' hard
hittin' on the honey hole

Ain't enough perch
in this lake
Could make us head back home

Double up the limit
'bout every half an hour
til the bait pots all used up

(Tonight gonna be)
A perch fry eatin'
campfire singin'
swingin' kind of spot

Break.
We'll get the whole lake swayin'
to some guitar playin'
and some perch fry eatin'
and some cold beer drinkin'
All I'm a thinkin'
is some campfire singin'
like to keep my biscuits hot

3.
Tomorrow mornin'
it's back to work
toilin' on the Party Barge

C'mon woman
no time to waste
be fishin' by 9 o'clock

Theres fish to catch
and fish to clean
before it gets too hot

(Can't get enough of that)
Perch fry eatin'
campfire singin'
swingin' kind of spot

Break.
We'll get the whole lake swayin'
to some guitar playin'
and some perch fry eatin'
and some cold beer drinkin'
All I'm a thinkin'
is some campfire singin'
like to keep my biscuits hot

Gonna double up the limit
'bout every half an hour
until they all been caught

Coda:
(I'm talkin' 'bout)
Perch fry eatin'
good and greasy
campfire singin'
nice and breezy
cold beer drinkin'
slow and easy
... perch fry hits the spot!

Louisiana Gal

(by K. Brown)

They say the blues come all the way
down the mighty Mississippi
where the muddy waters flow
And make their way
to the tip of Louisiana
to the Gulf of Mexico
The Delta is the place
they stir it in the gumbo
when you hear those brass horns blow
And we could do some kissin'
and some cookin' in your kitchen
Gal when you gonna come back home?

You been away so long
noone hardly knows your missin'
and your just like some sweet old song
Then all a sudden sister
you blow in like a twister
and everything turned upside down
Just like a force of nature
sweep the mess up later
and Katie bar the door
But your what this place been missin'
And we could do some kissin'
Gal when you gonna come back home

Nothing could be finer
than the girls from Carolina
when they show the boys the door
And nothin' could be sweeter
than to kiss a Georgia peach
leave you comin' back fo' more
And the girls up in the mitten
well they sure can do some knitten
cuddle up and keep you warm
But that Louisiana gal
puts the hot sauce in the gumbo
when she boils the pot back home

Next time you go missin'
Don't expect that I'll be wishin'
to come at your beck and call
But no matter what I do
you just like Marie Laveux
and I'm like some puppy dog
Don't know what you been a-hoodoo
with that special kind of voodoo
only you can do so well
Just a Louisiana gal
give a ragin' Cajun yell
and stir the old folks up back home

Just a ragin' Cajun missus
and we could do some kissin'
gal when you gonna come back home

(Hole In My) Levee Wall

by K. Brown

One more drop of rain
One more drop that's all
You can sure enough bet
be a hole in my levee wall

I came in to work last Monday
after spendin most of the day drinking on Sunday
The boss called me in
said theres been a change of plans
I got to let you go
it's not you
your a good man you know
just a case of unforeseen shifting
supply and demand

I got a mortgage and no cash float
for a car and boat
bank note
And I'm sure my wifes,
hair and nails
just won't understand

One more drop of rain
One more drop that's all
You can sure enough bet
be a hole in my levee wall

I'm down here on my knees
and I been prayin'
Lord could you spare me
some relief
I'm just sayin
I'm doin' what I can
to get my feet up on dry land
but the water's risin' faster than I am

One more drop of rain
One more drop that's all
You can sure enough bet
be a hole in my levee wall

There's days you want to think
you could be winnin'
with  a shot of some belief
I'd keep from sinkin'
I'm doin' all I can
To get my feet up on dry land
tryin' to plant my boot heels in the sand/the waters risin faster than I am

One more drop of rain
One more drop that's all
You can sure enough bet
be a hole in my levee wall

One more drop of rain
One more drop that's all
Got a thumb holdin' back a flood
in that levee wall

Come n' Go Katie

(K Brown)

You and I can't say
We were good for one another
Just sort of last call kind of lovers
The kind that'll help you through the night
And in the morning when the whiskey breath
is just a little stronger
we hit the bottle one more time
just a little longer

Come n Go Katie
Come n Go Katie
Come n Go Katie
would you come n go with me

Is that all that there is?
Please don't tell me or I'll lose it
It all just gets to lonesome to bear
As you're slippin' into last nights clothes
and slippin' off to somewhere
Leavin' me just sittin' here
and contemplating "nowhere"

Come n Go Katie
Come n Go Katie
Come n Go Katie
hit the bottle one more time with me

I couldn't tell you why
the sky's all full of rain
but I could tell you how a whiskey bottle
helps to ease the pain
And I couldn't say for certain
How a love could go so wrong
but I been thinkin' on it every day
til the  bottles gone

Come n Go Katie
Come n Go Katie
Come n Go Katie
hit the bottle one more time with me

You and I can't say
we were good for one another ...

Delta Blue

(by K. Brown)




Capo 2nd fret

C
There ain't no sky bluer
G
than a Carolina sky
Am                                 Am/G
on a hot day in summer
F
in the month of July

C
And there ain't no boy greener
G
than a boy on his own
Am                                               Am/G
on those hard worn down footprints
F
thats a long way from home

G
And they make you a man
Am                               Am/G
just as hard as can be
F
in the hot July sun
Dsus
in that low country

G
And the Delta Blue is truer
Am                          Am/G  
than any blue can be

F
And no heart could be finer
Dsus
than the ones in Carolina
G
in the mornin'

F
And there ain't no sky bluer
D
than a Carolina sky
C
in the mornin'

There ain't no grass geener
than the green grass of home
when it's 110 there in the shade
and you're a long way from home

Couldn't be nobody bluer
than a boy could be
in a hard scrabble backward place
way over the sea

And they made you a man
just as hard as the stone
of that hot worn down land
been left on it's own

But the delta Blue is truer
than a blue can be

And there ain't no hearts finer
than the ones from Carolina
in the mornin'

And there ain't no blue truer
than the Red, White and Blue
in the mornin'

You do the work you have to do
do the best you can
take it on your shoulders'
it's the measure of a man

God I never asked for much
but if you'd take the time to see
I'd sweart I'd be a better man
if you'd bring him back to me

And they made him a man
just as hard as can be
in the hot July sun
in that low country

And the Delta Blue is truer
than any blue can be

And no heart could be finer
than the ones in Carolina
in the mornin'

And there ain't no sky bluer
than a Carolina sky
in the mornin

Aurora Borealis Song

(by K Brown)

In the North
where the creeks and the air runs cold
and the waters divide
from the glaciers of old

I breathed so deep
til my lungs were raw
Where the mighty trees 
outlived the saw

It was there in midst
of the cedar stands
and wild and free
Canadien winds
There was a time
in a young mans life
when I had hoped
that we'd start a life

but leaves fall down
and cover stone
and the Huron waters
just roll on

In the Mackinac
wild and free
the ghosts in the trees
there howl at me
the haunted leaves
and hunter wind
as it was in the beginning
blows no end

and leaves fall down
and cover stone
and the Huron waters
just roll on

I am old now
my mind it strays
to where the Aurora Borealis
fades
Stars there swim
the deep night sea
the ghosts living there
won't let me be

I am old now
my heart still beats
where the Aurora Borealis
meets
the stars there swim
the deep night sea
I see the ghosts there
they won't let me be

(for reference: PERRO Sessions, or E-A-Cm-B )

Pie In The Sky

(by K. Brown)

There ain't no pie

up in the sky
         C                                                                G
At least there's not for me
              D                                                                         G
Down here I'm just a workin' man
         Dsus
as poor as i can be
           C
But on the day
                                                G
you'd marry me
        B                                                C
I'd be a richer man
              G                                           C           G
And cut a slice or two of pie
              Dsus                                          G
and mine be sweet pecan

babe
           Dsus                                           G
yeah, you're my sweet pecan

G/C/G/Dsus/G

There ain't no pot
of gold
at the end of my rainbow
Down here I'm just
a toil away
until the day I'm old
And when I'm through
I'll tally up
the times I spent with you
Each day's a pot of gold
I'm rich and I got you babe
I'm rich and I got you

And when it's time
for me to fly
I'll be on my way
I spent a life
a workin' man
'bout all I can say
And tried to leave
a better place
than the one in which I came
and you and me made brighter days
out of the ones that rained
babe
out of the ones that rained

G
Well there ain't no pie up in the sky
        Dsus                          G
But you're my sweet pecan babe
Dsus                           G
you're my sweet pecan

Woody's Ramble

(by K. Brown)

Where's that wide-eyed dreamer
with a touch of pirate schemer
A romantics hidden nature
and a dash of Townes Van Zandt

Woody's gone out on a ramble
guess his brains got slightly scrambled
and we'll not likely see the likes of him
come 'round this way again

What happened to the noodle
of our expatriated cowboy
that led him off in search of
and took him off the grid

Woody's gone out on a ramble
Queens and Aces all been gambled
and we'll not likely see the likes of him
sittin' at the table again

As a poet and a dreamer
and one of truth's purveyors
a heart as big as Texas
exiled way across the pond

Steppin' to a different drummer
I imagine he's out runnin'
with Pancho, Lefty, Luke the Drifter
gone and blown out in the wind

So toss one back for Happy Jack
tip a toast to Tipperary
And let us have just one more song
before ya hit the road

Woody's gone off on a ramble
now our world's got slightly scrambled
and we'll not likely see the likes of him
come 'round this way again

Woody's got off on a ramble
up and pulled out all his channels
and we'll not see another like him
come 'round this way again

Just a poet and a prophet
one of truth's pursuaders
Adios now mi amigo
gone and blown out in the wind

King of the Blues

(by K. Brown)

He was a young boy
On a long road
dust on his shoes
whistlin' the blues
not knowin' where you're goin'
leads to where you're bound
hidin' in a place that can't be found.

In a young life
on a starry night
endless moonlight sky
nothin' like goodbye
big water rolls
washin' all those holes
and knowin' where you're goin'
leads to where you're bound
hidin' in a place you can't be found.

And it's a raw deal
think your pockets are full
but there's holes in your shoes
you left with no good news
Nothin' goin' for ya
Nothin' left to lose
that's why they call him
King of the Blues

It was a long night
in a young life
dust on his shoes
livin' out the blues
Not knowin' where's he goin'
led to where he's bound
in a cold street
on a darker side of town

Cold steel barrel blues
blood on his shoes
not knowin' where he's goin'
still led to where he's bound
in a cold street on a darker side of town

Cold steel barrel blues
blood on your shoes
and knowin' where your goin'
leads to where your bound
hidin' in a place you can't be found.

C'mon (That's Love)

by K. Brown

When love finds you
there ain't no doubt
you can run
but you can't live without
Darlin' you got me
twistin' deep within
I could fool myself
but I know I just can't win

So ....

(chorus)
C'mon, C'mon
let's go down this way
C'mon, C'mon
lets go down this way
It ain't no sin
to be givin' in this way
C'mon, C'mon
baby let's go down this way

Well a man's just a man
livin' on his own
hangin' on by the skin of his teeth
with noone at home
But when a woman shows up
and give his life a plan
ain't no way to resist
no, not for any man

So ... (chorus)

When a man loves a woman
he can't be satisfied
until that woman gives her love to him
and he'll find peace of mind
It's the way of the world
It's the mighty force of life
It's mighty, mighty, mighty
love won't be denied

So ... (chorus)



(for reference https://youtu.be/yxbGPANagc8  )

Road Dog Blues

(by K. Brown)

Sittin' on the front porch
and the sun is sinkin' low
pass the jug and have another round
before I go
back out on the road again
Lord I hate to go (yes i do)

Puttin' on my highway shoes
And trippin' down the line
tied up in a mess of knots
I fell down once or twice
but don't you worry boy
the potter's wheel is turnin round (round, round)
get back up put on those shoes
Lord I got them road dog blues

Well I'm headin on to Waycross, GA
down the Macon line
those good old boys are in the swing
the stringbox keepin time
Skydog slidin' in the groove
the Brothers got me feelin loose and fine ( yes they do)
Puttin on them travelin shoes
Lord I got them road dog blues

(Break)

Blue sky lookin' back at me
I'm just a ramblin' man
roll along and sing a song
it's all part of the plan
Lord you know I hate to leave you
steppin' in my highway shoes (yes, yes)
easin' out the back door
Lord I got them road dog blues

Nuthin' but a puff of breeze
Lord I got them road dog blues

Don't Go To Iowa

by K. Brown

We rolled into Iowa
We were rated number five
Thinkin' we were title bound
our hopes were ridin' high
by the time we left those corn fields
we were shucked and plucked and fried
if your gonna go to Iowa
next time be justified

Dont stare a Hawkeye
in the face
you'll get the evil eye
if you're gonna go to Iowa
next time be justified

(break)

We might have been in Iowa
about a minute and a half
when all those Hawkeye faithful
started chantin' for our ass
we were standin there like cornstalks
while the giant combines rolled
they cut us down there to the ground
and baled us up, sent us home

Dont stand a Hawkeye
beak to beak
you'll get the evil eye
if your gonna go to Iowa
next time be justified

(break)

So if you go to Iowa
let me give you some advice
those Iowans is hard and mean
their blood runs cold as ice
I aint sayin Im ungrateful
for their hospitality
but before I go again
Id rather have my right arm amputee'd

Dont stare a Hawkeye
in the face
you'll get the evil eye
if you're gonna go to Iowa
next time be justified

Fare Thee Well (So Long)

by K. Brown

My words are real
and my heart is true
as sure as the winter wind
blows cold through the city
as fresh as the Spring
will surely be
to make all that's weathered
renewed and pretty

When you leave
please take this old guitar
no matter where ya go
no matter how far
it'll be your friend
there to console ya
never feel lost
the nights won't own ya

So guess this is it
time to say goodbye
good luck
fare thee well
it's been good to know ya
There'll be a candle in the window
a light to guide ya
home
fare thee well
so long

The shadows growin' longer
the days gettin' older
got nothin' in my pocket
the sun dippin' lower
wish i could see
the green grass of home
and wish
I didn't always
feel so alone

My words are real
and my heart is true
as sure as the winter wind
blows cold through the city
as fresh as the Spring
will surely be
to make all that's weathered
renewed and pretty


But, guess this is it
time to say goodbye
good luck
fare thee well
it's been good to know ya
There'll be a candle in the window
a light to guide ya
home
fare thee well
so long

Wheels

(by K. Brown)

Been a longtime since I watched the sky
washed in red
and set on fire
And heard the sound of nightcall
singin' like a Sunday choir
Been on the road for so long
my soul boys is gettin' tired
wheels roll on
and take me back
hear the highway song

fire in my head is raging
cinder stars in the sky
the vision where my love is waitin
set my spirit flyin

Big night sky
lookin out
through endless starlight
whisky keeps me warm at night
dancin in moonlight
Been on the road for so long
my soul boys is gettin' tired
wheels roll on
and take me back
hear the highway song

fire in my head is raging
cinder stars in the sky
the vision where my love is waitin
set my spirit flyin

Campfire smoke
is swirlin'
rising like a ghostly shroud
speak the truth
and ease the pain
highway roll me on

Cold night sky
she grips me
struggle with the binds of men
til the highway song
she'll release me
til I gain control again

Interstate
roll along
end up in my bed tonight
whisky raging in my head
dancin in the moonlight
Been on the road for so long
my soul boys is gettin' tired
wheels roll on
and take me back
hear that highway song

(bluegrass break)

listen to the highway song
Harvest moon hang in the sky
the vision where my love is waitin
wheels let me fly

("Dollar Bill Blues" for reference)

Miners Lullaby

(lyrics: James Low, arrangement: K. Brown)



Sing little bird
Sing for the skies and your freedom
'cause its dark in this hole and our bodies have bonded
Yours to the miner and mine to the coal

I came from the cradle
of clear southern pine
You from across the wide ocean
Do you remember of your former life
I've heard it's a Garden of Eden

They say that the mountains
were made for this life
God made these hands just for workin'
Did God make your wings to be caged in the mine'to ease my poor mind with your singin'

Sing little bird
Sing for the skies and your freedom
'cause its dark in this hole and our bodies have bonded
Yours to the miner and mine to the coal

Now sleep little bird
Dream of your skies and your freedom
'cause its dark in this hole
and Im too tired to shovel

Planet X

(by K Brown)

Planet X
Is a rollin up fast
Like a black lead sled
On a big salt flat
That Old Planet X
Is a rollin up fast
Gotta run gotta go fast
Or just no way Im gonna last

What is that
Fireball up in the sky
What the hells that all about
People wonderin why
Neighbors on their knees
On their knees and cryin'
Better run, better go fast
Or you aint gonna last

Got these bills
but I aint got no cash
If I dont hurry up
then i think I'm gonna crash
What is that
Fireball in the sky
If it gets here quick
Maybe that'll save my ass

That big old fireball
Come a flyin up fast
Gonna have to run, gotta go quick
Or I aint gonna last
you got no chance
If you got to ask
Gotta run gotta go fast
Or just no way Im gonna last

Planet X
Is a rollin up fast
Like a black lead sled
On a big salt flat
That Old Planet X
Is a rollin up fast
Better run better go fast
or you aint gonna last

oooooo - wheeee

Look Away

(by K. Brown)

If theres one thing Ive learned
Its that time dont ever stop turnin
Better not look away
From your yearnin
If youre gonna see the light of a new day

Start livin for today
yeah start livin for today

Its a hard life
Almost everywhere you look
Dont look away
Its an open book
Waitin for the pages to be turned

The travellers burden
Weighs heavy on some
Dont tell me do you look away?
At the end of the day when daylights done
Cast a little light my way

Take a load off
I hear what theyre sayin
Then i turned for minute looked away
On my knees and prayin
Throw a little love my way

Yessiree!

(by K. Brown)

Can't tell how it's gonna be
til you wake up, and maybe then you'll see
it's a new day, a different day
even different than yesterday
Sun's gonna shine a little brighter
Smiles gonna be a little wider
yessiree ... you're gonna see it that way.

You've heard the one 'bout Jonah and the whale
let me tell you brother it's no fish tale
you can bet he didn't think
he'd be invited to lunch that way
Lucky for him the whale felt some congestion
sufferin' a case of some indigestion
out popped Jonah, put a whole new spin on his day

You see ...

Can't tell how it's gonna be
til you wake up, and maybe then you'll see
it's a new day, a different day
even different than yesterday
Sun's gonna shine a little brighter
Smiles gonna be a little wider
yessiree ... bet you're gonna see it that way.

Think about it ...

If we were back in the Caveman days
We'd all be livin' by caveman ways
nobody'd be treated like
no V.I.P
We'd all be runnin' for our next meal
tryin' to avoid bein' some next meal
don't seem no way to spend a perfecly sunny day

Can't tell how it's gonna be
til you wake up, and maybe then you'll see
it's a new day, a different day
even different than yesterday
Sun's gonna shine a little brighter
Smiles gonna be a little wider
yessiree ... you're gonna see

Now I'm not sayin' whats right or wrong
my whole bags just to ryhme this song
But it wouldnt do if I had the blues
the words would come out wrong
Got to go back into my state of mind
rearrange some things, straighten up the spine
And maybe everything it will come along just fine

Can't tell how it's gonna be
til you wake up, and maybe then you'll see
it's a new day, a different day
even different than yesterday
Sun's gonna shine a little brighter
Smiles gonna be a little wider
yessiree ... you're gonna see

yeah absolutely ...

you're bound to see it that way.

Grand Lake

(by K Brown)

You've never seen a scene
as crazy as a scene can be
Until you've been to Grand Lake
You ain't never seen.

The thing that keeps me comin' back
it's crazy as a heart attack
like no place else
that I have ever been

Don't know if it's in the water
don't know if it's in the air
The air is very rarify'd up there?

Well ... things ain't always sunny
But mostly they are funny
Like when the terrorist stole all the electricity
(go ask Ms. Jean ... and that reminds me)

Of course there's Ms Jean Berry
all the way from Alabamy
a southern granny
up in Northern Michigan

It's quite well known she runs the ship
Don't you give her any lip
or she'll have you weedin'
rocks out of her yard.

And then there's Neal and Christy,
Jay and Karry, Bill and Dawn
All a part of our funky Up North Family ...

The group is quite resourceful
at the art of our own normal
a sorta cross between the Cleavers and Addam's families

(They're creepy and they're ooky
mysterious and spooky
they're altogether kooky
our Grand Lake family)

And, comes Tequila Friday's
It makes my head go sideways
and Staurday's dont get started be-fore three P ...M...

If you've ever had a dream
I'm pretty sure that you have seen
this place called Grand Lake
float around up in your head

A place that you would love to see
some place you wish that you could be
an alternate reality
instead.

Don't know if it's in the water
don't know if it's in the air
The air is very rarify'd up there.

Well ... things ain't always sunny
But mostly they are funny
Like when the camper tipped the tractor on it's head
(um ... go ask Jay ... )

You've never seen a scene
as crazy as a scene can be
Until you've been to Grand Lake
You ain't never seen.

The thing that keeps me com'in back
it's crazy as a heart attack
like no place else
that I have ever been

(Addams Family reprise ...)

yep ... the thing that keeps me com'in back
it's crazy as a heart attack
(..but Grand Lake I love ya! ...)
like no place else
I've ever been

Kite Flyer

(by Kevin Brown)



I see the sun up over yonder
Wakin' up another day
Tellin' me I'm gettin' older
But it's ok

A breeze has got to blowin'
My kites up there in the air
Driftin' round up in the current
Like it don't care

How you gonna find your fortune
When your lost up in the air
Dreams tied to a kite tail
a stray thats tethered way up there

I see the sun up over yonder
Wakin' up another day
Tellin' me not to worry
Cause Im ok

A breeze has got to blowin'
Bendin' boughs up in the trees
Rushin' through the open windows
does as it please

A breeze has got to blowin'
It won't wait around too long
Dreams tied to a kite tail
soon they're up and gone

How you gonna find your fortune
When your lost up in the air
Dreams tied to a kite tail
a stray thats tethered way up there

A dream tied to a kite tail
soon it's up and gone

(all my shit's up in the air ...)

Meteor

(by Kevin Brown)



I ain't seen the sky in so long
Washed in red and set on fire
Can't remember hearin' night fall
singin' like a Sunday choir

I been on the run for so long
Just another legend bein' born
Can't say where it is I'm goin'
Or where tonight I'll be lyin'

Feel the beat of the rythym of the road
Feel the beat of the rythym of the road

Takin' a trip down the cosmic highway
Catch a ride if your goin' my way
Hot white lights in my rearview mirror
Road ahead don't seem much clearer

But I'm flyin' like a meteor

Campfire smoke like a ghostly shroud
Under God's long distance nightfall
Lookin' out through endless starlight
Nothin' in this world is so small

Takin' a trip down the cosmic highway
Catch a ride if your goin' my way
Hot white lights in my rearview mirror
Road ahead don't seem much clearer
I been on the run for so long
Just another legend bein' born

But I'm flyin' like a meteor

Feel the beat of the rythym of the road
Feel the beat of the rythym of the road

Flyin' like a meteor

Carnival Ride

(by Kevin Brown)

Stare into a cup of coffee
At two eyes there starin' back at me
Like a FunHouse mirror
Distorting everything I see
And they take on different meanings
Until that image can't be judged at all, in fact
Until the reflection that you're lookin' at
Isn't nothin' like the one who's lookin' back

And you find you're in the carnival
With a fire inside burnin' you alive
Colored lights that hypnotize
Spinning cartwheels all across you're mind
Lookin' for some gospel
Or maybe just some reason to believe
The carnival it waits for you
Step inside the Barker calls, we'll feed your dreams

(break)

The Carney takes your money
For a seat on another thrilling ride
you strap into the cockpit
reachin' for a partner at your side
Now your standin' on the Midway
It's magical illusions to reveal
And the carnival is at full tilt
And you know you won't ever want to leave

You empty out your pockets
Playin' every last game of chance
Hope to carry home a prize
The lights and music hold you in their trance
The Midway holds your dreams
Right there in the palm readers hand
And the sign says Madame Out Today
No fortunes read since she's been away

(break)

Sittin' at the top of the Ferris wheel
You can see for miles and miles around
The lights go on forever
Whether you are lookin' up or lookin' down
Tomorrow is another day
A whole new group of guests to arrive
But before they close the gates tonight
Maybe you and I can get in one more ride

The Stand

(by K. Brown)

1.
In the days when I was younger
I drew water from the well
Until I used the damn thing up
left her dry near as I could tell

I don't want what I ain't good for
I'm just tryin' to get along
I don't want what I am not
Ain't too long and I'll be gone

2.
My momma tried to school me
tried her best to raise me right
guess I must be a disappointment
look at how I spend my nights

I don't want what I ain't good for
I'm just tryin' to get along
I don't want what I am not
Ain't too long and I'll be gone

3.
My old granddad tried to warn me
times a flock flushed to the wing
take the time boy while you're livin'
to honor all God's livin' things

I don't want what I ain't good for
I'm just tryin' to get along
I don't want what I am not
Ain't too long and I'll be gone

4.
In the time of my beginning
How the sun it ruled the skies
I didn't see the road ahead
or stop to ask the question "why"

I don't want what I ain't good for
I'm just tryin' to get along
I don't want what I am not
Ain't too long and I'll be gone

5.
The time it all goes by so quickly
Like a flock flushed to the wing
All this time that I been living
Did I ever learn a thing

Now that times become so distant
I can't recall it if I try
Did I ever raise my voice to protest
so much louder than a sigh

You and I, we are Allies
we're all tryin' to make a stand
until we raise our tired voices
Until they can be heard again.

Pilgrim Street Lament

(by Kevin Brown)



I know that I don't look like much
I can confess
But I seen my share of life and times
I'd bet you couldn't guess
The shelters kinda cold
I know it aint the best
If you got a minute I could tell you somethin'

I might tell you 'bout the time
With two outs in the ninth and two men on
We were playin' where the Reds played
Man I was so young
All my Glory Days
Were in that summer sun
Man I was somethin'

My feet they got the frostbite on a winter night
Man it was cold
I was sleepin' in the back of a Dodge
That I made my home
I just don't know where it was
That things could go so wrong
But I can't cry over that

But, once there was time
When I had all my toes
My feet were fast and fleet
And how my legs could run
And I could hit that ball
clear up into the summer sun
How I can recall

Now I come here when they let me
Just two or three days a week
I do my chores, pray to the Lord
They give me a nice hot meal to eat
Then I lay down where they give me
A place to sleep
And I can dream

That once there was time
When I had all my toes
My feet were fast and fleet
And how my legs could run
And I could hit that ball
clear up into the summer sun
Man I was somethin'

Note: Like to do a special callout to Mitch Albaum who inspired this song. I don't know him ... would love to some day ... but it's his relating of the story of a homeless shelter and one man in particular in Detroit (one out of many other similar stories that could be told) that prompted me to try and relate it with dignity in a song. Hope it succeeded.

Another Failed Believer

(by Kevin Brown)



When I was just a boy
Down at my momma's Church of Christ
The doors they opened wide
And they welcomed you inside
And the voices they were raised
To the sweet Lord by and by
Let us fly Lord
Let us fly

...hear 'em singin'

I feel
My soul rising
Today
I feel
My soul rising
Today
Lord I'm
On my way
Goin' home
Goin' home
I feel
my soul risin'
Today

Well a man can find himself
In dark trouble in a hurry
The booze and pills will make you sick
And the money ... pain and worry
They told me "take the hand of Jesus
Let him lift your earthly burden"
Let us fly Lord
Let us fly

... singin'

Won't be slowed down
By worries
Anymore
Won't be slowed down
By worries
Anymore
Well I'm bound
To Heavens door
Won't be troubled
anymore
No worries
Slow me down
Today

The years have come and gone
I'd like to say I found the answer
I'll tell you true and honest
I'm just a failed Believer
The voices that I hear
Its just the whiskey in the bottle
Got to fly Lord
Got to fly

Yeah, the voices that I hear
It's just the whiskey in the bottle
Got to fly Lord
Got to fly

Note: For some more explanation on this songs early origin check out this posting.

Interstate 23 (Frozen)

(by Kevin Brown)

I reach into my jacket
Pull the keys out of my pocket
And slide behind the wheel

A crystal silouhette
Of my breath is still hangin' there
Frozen in the air

Like the last look that you gave me
As we parted on the street
Now I'm sittin' in the front seat
In suspended disbelief
And I'm starin straight ahead
at that two lane Interstate

That leads to nowhere ...

What was it I was thinkin'

What could I have been thinkin'

as Im shakin' off the cold

studying my fingers

frozen on the wheel

and look off down the road

Like the last look that you gave me
As we parted on the street
Now I'm sittin' in the front seat
In suspended disbelief
And I'm starin straight ahead
at that two lane Interstate

Where was I goin' ...

My Loaded Ninety-Eight

(by Kevin Brown)



My name is Harold Brown
And I'm Detroit's native son
I worked the day-shift on the line
from sunup to sundown
Building V8 twin carb Oldsmobiles
Never had a drink on break
Punched the clock there every day
One day buy me a Ninety-Eight

I met up with this nice girl
in Nineteen Fifty Three
We moved from Southern Illinois to Detroit
Once she married me
Can't say why she did it
For all my faulty lines
For her I punched that clock
So I could do more than rub together dimes

We set up house in a little place
Over on Lorraine
It wasn't much to look at
But, to wife, three kids and me ... a mansion all the same
All of my good fortune
Was sittin' right there on that street
Along with my new Motor City built and paid for
Brand new Ninety-Eight

This plant that I been workin' at
It worked through two World Wars
And when I came home from Korea
well it worked a little more
To break me and to make me
Into the man I need to be
The Army never did do that
GM did that to me

We raised three kids on Union wage
Got 'em all through school
They bought machines of their own
And nice big houses too
Ain't that the way it's supposed to be
Seems like it is to me
Tell 'em all up there in Congress
It's what feeds the economy

So today I'm listenin' to the news
On the TV in the home
Detroit was up in Washington
Askin' for a loan
Those Senators told Detroit
"You must atone for all your sins"
They got taxpayers to protect
But ain't I one of them?

So I guess the thing that you could say
Is Detroit can go to hell
Congress could be right on that
You can't never tell
But if the Motor City
Goes off down that track
It's likely gonna carry Congress out
Right on its back

I guess it sounds fashionable these days
To tell Detroit to go to hell
Congress could be right on that
Well, you can never tell
But if the Motor City
Is told to just pound sand
You might as well start callin' us
The United States of Japan

I'll bet somebody loves my Olds Ninety-Eight
there in Japan ...

notes: An Apolitical tune ...

I live up in the rustbelt states ... and the Auto Industry is everybody's main lifeline ... so I wrote this song based on all the recent turmoil going on with Detroit, Congress, bailouts, and all that.

There are some factual inconsistencies in the song ... anybody who knows cars (Detroit steel that is ) knows that Oldsmobiles have never been built in Detroit ... they were built in Lansing before Olds' great demise. But somehow that just didn't help convey the song so .... I just changed it.

And Lorraine is a little street up in Lansing where my folks migrated to from Southern Illinois ... back in the 50's when people were moving North from Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee ... to work on the production lines in Detroit and Lansing.

And I guess this ain't even "auto-biographical" either ... written from the pov of my old man. We are on the third generation now of a family who's lives, fortunes ... and misfortunes ... have been made from the Detroit Auto Industry.

Most everything else is true ... or will be.

Tiger Rag

(by K. Brown)

Ode to Kenny Rogers (left-handed pitching ace) of the Detroit Tigers

Kenny man, Kenny man
(Hey Birdman, Hey Birdman)
Throw that ball
fast as you can
everybody in the stands
watch the big man fan
Kenny man, Kenny man
(Hey Birdman, Hey Birdman)

Kenny man, Kenny man
what you got there
in yo' hand
some hocus pocus, maybe magic sand
watch the big man fan
Kenny man, Kenny man

Throw that ball, high and low
big man swing
right from his toes
Sends a mighty rush of air
But he don't know why nothin's there
Kenny man, Kenny man

Kenny man, Kenny man
Up and down
this great big land
Everybody thinks you da man
you'd be President if you ran
Kenny man, Kenny man

Tigers won in '68
Back in '84
well that was great
But in 2 '0 6 don't you be late
When Kenny man, dusts the big ol man
kenny man, Kenny man

Kenny man, Kenny man
batter up
and mow 'em down
Your the big man in this town
You da man for miles around
Kenny man, Kenny man

Kenny man, Kenny man
throw that ball
hard as you can
everybody in the stands
watch the big man fan
Kenny man, Kenny man

Every fan up in them stands
gonna cheer when the big man fans.

Update: 4-14-09 Yesterday, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych died in a freak accident as he was crushed under the dump truck which he was trying to repair. If you are unaware of "The Bird" you missed one of baseballs greatest phenoms and absolute characters. His escapades of pacing the mound like a caged tiger (fitting for the Tiger he was)... all the while talking to the baseball in his hand ... conjoling it to do his bidding ... well ... it's a scene I won't ever forget in America's greatest pastime. This song is dedicated to him.

Duck Chateau

(by K. Brown)

(open to piano boogie and drums)

Every Friday night
there's a place we go
way down the hill
when the sun gets low
the music's hot
it's a swingin' spot
at the place we know
the Duck Chateau

If the door is locked
shake the old lock box
the whole place 'il rock
when the band gets hot
down the hill we'll go
when the sun gets low
to the place we know
the Duck Chateau

(Bridge)
The band rolls in around seven
but things gonna really rock about eleven
don't shoot the drummer
he's got the beat
just a little bent
but have you on your feat ...

oooh-oooh, oooh-weee
oooh-oooh, oooh-weee
rock n' roll
down at the Duck Chateau

You might keep 'em in the basement
but they bound to sneak on out
when the rock ' roll gets hopin'
they all jump and shout
down the hill we'll go
when the sun gets low
to the place we know
the Duck Chateau

When the doctors of rythym
turn up the beat
gonna have to turn down the heat
at the Duck Chateau
Yeah we'll rock n' roll
down at the Duck Chateau

oooh-oooh, oooh-weee
oooh-oooh, oooh-weee
Yeah we'll rock 'n roll
down at the Duck Chateau

Requiem for a Lost Man

(by K. Brown)

You can run out in the night
You can run against the wind
Watch your spirit takin' flight
and then come crashin' down again
Feels like breakin' down old walls
just lookin' to gain control
as you run to risk it all
a burnin' rising in your soul

Some men will walk alone
Some men are made to wait
Some men lose all control
Some men just fade away

Sometimes you can't know why
Some men are bound to fate
and why it is some men
are just bound to fade away

You test your own resolve
You find you question everything
the answers never seem quite clear
and you go runnin' on again
Theres an aching in your heart
You're just tryin' to gain control
You run to risk it all
a burnin' rising in your soul

Some men will walk alone
Some men are made to wait
Some men lose all control
Some men just fade away

Sometimes you can't know why
Some men are bound to fate
and why it is some men
are just bound to fade away

Now you're sittin' in this place
And you stare out at the night
You've got nowhere to go
And your dreams have taken flight
Theres an aching in your heart
You're just tryin' to gain control
You run to risk it all
a burnin' rising in your soul

Tomcat Prowl

(by K.Brown)

When the night
comes fallin' down
on the other side of town
like some ol' tomcat
you gonna see me
com'n 'round

Better run
take my advice
don't you stop now to think twice
I'm on the prowl
you gonna see
for some new heart

(bridge)
When you see me
hangin' round
much too late, without a sound,
you can run
but you can't hide
from all my charms

No sense resisting
it'll be too late
my spell is strong, not second rate
and this ol' tomcat
is gonna see you
breakin' down

Better run
take my advice
don't you stop now to think twice
I'm on the prowl
you gonna see
for some new heart

No sense resisting
it'll be too late
my spell is strong, not second rate
and this ol' tomcat
is gonna see you
breakin' down

(note: Double drop D)

Deja Vu

by K. Brown)





Feels like Deja Vu to me
Feels like Deja Vu to me
didn't we do this once before
back in ninteen seventy

Young men are dyin', they're dyin' for liberty
Young men are dyin', they're dyin' for liberty
'cept the land they're all dyin' in
don't feel like it's gettin' free to me

Hello Mr. President, what did you do today
Hello Mr. President, what did you do today
while I was sittin' in my Humvee
watched my friend get blown away

Well I sure hope to see that green green grass of home
Well I sure hope to see that green green grass of home
'cause the sand in Karbala
it ain't nuthin' but dust and bone

Well a war ain't got no winners only pain is all I see
Well a war ain't got no winners only pain is all I see
and the longer that I stay here
it'll be the death of me

Feels like Deja Vu to me
Feels like Deja Vu to me
didn't we do this once before
back in ninteen seventy

G - capo 5

Serenade #2

(by K. Brown)

I'll serenade you
with a song
That I know
Maybe the sweetest song that I know
Make you want to leave here with me
when I go

I'll serenade you
With a song
So strong
Lift you up so high and feel my might
Would it make you want to fly from here
with me tonight

Standing
in the fading light
Watch you dance
In your private song makes my head take flight
Take flight just to watch you
As the night grows long

I'll serenade you
with a song
sweet and low
No louder than a whisper
Youll be the only one to hear it
Will you fly from here with me tonight
when I go?

Guilty - The Final Question

(by K. Brown)

I'm guilty

Guilty of a masquerade
Just as you suspected
While I watched you chase an idol dream
Clouded by your envy

Guilty of a broken dream
The one that you had fashioned
From the ones that you found fashionable
Irrespective of their meaning

Defenseless to a broken heart
And not sweeping up the pieces
Disrespecting feeling
Coexisting without passion

Guilty of premeditation
Inflicting pain, no medication
Ending this time with no next time
Provide no new beginning

Guilty of not wanting you
The way you had intended
I won't admit though to not loving you
Though that would be convienient

But I am guilty
There's no hiding that
I'm exposed now for conviction
There now are you happy?

There's no reprieve
There'll be no pardon
I am guilty you believe that
No more walks among the garden

Not so easy though
The final question
So tell me
of your redemption?

You Got a Voice (Higher Ground)

(by K. Brown)



World full of choice
so many voices
looking for answers
try to be heard
So much confusion
Need an intrusion
of love ...
Why is it so hard
to come together
Why is it so hard

I'm lookin' for higher ground
stand on higher ground
lookin' for higher ground
yes higher ground

You got a voice
use it to sing out
be an intrusion
make yourself heard
end the confusion
be an infusion
of love ...
It's the heartbeat of the universe
so let your heart shine
The heartbeat of the universe

I'm lookin' for higher ground
stand on higher ground
lookin' for higher ground
yes higher ground

One Soul Rising

(by K. Brown)

Intro: Guitar refrain from "Peace in the Valley"(light blues in 'G') - then leads into OSR in 'G' (gospel feel).

I feel my soul rising today
I feel my soul rising today
'Cause I'm on my way
Goin' Home
Goin' Home
I feel my soul rising today

Won't be slowed down by worries anymore
Won't be slowed down by worries anymore
'Cause I'm bound to Heaven's door
Goin' home
Goin' home
No worries slow me down anymore

'Cause I'm bound to Heaven's door
won't be troubled anymore
No worries slow me down today

When you come by don't you weep where I lay
When you come by don't you weep where I lay
'Cause I'm gone to my reward
I'll be waiting
At Heaven's door
Yeah, one soul is rising today

(note: The story here is, I wrote this a month or so before my Dad passed away. He knew, and we all knew he would be going ... terminal lung cancer ... and I was reaching for something to comfort the idea. I imagined him passing along this lament to all of us. The bit on Peace In The Valley is because that was his favorite hymn. And I ended up singing this song at his memorial service - accompanied by my sister on fiddle ... and my son singing harmony. And that was my tribute to my Dad.

Later on some of this verse/melody found it's way into the song Another Failed Believer ... and in a off-handed way ... that song was/is also a tribute to my upbringing ... even though I may not have quite hit the mark ...)

Change in my Pocket

(by K. Brown)



Don't have enough
change in my pocket
Not enough
sunny days
You want to catch a love
it's like catchin' a rocket
It's what I want
to chase these blues away

You're all I want
You're all I need
to chase these blues away
from me

Can't understand
why life's so elusive
not enough time
always slippin' away
this thing runs through me
like I'm an electric socket
keep tellin' me
every day's a good day

You're all I want
You're all I need
to chase these blues away
from me

Just seem to need
a change of direction
Cloud blew over
my sunny day
Thought I might catch love
it's like catchin' a rocket
No chance these blues
will go away today

My Baby's a Train

(by K. Brown)


Don't you hear that whistle blowin'
when my baby walks down that line
Don't you hear that whistle blowin'
when my baby walfs down that line
Lord the way she sashays
Lord you know that gal looks fine.

Well that track done got curves
way off down the line
Well that track done got curves
way off down the line
But not like my baby
Her curve it sure looks fine.

Want to make that train
go bump and grind
when my Baby sashays
down the line
Want to hear that whistle's
lonesome whine
When my baby sashays
down the line.

Dont you hear that whistle blowin' ...

New Orleans

(K. Brown)

When the hard wind blowed
and the levee's broke
I lost everything I owned
the whole life I known

And as the water rose deep
some of us were left sleeping
now I don't care if I grow old
in New Orleans

And that Divine Wind
washed away all our sins
But the Easy she ain't no heaven
don't ever want to go back there again

And in the parrishes where we live our lives
every day was for the livin'
But the water came and drowned it all
now I got no beads for giving

And as the water rose deep ...

And now as the wind subsides
and the water is receding
I don't care if I grow old
in New Orleans

George Harrison Blues

(by K. Brown) 

When I take flight I wonder 

Will I be guided by Heaven's light 

Lifted up on sparrows wings 

and Peace to guide me in the night 

Peace and Love are the answer 

are the answer 

1-2. that lights the way 

3. in the end 

Or will it be the life I've led 

has finally let me down 

and no mercy I'll be shown along the way 

no Love to warm me in the day 

 Peace and Love ... 

Wake up man! Shake me from my reverie 

on this road on which I stumble 

wasn't it George Harrison who said, 

"the answers in the end". 

 Peace and Love ... (refrain) the dream ...

Love and Care of a Marshall JCM 800 2103 (circa 1981)

The AMP Doctor: Scott Russell 1-248-914-1177 (he does all of Junkyards amps). Note: he lives in Clarkston across from Pine Knob (DTE).




JCM800 MODELS

Tubes :Lead models 1959, 1986, 1986 bass, 1987, 1992 lead, 2103, 2104, 2203, 2204, 4010, 4103, 4104 V1 is the first preamp. Recommend a low-noise type with a coiled heater, such as NOS 7025s or ECC83s. JJ ECC83s and Sovtek 12AX7LPSs or EHs are suitable. NOS 5751s recommended if lower gain is desired.V2 is the driver and cathode follower for the tone controls. A low noise tube is not critical, however the heater-cathode insulation must be good quality. NOS JAN ECC83/12AX7s are recommended for this position. We understand that some technicians recommend Ei or JJ ECC83s for this duty.V3 is the phase inverter. A low noise tube is not critical, however the heater-cathode insulation must be good quality. NOS JAN 12AX7s are recommended for this position. We understand that some technicians recommend Ei or JJ ECC83s for this duty.Power tubes are 2 x EL34 or 6550 in 50-watt models, 4 x EL34 or 6550 in 100-watt models. Bias adjustment is MANDATORY.

Source:
http://www.thetubestore.com/inonmaram.html#Lead%20models%201959,%201986,%201986%20bass,%201987,%201992%20lead,%202103,%202104,%202203,%202204,%204010,%204103,%204104


Amp Specifications :

All specs can be found at:

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm#JCM800



Modifications recommended to Achieve Maximum Tone :

All specs can be found at:

http://www.tone-lizard.com/Ultimate_JCM800.htm

http://www.tone-lizard.com/Marshall_Myths.htm#Marshall


Trouble Shooting:

Q
Hi, I have this marshall jcm800 that I use not to often, recently I was playing and I noticed that the sound volume and the quality drops for few seconds, after that It is ok for a while and drops again ....I am a real doomie with electronics, please help me out with this ...thanks......GIO -- Gio

A
Gio- I think that everybody playing a tube amp should have plenty of spare tubes so you might first try replacing all of the tubes to see if that solves the problem. (Mark the old tubes with their position before you take them out.) If that does solve the problem you might try putting the old tubes back in to figure out which one was the culprit. If that DOESN'T solve the problem you'll probably want an amp tech to check it out... it could be a bad solder joint or a bad contact on a jack.
Good luck! -- Steve

A couple Great Trouble shooting sites:

http://www.rickonslow.com/mods/ampfaq.html

http://acruhl.freeshell.org/mga/main/troubleshoot.html

Open Tunings: The Joni Mitchell Method

Take the example of standard tuning - i.e E A D G B E
You start with some standard pitch reference (a guitar tuner, tuning fork etc) to give you the note for the lowest string - E.
Depress the E string at the 5th fret to give you the note for the next string (A).
Then you fret the A string at the 5th fret to tune the next string (D) and so on.
Writing normal tuning this way would be : E 5 5 5 4 5
Which means:
E: Tune your lowest (6th) string to E (using a tuning fork, piano, or other reference)
5: Fret the 6th string at the 5th fret, and tune your 5th string to this note.
5: Fret your 5th string at the 5th fret and tune the 4th string to this note.
5: Fret your 4th string at the 5th fret and tune the 3rd string to this note.
4: Fret your 3rd string at the 4th fret and tune the 2nd string to this note.
5: Fret your 5th string at the 5th fret and tune the 1st string to this note.
[Note: the lowest string is called 6, the highest is called 1.]
Note that you only need one note name and five numbers to specify each tuning.
This system makes comparisons between different tunings easier. For example, the connection between a tuning of C# F# B E G# C# and standard tuning isn't obvious at first glance.Writing the two in the 'Joni' system, the connection becomes clear :
Tuning 1 : C# 5 5 5 4 5
Tuning 2 : E 5 5 5 4 5
In other words, the relative tuning of the strings is the same, it's just the starting note that differs.

I'm Blown Away

(by K. Brown)

When it is
I see your face
Like the Sun
It warms the space

When it is
I say your name
Like the wind
I’m blown away

When it is
The pale light fades
Like the sea
We’ll roll away

Like your face
When pale light fades
Like the sea
That rolls away
Like the Sun
That warms the day
Like the wind
I’m blown away

Like the wind
I’m blown away

Like the wind
I’m blown away

Like the wind
…

Reason to Live

(by K. Brown)

You make me love you Baby
You got the power
You make me want you Girl
There ain’t no other
You give me reason Baby
You give me reason to live
Because a love so strong
Just gives me reason to live

I called you up Girl
Said come on over
Don’t leave me hangin Baby
There ain’t no other
You give me reason Girl
You give me reason to live
Because a love so strong
Just gives me reason to live

(minor)
My engines hot Girl
I’m overheatin’
They say you’re not what
I’ve been needin'
But if that were true then there’s
No point believin’
That the sun will rise
And this old world will keep on spinnin’

You make me love you Baby
You got the power
You make me want you Girl
There ain’t no other
You give me reason Baby
You give me reason to live
Because a love so strong
Just gives me reason to live

Grand Lake Time

(by K. Brown)

Want to tell you all about Grand Lake Time
Yeah, Grand Lake Time
Racin’ out to “Three Sisters” feels like flyin’
On Grand Lake Time

Let me tell you ‘bout Grand Lake Time
Yeah Grand Lake Time
The smell of sweet cedar smoke sure is fine
On Grand Lake Time

Up again tomorrow
You can watch that big water roll
Roll along all day
Until the sun is settin’ low
That water’s gonna roll until it’s miles away
Maybe you want to roll away with it someday
Like been done for a thousand years before
And probably gonna roll along for ten thousand more

Tell you ‘bout Grand Lake Time
Yeah, grand Lake Time
Ain’t nobody gonna make you walk the line
On Grand Lake Time

Tell you all about Grand Lake Time
Yeah, Grand lake Time
Playin’ old time music by the fire tonight
On Grand Lake Time

Yellow Dog

(by K. Brown)

Yellow dog
Don’t know no blues
She just hops
And skips
Don’t wear no shoes
Yellow dog
Don’t never cry
Just looks at me
With deep
Dark eyes
Yellow dog
Cant be blue


Yellow dog
How would it be
If you
And I
Sailed out to sea
Yellow dog
We can roam
Wherever
We are
We’ll call home
Yellow dog
Just you and me


Yellow dog
Ill be blue
The day
I say
Goodbye to you
Yellow dog
When its time
To fly
Youre a damned old dog
To make me cry
Yellow dog
Ill be blue


(Joy Of My Life - reference)

I am blue.

Lucy passed away on Friday night. I was there with her ... found her in the backyard, crumpled in a pile at the foot of a small hill ... assuming she had a massive heart attack.

It was almost 8p. We were heading out to get something to eat ... and I whistled for Lucy, but she didn't come. She is an old dog ... and I know she doesn't hear so well anymore ... either that or she just ignores me a little longer to stay about her business. The right of age.

So I tramped out in the yard to hurry her along.

First front yard, then back ... no Lucy ... until I happened to glance over down the hill ...

She was still alive when I found her ... but, barely. And then, while I held her and got her collar off ... she had another attack. And, that put her out.

Lucy was going on 14. She led a dog's life.

That was Friday night, and as I sit here on Monday morning ... I am as blue as i could be.

Don't know what it is about losing a pet that could cause such sorrow. I don't know that I honestly felt as much sorrow at losing my Dad several years past, now. And, worse yet ... my brother lost his wife just this past year ... only 46 years old. So, it almost feels guilty to me now to yearn so for a dog.

And yet I do.

Maybe it is, then, that as I look back at old photos of her when we got her ... there is my youngest daughter in the picture. Maybe only 2 years old then ... but, 16 now. Lucy was with her for her entire life.

So much water crossed in all those years. So many miles passed.

A curly headed laughing little girl and her Big Yellow Dog ...

And now, a 16 year old girl, who is driving (and chomping at the bit to get her license) ... who is just 2 years away from being out of the house and off to college.
The last of our 3 children ... setting out to light up the world.

My oldest, 24, has already flown the coop ... lives and teaches in New York. Big city, big dreams ... an even bigger life ahead. And, yet ... there she is in the picture with the Big Yellow Dog ... when dreams were so simple as twirling in the yard. Dancing to a tune noone else could hear ...

My middle one, my son ... 23 this year ... and contemplating joining the Marine Corps as I write this. He too, is in those pictures with Lucy ... 2 fresh young faces ... nothing more life threatening than jumping off the end of a dock together into Grand Lake. And now, his mother and I will have a whole new set of worries ... not knowing what kind of danger he might be jumping into. Hoping he has the heart of the Big Yellow Dog to carry him on through rough times and good.

Friday night I buried my face in her fur one last time as I gave her over to the attendants at the vet clinic. To take her away. For good. I just couldn't help but sob.

For my lost dog ... for me ... for a lost and innocent time. The passage of a life, and a season of mine and my family's lives. For the fact there is so much more yet to go ... and, that I don't want this time past to grow dimmer. But, it invariably will.

Lucy was so much more than a mere pet.

As I watched her grow from pup to grand old dame ... and we marked the passage of time together ... almost constant companions ... Lucy was a mirror and a fixture of my own life.

I already miss her. I wonder how long I will continue to miss her? And, pray I will miss her more with each passing season. Because that will be feeling.

Remembering.

I don't want to forget anything about these times.

I don't want my memories of her to fade. For if they do, I am afraid the memory of my own life and precious moments of my family will fade along with it.

These things we hold so dear.

I loved you Lucy. And, will love you still.

Yellow dog? ... I am blue.

Waitin' on the Sun to Shine

(by K. Brown)




Starin' out the windowpane
Starin' at the cold cold rain
You weren't there to take my call
Maybe you weren’t there at all
Hopin’ maybe you’d pick up the phone
I let it ring

Today I did the things
Like when you wore my wedding ring
The things we always did
Keepin those old feelings hid
Hopin’ things ‘round here pick up in time
Just let it ring

I’ve got to get away
Head back to where it feels like home
Got a place up north of here
Maybe go there in the fall
Better memories there
That’s where I’ll be
If you even care at all

But for now, I’m gettin’ by
People say just bidin' time
Just hangin’ out and gettin' high
Waitin' for some kind of sign
Waitin’ for the phone to ring
Waitin’ on the sun to shine

Maybe it'll be alright in time
Waitin' on the sun to shine

(E)

To Whom it May Concern

(by K. Brown)

I spent this whole time
Just hoping you’d love me
When all along
You were only playing with my mind
So since nothing is forever
At least where you’re concerned
I’ll just pack up now
And move on down the line

I spent every waking moment
Just loving you
When all along
You only played me for a fool
So if the sun don’t ever rise
To warm another day
It won’t be half as cold
As it’s been loving you

To whom it may concern
I’m not gonna miss you
And in case you were concerned
You’re not on my mind
And to whom it may concern
I wouldn’t talk to you
unless I could scrounge up
My last dime

I spent every last dollar
That I ever had
To buy you all the things
I thought could make you mine
But it wouldn’t make you stay
So I threw it all away
Now there’s no place left for me to go
And we're just out of time

To whom it may concern
I’m not gonna miss you
And in case you were concerned
You’re not the one I’m dreamin’ of
And to whom it may concern
Don’t try to reach me
When I’m over yonder
On the other side

Goin' Down

(by K. Brown)



You see angels that dance
In your half full glass of Gin
Do they lift you up
Do they know the shape your in
Like flies buzzin' around you
And you think that they're your friends

I'm goin' down easy Boys
I'm goin' down again

Once you were a rock
In the middle of the road
Noone goin’ over you
Not any living soul
Noone who’s ever tried pushin’ you
Can understand now why you roll

I'm goin' down easy Boys
I'm goin' down that hole

Clouds are draggin’
Through a lazy blue sky
Comin’ to cover you
Up there where you hide
Or maybe just bring you more rain
after crossin' all those miles

I'm goin' down easy Boys
I'm goin' down in style

You think you’re as seasoned
As this old Gibson wood
But you’re bendin’ like a willow
Where a mighty oak once stood
What's it gonna finally take
to make you stand upright and be strong

I'm goin' down easy Boys
It won't take very long

You think your standing
On solid ground
But you’re up to your neck
And sinkin’ all around
Anyone who really knows you
Has already split town

I'm goin' down easy Boys
I'm goin' down

Man, you better give a listen
To those angels you see there
In the end
May be all that’s left to you
When what it is you knew
Just drifts into thin air

I'm goin' down easy Boys
I'm goin' way down there

(note:I added to and changed these lyrics once I finally found the songs groove in Sept 2008- that's what you hear on the YouTube)