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)

Love on the Run

(by K. Brown)

El sonido de la risa, y las guitarras.
Deriva en las calles
Escucho los latidos de tu corazon

Todo sentimiento de miedo o peligro se desvanece.
Hacia la noche
No hay nadie que venga por nosotros esta noche.

The sound of laughter, and guitars
Drifts out on the streets
I listen to the beating of your heart

All sense of fear or danger fades away
Into the night
There is noone who comes for us tonight

Chorus 1
Oh Corrina
My lovely one
How is it we are bandits on the run
We are only lovers
In each others arms
Our only crime is love

Chorus 2
We are only lovers
In each others arms
No consequence to anyone

I watch you as you sleep now
Your face no trace of guile
An innocence that no mask can disguise

Softly touch your olive skin
A gentle kiss upon your lips A gentle kiss but not goodbye
This cannot be our longing last goodbye If this must be, then let the bullet fly

Oh Corrina …

The dawn creeps in the window
I watch you as you rise
And rub the sleep out of your eyes

Who knows what the day brings
By night again we hide
But for now I have you by my side

Oh Corrina ….

Morning will come soon now
We saddle up at light
The sun to warm our faces as we ride

Quickly now Corrina
The Federales come
Once again we must hurry and take flight

(in Open G  ... S. Stills Spanish Suite for reference)

An Old Man's Lament

(by K. Brown)

In the time of my beginning
The sun, it ruled the skies
There for all to wonder at
Companion mountains high
But, that times become so distant
I can’t recall now if I try
The sun extinguished, mountains levelled
Empty in the sky

In the days that I was younger
I drew water from the well
I was forever thirsty
And could not get my fill
But the more I kept on drinking
I could not break the spell
Until I found, that it was me
At the bottom of the well

(chorus)
I’ll wait for you my darlin’
I’ll wait for you my love
In the time of my deliverance
From the waters of the flood
I go to cross that river now
Body spent and terrified
But I’ll wait for you, and my redemption
On the other side

The land, we raped and pillaged her
Her people we did maim
In the name of God and Country
We left her ground blood-stained
We explained our lapse of sanity
By saying it was just and right
But those words seem cold and useless now
As I stare into the night

The time it goes so quickly
Like a flock flushed to the wing
All this time that I’ve been living
Seems like only yesterday was Spring
I did not care to listen
To the prophets on my way
So now it is I say to you
Step lightly on the day

In these days as I grow older
Bent and mystified
I question, then if left to me
Would all be justified
But I never raised my voice to cry out
Louder than a sigh
I cannot tell you what to do
For that you must decide

Note: This song ultimately rewrote itself as "Allies", also posted here on this blog.

Barstool Blues #1

(by K. Brown)

I’m sittin’ here waitin’ for my ship to come in
But it’s hesitatin’, and my heads in a spin
Maybe I should just go on home

When I walked in this evening I was feelin’ O.K.
But the longer I sit here, I’m just wastin’ away
Maybe it’s time to go home

You know my wife and my kids
They’re all countin’ on me
To fulfill my obligation to their American Dream
But the dream they’re all dreamin
Somehow ain’t comin’ true
Just not sure anymore if it was my dream too

No shine on my shoes
Kickin’ dust up the street
I’m like yesterday’s news
Can’t find the beat
Seems like no sense in just sittin’ here
Singing these blues
So I’m going home

They say lifes in the living, and I suppose that it’s right
But the thing they don’t know is how I wound up here tonight
Maybe I should just go on home

I’m not sure when I detoured, should of zigged when I zagged
Nothing really gets clearer unless you’re  half in the bag
I know it’s time to go home

When I wake up tomorrow
And she asks me where have you been
she'd say you go to hell
I'd say, I already been
And you know I'd be right
Could be that’s why I came in here tonight

No shine on my shoes
Kickin’ dust up the street
I’m like yesterday’s news
Can’t find the beat
Seems like no sense in just sittin’ here
Singing these blues
So I’m going home


Note: Standard tuning D

Deep and Wide

(by K. Brown)

There’s a river flowin’ through my heart tonight
There’s a river flowin’ deep and wide
Nowhere for me to run from it
Nowhere for me to hide
A river’s flowin’ deep and wide

Gonna jump into the water, swim with all my might
Jumpin’ into that water deep and wide
Gonna take all of my strength
To find the other side
There’s a river flowin deep and wide

I see you standing on the shore
Save me from being all alone
My arms reach out to touch you
And I’m strugglin’ to take hold
The water’s sweepin me up fast
Got to keep you in my sight
Goin to swim this water deep and wide
Goin to get to you tonight

A river’s flowin through my heart tonight
A river’s flowin deep and wide
Goin to calm that river’s fury
You’re all I want tonight
That river’s flowin deep and wide

Nowhere for me to run from it
Nowhere for me to hide
That river’s flowin deep and wide

Dance a Ceili (Kaylee's Song)

(by K. Brown)
She's a twister blowin' down the hall
Did I just hear a screen door slam
Who moved my favorite rockin’ chair
Surely not the summer wind

She breezes ‘round the house all day
Who cares ‘bout worring anyway
No fear at all when nighttime falls
Better leave a light on in the hall

Hey there little girl
Don't trip on that moonbeam
Be careful little girl
You go slidin’ down that rainbow
Hey now little girl
Your momma’s callin’ after you
Hey now little girl
Don’t ride the wind and leave to soon

And dance a Ceili ‘round the room

Where does time go once you're gettin' old
Feel like that screen door rockin’ off it’s hinge
That summer breeze been rattlin’ ‘round the hallway
wait'in on when you'll be round again

When you think you'll be around again?

(break)

Like a twister blowin' down the hall
Did I just hear a screen door slam
Who moved my favorite rockin’ chair
Surely not the summer wind

She breezes ‘round the house all day
Who cares ‘bout worrin’ anyway
No fear at all when nighttime falls
But leave a light on in the hall

Where you been little girl
Trippin' on a moonbeam
Where you been little girl
slidin’ down a rainbow
Where you been little girl
Your momma’s callin’ after you
Be careful little girl
Don’t ride the wind and leave to soon

And dance a Ceili ‘round the room
Dance a Ceili 'round the room
Yeah, dance a Ceili 'round the room

For those that don't know ... a Ceili is just a Scottish party dance. (So is my Kaylee).

Hummingbird Flyer

(by K. Brown)

 

Tires on the whiteline
listen to 'em sing
Elvis on the radio
before he was The King
singin' That's Alright Mama
and man I’m goin’ higher
Wheels got to rollin’
It’s the Hummingbird Flyer

Roll on bird
man I'm goin' higher
Commited true believers
on that flyer

That bird rocks back and forth
Her music in the air
Got the sweetest sound this side of Graceland
Joyful everywhere
Tomorrow it won’t matter
If you’re broke and on the street
wheels got to roll on
To that Hummingbird’s beat

Roll on bird
man I'm goin' higher
Commited true believers
on that Hummingbird flyer

Take that long, lonesome ride
Until you find your glory
In the church of Mother Country Music
You will write your story
With a pocket full of songs
Boy believe in your own dream
Tonight you’re flyin’ high
gone ridin' with the King

The bird she keeps on flyin
She sings a song of truth
Of the many who have passed this way
Her music’s living proof
Tomorrow it won’t matter
If you ended up long gone
Those wheels just keep on rollin’
To that Hummingbird’s song

Roll on bird
man I'm goin' higher
Commited true believer
on that Hummingbird flyer

(Chorus)

Feel those wheels a rollin’
The Hummingbird flyer

Catch the last train to Memphis
On the Hummingbird flyer



Note: This isn't necessarily the first song I ever wrote ... but it is pretty close to that. There may have been one or two others long gone now ... I'd say this song was inspired by my acquiring the guitar of the same name. (Everybody writes an ode to their guitar ... don't they?)  Although recorded here on a completely different guitar ... go figure ...