London on my mind...

This week a friend Natalie Gelman got to London to start her European tour and posted these pics:

Then Kelley McRae who will play our House Concert series in September posted her walking in a tunnel in London under the river Thames.

London on my mind I picked up the guitar and googled the words to Leaving London by Tom Paxton... it's actually funny to read because he had to go American Express to try to get a letter from home, no text or internet for Tom.

Then I moved to another song I know from Ralph McTell that I learned from playing of Fred Holstein I did have to google the words again, but the music was like riding a bike.

Have you seen the old man 

In the closed-down market 

Kicking up the paper, 

with his worn out shoes? 

In his eyes you see no pride 

Hand held loosely at his side

Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news 

So how can you tell me you're lonely, 

And say for you that the sun don't shine? 

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London 

I'll show you something to make you change your mind 

Have you seen the old girl 

Who walks the streets of London 

Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags? 

She's no time for talking, 

She just keeps right on walking 

Carrying her home in two carrier bags. 

Chorus

In the all night cafe

At a quarter past eleven, 

Same old man is sitting there on his own 

Looking at the world 

Over the rim of his tea-cup, 

Each tea last an hour 

Then he wanders home alone 

Chorus

And have you seen the old man 

Outside the seaman's mission 

Memory fading with 

The medal ribbons that he wears. 

In our winter city, 

The rain cries a little pity 

For one more forgotten hero 

And a world that doesn't care 

Chorus

New Banjo

After 30 years with my beginners banjo, I'm playing it more often in public so I thought I'd upgrade.

It's still very entry level banjo, but it has a nice warm sound.

I need you most of the while

It's a bit unusual for me to go from buying a song on March 25th, to meeting the artist, to recording their song, but I've gone and done it.  I guess in hindsight, I had been contacted by Natalie a few months back when she sent me a note from her Concerts in Your Home page, and I must have like her because I subscribed to her email newsletter.  Then she sent a note saying she was coming to La Crosse to play the Root Note.  (A simply wonderful place in La Crosse)  It was mid-week but I got down there with my wife, and we both enjoyed it.  Luckily Lori was with me so she didn't need to worry I was meeting some artist that I fell in love with... Ha.. it's probably very possible for any warm blooded male to fall in love with Natalie.  Well less than one week later, guitar in hand I sat down to learn this song.  Again, when I learn it and force myself to record it, I find it sticks better.... and I work out all the parts that I have mistakes in before I get it right... This was probably the 6th take, and it always gets better.

Unlike many other artists that I network with, Natalie will likely see this.  She is a very connected new artist to all the new fangle social media, even has done a Google Hangout Concert!  Here's she is playing the song I recorded during the 60 minute concert. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0zgwOgSz98&feature=share&t=13m53s

My voice has never been called flattering, but covering another artist is supposed to be flattering, so here's my cover: (updated on Sunday with a little better production of the first video)



Now let's just say Natalie ROCKS compared to this old fart...



I did leave the first strip down take out there... why not, it's not my disk space.



Not sure if Charlie Midnight is this Charlie.  Natalie confirmed this is co-writer, what an interesting person.  I'll keep looking into him and the connection.

Simple Twist of Fate 2

You choose... a cover evolves.. just like Bob.

Without glasses means it's not being read and the story teller comes out a little better...

 

When I first learned in November 2013... a little slower and with glasses because it wasn't in my soul yet.

Royals Cover of a cover

My bandmates love the fact that I'll amble on between songs about why and who we're covering, and when we cover a cover... oh that's more to the story... HA.

Here's hoping this one gets and stays in the set list for awhile, so I can tell the story that I saw this tweet from this TV Reporter, watched Bruce, and then fell in love with a song from Lorde that had already won a Grammy... yes, I won't be ashamed to tell that story.

Death of Queen Jane - Inside Llewyn Davis

A few weeks back, we were visiting our son at college and ended up seeing Inside Llewyn Davis; the Coen brothers film on a folksinger who really is pretty much a jerk, and yet really tries to take care of a orange tabby cat of his friends that he loses along the way.  (I've heard there are actually three cats playing the part!)  We all liked it and I would highly recommend seeing it.



One of the scenes Davis plays Death of Queen Jane for a promoter in Chicago, and he tells him, that won't sell and casts him off.  The song didn't stick with me then, but it was a pretty song.  A few days later, since my son and I share the same iTunes account, 7 of the songs from the movie showed up in my purchases.  I raised that boy with good tastes.

Then the haunting melody of Death of Queen Jane hit me.  I did find out it was an old Child ballad and the tune was written by a Bothy Band member, Dáithí Sproule.  

What I really liked was hearing all the renditions of it, thanks to iTunes search and the WikiPedia post.

I recorded it instrumentally with only one little flaw, see if you can find it... HA... I moved it up a little so I might add the words some day.  Capo 3 G... Here are the words, chords and the Video, feel free to sing with it.

G                                            C                  G

Queen Jane lay in labor full nine days or more

         C             D            G-Em       G                       C

'Til her women grew so tired, they could no longer there

           G             D      G

They could no longer there

G                                                                   C         G

"Good women, good women, good women as you be

                  C         D        G-Em      G           C

Will you open my right side and find my baby

       G       D     G

And find my baby"

G                                                                              C         G

"Oh no," cried the women, "That's a thing that can never be

              C             D   G-Em       G                           C

We will call on King Henry and hear what he may say

         G         D              G

And hear what he may say"

G                                                         C         G

King Henry was sent for, King Henry did come

               C               D             G-Em          

Saying, "What does ail you, my lady?

         G                            C

Your eyes, they look so dim

           G                D       G

Your eyes, they look so dim"

G                                                                     C         G

"King Henry, King Henry, will you do one thing for me?

                C             D   G-Em       G            C

Will you open my right side and find my baby

          G    D     G

And find my baby"

G                                                                        C         G

"Oh no," cried King Henry, "That's a thing that I can never do

       C             D          G-Em                G                    C

If I lose the flower of England, I shall lose the branch too

            G             D     G

I shall lose the branch too"

G                                                                        C         G

There was fiddling and dancing on the day the babe was born

           C             D          G-Em            G               C

But poor Queen Jane beloved, she lay cold as a stone

        G      D      G

Lay cold as a stone

It was that kind of day...

First I played music for my first funeral.  A beautiful 30 year old teacher lady with two great kids and the nicest husband who also is a teacher.  We played this song written by Tommy Walker, and Jenny's name was spliced into it...



Then I had the house alone... and I got out the equipment:

Of course I shared this in Facebook saying "Guess what will go on during a quiet house?" and Rusty James posted this hilarious video. She noticed one yesterday, and then the next the day they were everywhere...



First up... a Wild Mountain Thyme.. a song that is old enough it could have been played during Downton Abbey.  The lyrics I downloaded had Blooming Heather, and I changed it to Purple Heather in honor Jenny's favorite color.



Finally I had a chance to record Tom Paxton's "The last thing on my mind".. and I was amazed it's in it's 50th anniversary year.

A new song is like a kitten

Officially I have written probably close to 100 songs, attested by the 196 posts on my prose blog, Zeman's Musings; but does that make me qualified to write about it?  Well my wife would tell you that I have little humility and of course I even sauntered into writing a blog on how to Songwriting though I haven't posted to that site since 2010 (not that the hints and techniques aren't ageless.)

So let's just say a new song has been welling up inside me and I have to explain it and the process.  You know like you get a new kitten and you have to keep playing with them.

First I had some time alone in the house; always important to me for thinking and writing not to have some one looking over my shoulder, and I found this old piece I wrote and it was my standard depressing wanting of a love that wouldn't happen, it started:

The dance of the life, the chance of time
Ages of man and woman have written
Pages and pages of nonsense to fill the subject

And you can read the rest at http://davezeman.blogspot.com/2012/03/dance.html

So I really wanted to write a gypsy type of song, a little rebellious, and some thing quick because I've been stuck in slow sad for too long.  I actually had a been spending some time in the Twitter world and discovered people who are taking identities of Downton Abbey characters.  In a previous post I might have mentioned that and I believe Lady Rose should have an affair with a gypsy lover, and maybe Mary too, why not Bohemians existed back then; plus we are great romantics.

So guitar in hand, a great bouncy beat the first verse went down with much of it borrowed from the 2012 piece:

The dance of the life, the chance of time

Ages of man women have written

Pages and pages filled with rhyme

Still the real bells and whistles simple

A wink of an eye, a glance from behind

To blink you’d miss it, a lover’s symbol

Now the chorus has to more dramatic, modulate it up (even if the voice can't) and DANCE!

So take this dance with me tonight

My hand gentle on your back

Keep me in your constant in your site

As we dance, we dance thru the night

A great writer John David Souther always said, "A good song is timeless" and I think dancing with the woman you love, with your hand on the sweet spot of her back, and her staring in your eyes is timeless.  As I playing it quick, I did attempt to soften up especially as I gently place my hand on her back.  Next up my other mentor, Pierce Pettis said, "Move the story alone"  First verse was the attraction, next has to have the action.  Here I draw off of my love for dark eyes, long neck of a woman with her hair up, and white complexion, ah easily this could be Michelle Dockery or Lady Mary.  Though I wrote it not to be specific makes a song much more compelling; and yes I married a woman with dark eyes and fair complexion over 30 years ago

You hair pulled high all the fabric pressed

The music begins and the crowd stirs a start

Cruising the floor in you red dress

Your skin so white, your eyes so dark

Unclench my soul be still my heart

I would be yours, please drop your guard. 

I really love this verse and thought at one point I might have stolen "Unclench my Soul" but Google did not return any hits to that line. (yet I need to make sure my song comes up HA)

Next up keep the story going, and this song of little over three minutes probably captures a half hour of elapsed time at most.  So the dance is over and a lady with wine and a man with his black and tan live happily ever after.

So mark the time …that song did end

A pregnant pause a silent bow

We left the floor hand in hand

A with a toast … our life began

A blend red a black and tan

We started life a lady and her man.

Now one might wonder if there really would be a sarcastic comment coming after the dance?  Well put two people together and I would claim that too many times we say something we regret saying, thus the  silence ensures the ending.

Now you know the story... hope you enjoyed it and the song.

You are mine ... In Christ Alone

Personally this has been a rough week attending two funerals for children of 10 and 17.  First on Saturday we laid to rest a 10 year old who died of leukemia, then on Sunday I heard a friend's 17 year old son took his life.   That is first why I recorded You are Mine, a wonderful song by David Haas.

Then when I attended the second funeral, You are Mine was the opening song, ironic but still sad.

Then our praise band's service weekend was this weekend.  I requested we include that song, and it felt reassuring.  The highlight though of the service was our first time we played In Christ Alone.  I did get a recording of it and we were true the Celtic sound, and here it is on Grooveshark.

It must be a popular song, it has over 6,000,000 views!

Apple Blossom and Snow

On a snowy day in Wisconsin, you watch the birds outside with the cats.  

You dream about spring and the apple blossoms.

And you update both blogs you maintain, and the other one is : 

http://davezeman.blogspot.com/

You just might recognize the new background.

Little inspirations.

Snow falling, I look down to see this Lady Olivia sleeping under the tree and the first two lines were written.  On a day when we reflected on a Blue Christmas at church, the feeling of peace among friends was strong.  Thus I shouldn't be surprised that I composed my first Christmas song.

Lyrics at the other blog.

Blue Christmas - Dying to Live

This is a great video on one of my most favorite Edgar Winter song growing up.  Love the introduction, and oh how I love YouTube that I could search this and find a wonderful video and sound quality.

For those who are Blue during Christmas.. please listen to this song, it might help.



Of course I did quick video back this summer... sound quality isn't my best, but I think at least I'm singing in key.

Throwback.

‪#‎throwbackthursday‬ A friend at Church said I would love to play Borning Cry the way you do, threw it to Youtube, 18,000+ views later.  Not sure if you twitter, I've avoided it but with work; I've come to respect it's strength in numbers.  Twitter handle https://twitter.com/davezeman

Congrats Pope on being Man of the Year.

Congrats Pope on being the best fresh air in the Christian conversation since I was born Roman Catholic some 55 years ago.

I wanted to share a song about the down trodden, and on of my favorite from my youth was Kris Kristofferson's Pilgrim Chapter 33.  See him wasted on your sidewalks, but don't pity him.  Let's try to make a difference not from the top down, but maybe face to face.

Company of Friends

Danny Schmidt is one of the best songwriters I personally know, which I can say now since we hosted him and his lovely fiancee Carrie Elkin for a house concert. Danny writes secular hymns at times, and this is one of the best. Carrie is that good Lutheran girl in his life, maybe he'll start writing Christian hymns, but if God is listening to this one... I bet He/She approves. (well maybe the lyrics... He's got to appreciate my voice She blessed me with it... HA)

Chicks dig guitars..

So ladies?

http://www.geekosystem.com/science-proves-chicks-dig-guitars/




I know ... you don't need to sing, right?


I have so loved this song for over 30 years... it came up in a random iTunes mix from my 21 days of music on the computer... that and other reasons compelled me to learn it tonight.  The original some is Edgar and a piano... so this version is Dylanized on guitar.

It's in D... and I have to thank the other guy that's on YouTube... his version is more difficult to play than mine, but it's in the same chords he's just playing them up the neck and sometimes partial or diminished.... weird I learned this song on the day that my 86 year old mother died.

Take the Road from my Spine.....

It's pretty much a crappy spring day, and I ain't going to turn on golf... it felt more like the Packers should be on TV when I see snow flying on April 14th.  So I grabbed the book of unfinished songs and finished one.

So here's an original song I started back in 2006.  It's a little dark tale, not sure if the writer is responsible for the death in the third verse, but he enjoyed it.  I consider this my first official murder ballad in a typical Dylan style of never really knowing.

Take the Road

I’m driving two ways at the same time

I’m walking the thin sanity line

With power poles providing measures

My heart pounds from the rhythmic pleasures

I see the horizon over the dashboard

But it’s your love is on a distant shore

I see your face reflected in each sign

But it’s your place I just can’t find

Take the road from my spine

The speed I’m goin’ is a crime

My heart bleeds from the wound

I’m alone with this dark tune

Take the road from my spine

Your twisted barb’s entwined

Take the road, Take the road from my spine

The night green eyes, the whine of the cycle

Fill the air with damp words of trifle

Would you care for a return

A shift in the plans from lessons learned

The black mane of your hair swings wide

Erasing any love you had inside.

Crumpled and tossed out your window at night

Frozen in silence of the oncoming light  (Chorus)

The lights flash red & blue

My heart beats to the tune

In the distance the puddles of the night

Shine red with blood in sight

The lies you lived are distant to me

Now gone for no one to see

I pass slowly in the left

Tonight you lost your last bet. (Chorus)

By Dave Schipper © 2013 Rose Riversongs

Daddy has a new guitar!

Yes after about 20 years I've decided to buy a new guitar; and it was a hard decision.  I love my current guitar which was a factory reject Tacoma style Washburn made in the US.  Never sure what style it was but the color and the bridge matches this guitar; so I'm guessing it was a D43.  It has such a good volume of sound.

So I went to Dave's Guitar Shop with a budget in mind not to exceed $2500, but not to discard anything cheaper.  So started on the Gibsons, and I really thought it was weird where they put their sound controls inside the guitar.  I love the Robert Johnson edition for finger picking, but the classic Rock stuff with Rose River felt strange.  Their Songwriter series was nice, I thought that was a possibility.  Then a quick stop by the Collings Guitars... all wonderful, but $4000 was just too much.  Over to Taylors, and I'm never been a huge fan.  Kept trying different styles then one just was a "ohh"... the feel of the bass resonating my inside.  The 716ce was it, but I didn't stop.  I went to Martins, then back to the 716ce.  Finally I asked for help, if I like this one, why and what else would they compare it to.  The 7 indicated the level of expense of the wood, and 16 was their 2nd biggest body style.  Tried a few more he suggested and then back to the 716ce... I did love the Americana retro sunburst too.

And here's what it sounds like finger picking:

And strumming:

Grand Marais

Love this song.. love my north woods and Wisconsin friends who love to be local.

Here's the lyrics I may or may not have covered, but the folk process is such I heard it from Art who heard it from Craig, who heard it from Jay... enjoy and pass it along.

I want Jesus to walk with me..

This song was our opener at church, and listening to an organ version really made me want to go back to the guitar version we do with ACTS.  So I did, and here's it is:

Though while listening how it uploaded I found this one interesting...

Then there is the choir version:

Then the absolute best... by Eric Bibb... I've got to hear more by this guy... incredible he was already in the blog once before and I forgot about him until now.