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Shady Stories & White Lies
The stories behind the stories
Fool's Gold
It's no secret that I'm
starting to get up in years, just the least little bit. I hadn't
retired yet when I wrote this song, and I was already experiencing
some things that were directly opposite the hype ya hear about the
"Golden Years". Hence, Fool's Gold. The most important part of the
song for me is the final verse's reference to seeing "a friend in a
home the other day". This is specifically talking about my sweet
mother, and all the other mothers and fathers who end their
lives stuck in a nursing home, especially those in the dementia wing.
What a sad, and humiliating way for viable human beings to end their
lives.
Furious
I read about a guy and his family
returning from vacation, driving thru the mountains out west.
Suddenly, a boulder came crashing down from above, and hit the
guy/husband/father in the head, immediately ending his life. That
sucks!
Sometime later, a friend of the Michigan music community,
Denise Marie Stein died after a long battle with some pathetic
disease. Like the guy in the car, she was way too young to leave the
earth. This song explores how I would feel if that happened to me. I
guess the title pretty much describes it. I suppose this opinion goes
against how a person should feel if he believes in the ever-after.
Frankly, I couldn't give a rip.
Parisian Subway Ball
When I was still
working for a living, (notice the broad smile?), I spent quite a bit
of time in Europe. My favorite place on earth is Paris. One of the
many reasons for this is The Metro. The Metro is an exquisite network
of underground tunnels and subway tracks. They're safe and there's no
graffiti. Imagine that. Even more important than that is the large
number of entertainers down in the tunnels. Some of them are very
good! Anyway, I saw this older guy playing down there, and I wondered
what his story was. How, and why was he there. Here's why I think he's
there.
Take Me Home
I wasn't born in Texas, but if
you spend much time there at all, you become a Texan. I have some
fantastic memories of my time down there, which I call. "God's
Country". So, where am I? Where have I spent most of my life? In the
&%$!!! north!
I despise the north, except for it's 8 weeks of
summer. I think Henry Ford should have had his head examined for
starting the industrial revolution north of the Mason/Dixon. Anywho,
this tune talks about my desire to get back down south.
Taboo
In 1867, people were not at all
accepting of sexual preferences that deviated from the norm. This song
introduces you to a young lady who is paying the ultimate penalty for
her desires. Originally it was called, "Menage a Trois", but I wasn't
sure how that would be accepted, even today. Besides, naming it that
would take away the element of surprise, wouldn't it? :)
Bad Wine
A few years ago, Sandy and I were
at a local restaurant. I took a hit of my wine and said, "hmm, that's
pretty good". Sandy asked, "Is that the house wine?". I said, "yes,
and I'm glad it isn't the outhouse wine". I have no idea where
"outhouse wine" came from, but Sandy immediately said, "you need to
write a song about that!". So, here it is. It also includes a true
story about me getting schlockered while playing in one of my first
bands .
The News
Why is it that nothing sells but
bad news? It seems the media is all over someone else's misfortune,
and to hell with the good stuff. Well, I long for some good news but
I'm not having much luck finding that magical station or website. I'll
keep looking, though.
She's Gone
Think about the man who watches
is wife of 60 years deteriorate from her battle with Alzheimer's.
The Secret
Remember the movie Deliverance?
What sticks in my mind is the image of that boy, sitting on the porch,
playing the banjo. (Actually, he wasn't playing. There was a guy
behind the kid who reached his arms around and played.) The actor was
playing a young man with obvious mental, and/or social problems. For
the sake of this song, I assumed this kid could only communicate with
his music. There are a huge number of real people who fall into that
category, and I look forward to the day when they find a way for these
folks to bust out of their shells, and show us what their real skills
are.
I'd Fit Right In
After a 35 year hiatus, I
re-started my music interests in 2005, at 57 years of age. It wasn't
like things had stood still and waited for me to catch up. I was at
least twice as old as some of the great, new talent flooding the
market. How in the heck does an old guy get recognized in this
young-person's game? Well, I came up with a few good ideas, and stuck
them in this song. However, the jury's still out on whether they'll
work.
Queen Of Bummerville
How did Miss Kitty get
to Dodge? Why'd she hang around? Seems we can blame it all on the
Black Plague.
Got No Home Blues
I was readying about a
stock broker who lost everything, and found himself homeless, out on
the street. How could that happen to such a prominent, successful
person? Who knows, but you can catch his story right here.
Walk With Me
My guess is that folksong
writers all want to pen a tune that the audience walks away humming.
That was exactly my drive when I wrote "Walk With Me". I don't know if
I accomplished my goal, but if nothing else, it sure seems like a good
sing-along. It deviates from my normal style, in that it isn't a story
song, but change is good, sometimes.:)
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Copyright 2005, 2011
Last Updated
12/19/2011
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