- Written September 5th, 2008
- Keywords: Old Age Song, Comedy, Birthday Song
Story Behind the Song -
Oh, the changes that seem to happen overnight when you turn “a half century!” This song was written the night before my 50th birthday…
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Story Behind the Song -
Oh, the changes that seem to happen overnight when you turn “a half century!” This song was written the night before my 50th birthday…
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Story Behind the Song -
It’s true what they say about the first good song you write after an album is released: you wish you could’ve put it on that…
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Story Behind the Song -
It’s my politically charged address to Washington and the corruption within. To politicians who forget whom they’re serving. This song refers to the post-9/11 era, when Americans’…
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Story Behind the Song -
At different times in our lives, we all look for “it.” For some, that “it” is most certainly love. Others don’t know what they’re searching for, but…
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[For Sarah Maria, “Poppi’s Little Girl...”]
Story Behind the Song -
In the iconic style of the 12-bar blues, this up-tempo number tells of the special relationship between a dad…
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[Schlaf mit den Engeln]
aka: “A Grown-Up Lullabye” or “The Deacon’s Compline”
—Dedicated to Jerry Danks
Story Behind the Song -
I wrote this song realizing that people all around this stressful…
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Story Behind the Song -
This song is so technically beautiful that even if the lyrics don’t bring a tear to your eye, the instrumentals will. With the assistance of international…
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Story Behind the Song -
An homage to Pete Seeger.
Inspired by the little green army men “toys” most of us played with when we were kids. And men acting like…
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Story Behind the Song -
I wrote this song in response to the Big Band Era song, “Jim,” sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Rosemary Clooney, and others. (Nelson A. Shawn…
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Story Behind the Song -
In the summer of ’82, I was transferred to the third shift at the Kohler Foundry. Best described, it was like Dante’s Inferno. The work was…
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Story Behind the Song -
I wanted to write a song that could be played in every corner of the earth where there’s conflict and oppression. So, here’s an all-purpose…
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[TW: A song of warning about domestic violence]
Story Behind the Song -
Just me raging against domestic violence. Sent out, with love, to all those women for whom I…
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Story Behind the Song -
This is a prelude to “Paradise Bay,” another sea shanty. Again, the talents of Brian Wicklund, Laura MacKenzie and Jerry Danks shine through. I have no…
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Story Behind the Song -
This is the song for which I’m most famous: a sea shanty popular among my listeners. It tells the tale an old sailor on his final…
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[TW: A song of warning about pedophiles and Child Sexual Abuse]
Story Behind the Song -
The Traveling Wilburys wrote a song called “Handle with Care.” I found it a unique…
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Story Behind the Song -
Sure, this guy truly doesn’t know what hit him. But haven’t we all felt this way at one time or another? And maybe, we might…
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