Eyes & Ears

If I was yours... but I'm not. Now I'm ready to start.

2010-09-09T16:32:00.000-04:00

And I struggle to breathe, it's your face I don't see

2010-06-17T19:35:00.001-04:00

Tearing at those heart strings

2010-05-14T11:45:00.001-04:00

It takes an ocean not to break

2010-05-05T16:18:00.000-04:00

All I want is your eyes, in the morning when we wake, for a short while.

2010-04-14T11:34:00.001-04:00

And I do need the wind across my pale face
And I do need the fern to unfurl in the spring
And I do need the grass to sway
Yes, and I do need to know my place

I'm not standing here

2010-03-22T14:36:00.000-04:00

Congratulations on the mess you made of things

2010-03-19T10:27:00.001-04:00

It sounds like we would of had a great deal to say to each other...

2010-03-10T15:52:00.001-05:00

I bet when I leave my body for the sky the wait will be worth it.

Heart it Races!

2010-03-04T12:30:00.002-05:00

These days...

2010-03-02T00:37:00.004-05:00

I've been out walking
I don't do too much talking these days
These days...
These days I seem to think a lot about the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had the chance to

I've stopped my rambling
I don't do too much gambling these days
These days...
These days I seem to think about how all the changes came about my way
And I wonder if I'll see another highway

I had a lover
I don't think I'd risk another these days
These days...
And if I seem to be afraid to live the life that I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing for so long

I've stopped my dreaming
I don't do too much scheming these days
These days...
These days I sit in cornerstones and count the time in quarter tones to ten
Please don't confront me with my failures
I have not forgotten them

Drifts

2010-02-07T12:32:00.000-05:00

Signed, Blues From Down Here

2010-01-10T11:03:00.002-05:00

From the depths I called you, ma
for your breath and breast so warm and fabled
Your hands reached inside
grabbed my heart, enlarged, disabled

Hailed for your mercy
An ear that cares

How the blues sound from up there?

With my wet hair, I wipe the blood off of your feet
Carry me through these shark infested waters
Well you spared me from slaughter for sure,
but these sharks are equally in need of a martyr

Oh kindess shared
Undeserved purest gift, this life you spared

How the blues sound from up there?

Teeth gnashing, masticating this dumb tongue
Quiet now, quiet now, hear that supplication
echo into the void
been received by no one

Oh my sweet dear
Cold alone poisoning ourselves
engulfed in our own tears

Signed, blues from down here.

Pull the pin, drop it in, let it wash away your
Pull the pin, drop it in, let it wash away your

Time for your favorite story
of how to achieve golden glory
Wash yourself all squeaky clean
all in white all Hallow's Eve

Lessen your desire
hold your breath so patiently
never inquire how to be free
Just stay on your knees

You might doubt it
think there's nothing left for me
to do but stomp my feet
and shout about it

From the depths I called you.

Now I'm waiting for an answer patiently
Stuck here at the bottom of this well
It's not the last you've heard from me

-TV on the Radio

Patient. Fine. Balanced. Kind.

2009-12-11T13:25:00.000-05:00

I'm falling in to a rabbit's hole...

2009-12-10T17:23:00.001-05:00

Menomena - Queen Black Acid (new album due out in 2010)

Ambling Alp

2009-12-04T15:32:00.001-05:00

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp from Spy Films on Vimeo.

In your eyes, baby.

2009-11-30T18:55:00.001-05:00

At every occasion, I'll be ready for the funeral.

2009-05-16T14:10:00.000-04:00

Hold ourselves together, with our arms around the stereo... for hours

2009-05-02T23:32:00.001-04:00

so worry not
all things are well
we'll be alright
we have our looks, and perfume on

stay inside til somebody finds us
do whatever the TV tells us
stay inside our rosy-minded fuzz...

so worry not
all things are well
we'll be alright
we have our looks and perfume on

The door slammed loud and rose up a cloud of dust on us

2009-04-10T12:51:00.003-04:00

Mykonos from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

And you will go to Mykonos
With a vision of a gentle coast
And a sun to maybe dissipate
Shadows of the mess you made

Heart of Glass

2009-03-24T15:40:00.004-04:00

They've been playing this tune on Charlottesville's local radio station 91.9 WNRN. At first, I could swear it was Nickel Creek. But Old School Freight Train is actually a local Cville band. The cover is dark, but so well done. Paired up in this video of the battle of Rio Hill Civil War reenactment, keeping it fresh and local. And moving.

Once I had a love and it was a gas
Soon turned out, had a heart of glass
Seemed like the real thing, only to find
So much mistrust, love's gone behind

Once I had a love and it was divine
Soon found out, I was losing my mind
It seemed like the real thing but I was so blind
So much mistrust, love's gone behind

In between,
What I find is pleasing
And I'm feeling fine
Love is so confusing there's no peace of mind
If I fear I'm losing you
It's just no good
You teasing like you do

Lost inside
Adorable illusion and I cannot hide
I'm the one you're using,
Please don't push me aside
We could've made it cruising...

Riding high on love's true bluish light

Nude

2009-03-12T17:41:00.001-04:00

Don't get any big ideas
they're not gonna happen
You paint yourself white
and feel up with noise
but there'll be something missing

Now that you've found it, it's gone
Now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails

So don't get any big ideas
they're not going to happen
You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking

She stands stark naked and she beckons you to bed
don't go, you'll only want to come back again

Number & Location

2009-03-10T10:34:00.003-04:00

Vaporization

2009-03-09T16:21:00.001-04:00

I wanna hurry home to you.

2009-02-27T17:14:00.001-05:00

You know I dreamed about you
For 29 years
Before I saw you

You know I dreamed about you
I missed you
For 29 years

If you see her, say hello.

2009-02-26T08:57:00.005-05:00

If you see her, say hello, she might be in Tangier
She left here last early spring, is livin' there, I hear
Say for me that I'm all right though things get kind of slow
She might think that I've forgotten her, don't tell her it isn't so.

We had a falling-out, like lovers often will
And to think of how she left that night, it still brings me a chill
And though our separation, it pierced me to the heart
She still lives inside of me, we've never been apart.

If you get close to her, kiss her once for me
I always have respected her for busting out and gettin' free
Oh, whatever makes her happy, I won't stand in the way
Though the bitter taste still lingers on from the night I tried to make her stay.

I see a lot of people as I make the rounds
And I hear her name here and there as I go from town to town
And I've never gotten used to it, I've just learned to turn it off
Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft.

Sundown, yellow moon, I replay the past
I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast
If she's passin' back this way, I'm not that hard to find
Tell her she can look me up if she's got the time.

These Dog Days

2009-02-24T19:36:00.004-05:00

I've never seen
Or heard
Dr. Dog before
but I'm going
To hear
And see
Them tonight!

Oh, what you thought was a hurricane
Was just the rustling of the wind
Why you think we need amazing grace
Just to tell it like it is?
Oh, I don't need no doctor
To tear me all apart
I just need you
To mend my heart
I need you to mend my heart

Daytrotter Session: http://daytrotter.com/daytrotterSessions/548/free-songs-dr-dog

Shred

2009-02-24T01:28:00.003-05:00

When it comes to pride
And other sinful matters
You're gonna be misled
Left feeling tattered

I've got to go because
Something's on my mind
And it won't get better
No matter how hard I try

Whoa yeah
You just got to be
The best thing for me

Evil hides
In dark places
But now I find it
In familiar faces

Walking across the Atlantic

2009-02-20T15:25:00.002-05:00

It's hard to take risks. With a pessimist.

2009-02-19T11:20:00.003-05:00

I wish we could all dance as fast and free as these little black babies.

In the mornin, when we rise

2009-02-18T11:23:00.001-05:00

Deer Tick : Art Isn't Real

2009-02-07T09:31:00.007-05:00

Rhode Island born,
Rhode Island bred,
When I die
I'll be Rhode Island dead.

I am the dotted line
and you fill me in
with whatever you like

And I, I'm just goin' through the motions
And I need an old-fashioned potion
There's gotta be some old recipe
'Cause I gotta get drunk,
I gotta forget about some things

I lived in lies all my life
And I've been livin here for a long, long time
And I know it's been comin down a while now,
When it shows then you get me on the dial
But right now, you're half way around the world
Maybe I'll see better days, but I'm not so sure I will

And I, I'm still hangin round and round
And sometimes it's a racket, but lately not a sound
And in the bowels of history and time,
Well I have learned to stand back and never shine
And now I feel stupid when I smile
For not a journey, but a circus are our lives

(whistle)

I can't make up for everything I waste
And I know that I could never afford a taste
Of anything that your lovely hands make
It eats away, well before the soul breaks

Is it because it brings a smile to my face?
Just a bad memory, you just can't erase

I know of a city to steal from
And I know of a city to cheat on
I know of a city of sin,
And thats the place that I wanna meet you in
Say hello all over again,
Romance me, take me back to the beginning

Deer Tick Music

To the artists:

2009-02-06T00:51:00.004-05:00

I've been working with an artist all week.
And listening to this artist all week.
I can't wait to rest my brain.

SANTOGOLD

"Creep up
And suddenly
I've found myself
An innovator"

Andrew's of another feather

2009-01-31T11:13:00.009-05:00

This weekend, on the KBT court, there were 6 Andrew's in play.
This evening, I'm going to catch this Bird play in D.C.
It's been a long time coming... maybe he'll sign my violin.

NPR Conversation

Live in Concert from All Songs Considered

Spare Oh's

Bird Watching

It's not where I am, it's who I'm with

2009-01-24T21:42:00.000-05:00

Ear Candy

2009-01-22T14:28:00.014-05:00

JAYDIOHEAD

"Jaydiohead is a mash-up album combining the vocals of Jay-Z and the music of Radiohead. It is produced by NYC DJ and producer Minty Fresh Beats. The new album is a free download."

Ride me high

2009-01-22T11:11:00.003-05:00

"Whoo-ee! Ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Now, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair!"
- Bob Dylan -

I'm the next act, waiting in the wings.

2009-01-22T06:09:00.001-05:00

"The sensual pace and delicate melody of the song reminded me of a world much smaller than ours, with all the love and violence we experience."
- J. Tyler Helms, Editor

Ohhhhh you're sooooo... down home, girl.

2009-01-21T18:18:00.001-05:00

The Big Picture

2009-01-20T16:27:00.001-05:00

Inaugural Poem

2009-01-20T16:00:00.003-05:00

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

A man need's something he can hold onto.

2008-09-21T22:12:00.005-04:00