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We Are The People (of America)

LYRICS – WE ARE THE PEOPLE (OF AMERICA)

Our lives may never be the same
We’ll continue on again and again
Each day you wear that fine uniform
We want you to remember this:

CHORUS
We are the people of America
And we stand proud right next to you
Raisin’ that red, white and blue
The people of America
Live in freedom because of you

Know that you are not alone
We are with you in the prayers we say
Just bring our boys and girls safely home
Let freedom ring another day

CHORUS

We hold you dear and wish you near
We stand proud right next to you

CHORUS

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This song was written as the US was preparing to invade Iraq in early 2003. There was a lot of emotion at that time in America over this.

Special thanks to Jaye Sooter for singing on this song. I think he did a great job. (He’s one of my favorite vocalists).

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Angel – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – ANGEL

The moon is full
And I can see you lyin’ there
Soft in light
You reach upon your long blonde hair
To see your eyes
The warmest blue I’ve ever seen

CHORUS
My angel
Sent from heaven just for me

And I wait to find
The sun has risen once again
And there you are
You’re my angel in disguise

CHORUS
My sweet angel
Goddess of love (?) for me
My sweet angel
I feel wings all around me

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This is a shortened version of the original song.

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Honey Will You Love Me – New Faces Vol. 3

LYRICS – HONEY WILL YOU LOVE ME

CHORUS
Honey will you love me when there’s no money in the bank?
Digame baby, c’mon what do you think
Now I ain’t much at bein’ elegant
So I’m just askin’ you right up front
Honey will you love me when there’s no money in the bank?

Now the chica before you
She didn’t treat me so well
She said she loved me
But she meant just for a spell
She looked at me just like a millionaire
But that all stopped when I ran out of beer
So will you say “te llamo” when there’s on money in the bank?

CHORUS
Honey will you love me when there’s no money in the bank?
Digame baby, c’mon what do you think
Now I ain’t much at bein’ elegant
So I’m just askin’ you right up front
Honey will you say “te llamo” when there’s no money in the bank?

Uno – dos – tres – quatro

(Instrumental solos – Augie Meyers accordion and Freddy Fender guitar)

CHORUS
Honey will you love me when there’s no money in the bank?
Digame baby, c’mon what do you think
Will you look at me just like a millionaire
Even when I’m all out of beer?
Chica will you love me when there’s no money in the bank?
Will you say “te llamo” when there’s no money in the bank?
Honey will you love me when there’s no money in the bank?

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If I could choose just one song I’ve written in my life for people to hear, this would be the one. I like the vibe, I like the words and I like that Freddy Fender and Augie Meyers were nice enough to play on it for me.

I recorded this in sections at a casino in Las Vegas when I was doing shows there with Freddy Fender (I played keyboards with Freddy Fender for several years). I still remember recording Freddy’s guitar tracks real fast in our green room which was down by the pool. I dragged my racks down there and set up. Freddy came down and played (and he played VERY loud) so security came in pretty quick and asked us to stop – but not before I got a couple takes to choose from for his solo on this song.

Playing keyboards in the Freddy Fender band was a very fun experience and this song reminds me of those care free and crazy days on the road with the guys. This song uses a little Spanglish – definitely an influence from spending time with Augie Meyers. This song is still technically unpublished and has never been offered for sale on any release. (It was released on Road Records New Faces Volume Three – but this CD is promo only and has “not for sale” written on the back and on the CD face.)

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I Don’t Want To Let You Go – New Faces Vol. 3

LYRICS – I DON’T WANT TO LET YOU GO

Not a day goes by I don’t think of you and cry
And wonder why you’re not here
Alone at night awake with a heart too proud to break
Holding letters from you

CHORUS
I don’t want to let you go
I don’t want to say goodbye
Though I know it’s not forever
It’s time enough to make me cry
I always thought that you’d be back
I’d hear your voice, I’d hear your laugh
See the twinkle in your eyes
I realize I don’t want to let you go

A sensation that you’re here
Softly whispers in my ear
But I can’t be where you are
As memories of you
Drift in silence round the room
I am lost in yesterday

(Instrumental Solo)

CHORUS
I don’t want to let you go
I don’t want to say goodbye
Though I know it’s not forever
It’s time enough to make me cry
Always thought that you’d be back
I’d hear your voice I’d hear your laugh
See the twinkle in your eyes
I realize I don’t want to let you go
Though I know it’s not forever
I don’t want to let you go

******************

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What’s This Life? – New Faces Vol. 2

LYRICS – WHAT’S THIS LIFE?

There’s a time when your soul wakes up
And looks to a single truth
It’s not God or love or any other word
It’s beyond words but clear as day

There are some that stop listening to their hearts
The message comes too late
And still others watch the clock tick by
And blame their lives on fate
But I’ll be damned if I’m gonna sit around
And give it up without a fight

CHORUS
What’s is missing from this life I’m living in?
I’ve followed a path where my heart has never been
What happened to my dreams?
I’d like to see them again
What’s this life I’m living in?

As I drift to a dreamless sleep
I hear the voice within
It cries “Wake up
Take that leap of faith and dare to dream again”

But I’ll be damned if I’m gonna sit around
And give up my dreams without a fight

CHORUS

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New age bluegrass, is that a genre?

(Two versions of this song)

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Thru Your Love – New Faces Vol. 4

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Thru Your Love – New Faces Vol. 2

LYRICS – THRU YOUR LOVE

The echoes of my restless heart are not easy to recall
Since you came and picked me up and made me to stand tall

CHORUS
Thru the love you gave to me
A whole new life for all to see
Thru your love I’m stronger now
Strong enough to stand my ground
With the strength found thru your love

(You’ve seen my faults with watchful eyes as I looked the other way
You were standing by me all the time just waiting for the day)

CHORUS
When you’re love would draw me near
Your perfect love casts out all fear
Thru your love I’m stronger now
Strong enough to stand my ground
With the strength I have found thru your love

I’ve been captured by a dream from the heavens above
You’ve given me more than I ever thought of

CHORUS

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I would love to hear a modern high quality performance of this song. I really love the song, I just don’t feel it has been captured to it’s full potential yet.

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The Winding Stream – New Faces Vol. 2

LYRICS – THE WINDING STREAM

CHORUS
Your love was like a shallow crick
Filled with twists and turns
An inner voice kept telling me
Our love would wash ashore
Now that winding stream
Has finally found it’s end
I never knew another love
Was waiting round the bend

Wandering through the woods
Gently kissed by morning mist
A maiden in a long white gown
Came floating through the leaves
Her pallid face gazed down
At cuts upon her wrists
And as she gazed
She sang about the pain that love can weave

CHORUS

The song lives in my broken heart
The music haunts me still

CHORUS

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I imagined a woman that was so broken hearted that she committed suicide. She found out later that she just had to get out of that relationship before she would meet her true love. But now she was dead. So she wandered the forests gliding in all white singing her song of sorrow as a warning to others.

The story was a type of myth story so I gave it a bluegrass and celtic feel.

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Out There For The Ride – New Faces Vol. 2

LYRICS – OUT THERE FOR THE RIDE

She races into the arena, her quarter fast on her feet
Goin’ round the first barrel, they got a time to beat
They come out from the last turn, the clock is tickin’ fast
Got the last stretch of ground to burn, the gate goes flyin’ past

CHORUS
Women of the rodeo
Courage, strength and pride
Buckin’ bulls and clover leafs
Just out there for the ride
It’s a test of one’s commitment
When your pride is on the line
Women of the rodeo just out there for the ride

She climbs into the chute, into a thousand pounds of fire
With her hand tied tight, her life is on the line
As the buzzer sounds she hits the ground
She’s got the score to beat
Judges give their final word, crowd jumps to it’s feet

CHORUS

(Instrumental Solos)

CHORUS

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What’s Become of Me? – New Faces ’95

LYRICS – WHAT’S BECOME OF ME?

Last time I heard she was in Flagstaff
Working hard to finish her degree
I’m glad she didn’t see me, she would have laughed
If she had seen what’s become of me

My cousin he’s a doctor in Seattle
Our Mamas said “Be all that you can be”
Now he’s up there fighting life’s battles
Dear Lord, what’s become of me?

CHORUS
They used to say “We know you’ll do well”
Now they say that “Only time will tell”
I got two things: a broken heart and a soul that’s gettin’ hungry
Dear Lord, what’s become of me?

Now you say you need a new direction
There’s no talkin’ left that makes us agree
After all these years I’m not what you’re expectin’
Dear Lord, what’s become of me?

When I was a young boy I used to laugh at country songs
‘Cuz no one in their right mind could ever hurt so long

CHORUS

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In 1993 I was playing on the road with a country band at the Museum Club in Flagstaff, Arizona. While talking to a friend I heard that an old girlfriend was going to college there and getting ready to graduate. I remember feeling like a real loser that I was playing in a bar while someone else was graduating from college.

I thought at the same time about my cousin who had graduated to become a doctor. I had started out as a child performer and everyone was so excited about what I was going to accomplish in music – and here I was a typical bar player.

I felt like my life was slowly ticking by and I was wasting my time playing in bars. And then I tried to look back and see where I went wrong. Maybe getting kicked out of two colleges had something to do with it.

I started working very hard after this time. Really trying to learn as much as I could in music. As a song and example of writing lyrics, this song is not a good one. It jumps around too much. But it was an expression of a time and what I was feeling personally. When I listen to this song I want to go back in time and tell that person “Everything is going to be ok, you’re going to do very well!”

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Long Haired Country Boy

LYRICS – LONG HAIRED COUNTRY BOY

(NOTE: Slight lyric changes on this version. For the full original lyrics to this song please see further down this page)

People say I’m no-good,
And crazy as a loon.
‘cuz I get stoned in the morning,
I get drunk in the afternoon.
Kinda like my old blue tick hound,
I like to lay around in the shade,
An’, I ain’t got much money,
But I damn sure got it made.

‘Cos I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’,
If I can’t get it on my own.
If you don’t like the way I’m livin’,
You just leave this long-haired country boy alone.

Jimmy Swaggert talkin’ on the TV,
And he’s a-puttin’ down  rock ‘n’ roll.
He wants me to send a donation for another session with a whore
“Jesus walked on the water,”And I believe it’s true,
But sometimes I think that Swaggert man,
He oughta do a little walkin’, too.

‘Cuz I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’,
If I can’t get it on my own.
If you don’t like the way I’m livin’,
You just leave this long-haired country boy alone.

Instrumental Break.

The poor girl wants to marry, And the rich girl wants to flirt.
The rich boy goes to college while the rest of us goes to work.
A drunkard wants another drink of wine, politician he wants a vote.
But I ain’t asking for much but I will take another toke.

‘Cos I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’, If I can’t get it on my own.
If you don’t like the way I’m livin’,
You just leave this long-haired country boy alone.

ORIGINAL LYRICS – LONG HAIRED COUNTRY BOY

People say I’m no-good,
And crazy as a loon.
I get stoned in the morning,
I get drunk in the afternoon.
Kinda like my old blue tick hound,
I like to lay around in the shade,
An’, I ain’t got no money,
But I damn sure got it made.

‘Cos I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’,
If I can’t get it on my own.
If you don’t like the way I’m livin’,
You just leave this long-haired country boy alone.

Preacher man talkin’ on the TV,
He’s a-puttin’ down the rock ‘n’ roll.
He wants me to send a donation,’Cos he’s worried about my soul.
He said: “Jesus walked on the water,”And I know that is true,
But sometimes I think that preacher man,
Would like to do a little walkin’, too.

But I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’,
If I can’t get it on my own.
You don’t like the way I’m livin’,
You just leave this long-haired country boy alone.

Instrumental Break.

A poor girl wants to marry, And a rich girl wants to flirt.
A rich man goes to college,And a poor man goes to work.
A drunkard wants another drink of wine,And a politician wants a vote.
I don’t want much of nothin’ at all,But I will take another toke.

‘Cos I ain’t askin’ nobody for nothin’,If I can’t get it on my own.
If you don’t like the way I’m livin’,
You just leave this long-haired country boy alone.

**************************

I recorded and sang this back in 1994. It’s a hip hop and rock version of the song performed by the Charlie Daniels Band. I remember at the time it pissed quite a few people off. I lived in a fairly conservative bible belt town in Southern California that was primarily a country music town – and many people were very angry I would put a hip hop beat and rock guitar to a country song.

At the time it was kind of a big deal, but now it seems very conservative because it’s done all the time. This was recorded on a Tascam 8 track reel to reel with a midi sync triggering the loop, keyboards and midi string parts.

Years later I would do remixes all the time with Pro Tools, no big deal. And of course my engineering skills got much better over time so I could really dial in the beats, breaks and overall mixes. I consider this a “demo” recording. For me personally back in 1994 it was a great time to slowly experiment with mixing styles in the studio.