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Rootsy Americana from A-Z: Angels, zombies, guitars, banjos and mandolins. With a good dose of nostalgia, sarcasm and gratitude in the mix. |
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Mix Tape
Best of Breed Romance
Hey Karma
Outside the Gates of Graceland
Somewhere I Went Right
Tuesday Nights At Eight (Song for Red Skelton)
Lawyers, Guns and Money
It’s Nothing Peronsal (The Layoff Song)
Moving to Boise (Zombie Free)
On Saturday and Sunday
Little Angels Everywhere
Mix Tape
I’ve been thinking about you
So much I’d like to say
I’d like to get your attention
But the words aren’t coming my way
A card or a letter
That won’t do
I have something better
I’m going old school
I’ll take my best records
And music on reel-to-reel
Get an old cassette and make a mix tape
To show you how I feel
I’m not sharing a playlist
Not burning a CD
I’m taking my time
To serenade you vicariously
Dropping the needle
One song at a time
I love the ritual
And I’d love to make you mine
I’ll take my best records
And music on reel-to-reel
Get an old cassette and make a mix tape
To show you how I feel
So I’ll take my best records
And music on reel-to-reel
Get an old cassette and make a mix tape
To show you how I feel
Just a little plastic soundtrack
That says what you mean to me
Here’s some Otis Redding
A little Smokey too
I even threw in George Carlin
Just to lighten the mood
Let’s listen together
All my favorite songs
If this goes right
We can play and pause all night long
’cause I took my best records
And music on reel-to-reel
Get an old cassette and make a mix tape
To show you how I feel
Yeah I took my best records
And music on reel-to-reel
Get an old cassette and make a mix tape
To show you how I feel
Best of Breed Romance
They were office contemporaries
No cubicles, no walls
But the only time he’d talk to her
Was on a conference call
He was smitten – he was shy
Then one day he strategized a plan
He’d talk to her in language
She could understand
He said, “I’d like to engage in a dialog”
“
To disrupt our current social paradigm”
“
Synergize our priorities”
“I wanna be your top of mind”
“Your call to action – if we align”
“Is a proof-of-concept so divine”
“Let’s share a swim lane – take a chance”
“On a low-risk, high-yield, Artisan-quality”
“Best of breed romance
”
He wasn’t on her radar
She didn’t know he felt like that
Romance never ran like a tiger team
She’d been herding cats
She whiteboarded his transparency
It was really cutting edge
She circled back, reached out and pinged him
This what she said
“I like your outside-the-box ideation”
“We should goalpost this and discuss”
“
I’d like to peel back the layers of this onion”
“But I won’t throw you under the bus”
“Let’s analyze our mutual qualities”
“This could be an ecosystem opportunity”
“Let’s move the needle”
“Make that advance”
“On your low-risk, high-yield, Artisan”quality”
“Best of breed romance
”
Yeah sure it’s nonsense
But it came from the heart
So he evangelized every KPI to integrate their moving parts
She gave buy in
Heck, he was low hanging fruit
A results-driven partnership with benefits
Everything else is moot
Smiling as they chart their metrics at the end of the day
And none of their friends understand a damn thing that they say
Hey Karma
(Michael Gaither and John Cirillo)
Words and music copyright MaryLou Tunes / St Cruz Music Publishing ASCAP / All rights reserved
Hey Karma –You help people get their due
The bad ones slip right through – that’s why I called
Hey Karma – I know the ones you missed
If you want I’ll make a list – no trouble at all
There’s a guy who cut me off on southbound Highway 1
He thinks this parking lot is something he’ll outrun
Hey Karma – I know you’re a busy guy
That’s the reason why I’m your man
Hey Karma – I’m not one to judge
Not known to hold a grudge, but on the other hand
I had an aunt down in Atlanta contest the family will
Those breaks could easily go on her old Coup de Ville
Hey Karma – Might be too much on your plate
But there’s those who shouldn’t wait, yeah, you know who
Hey Karma – I’m not playing any games
I got numbers, I got names, I’m here for you
CEOs and politicians – we could lose a few
Self-righteous type musicians – I might know one or two
Hey Karma – Jesus will forgive
He said “live and let live” but I’m not that nice
Hey Karma – Hey Karma
Outside the Gates of Graceland
(Michael Gaither and Steve Kritzer )
Words and music copyright MaryLou Tunes / Swallowtail Music
ASCAP / All rights reserved
When I was young I took a trip with my whole family
We ended up at Graceland – Mom hoped to see the king
But she always spoke of great granddad who sailed across the sea
John Edward Baily settled down near Memphis Tennessee
Outside the gates of Graceland looking for a dream
Not too far from Bailey’s farm near Memphis, Tennessee
We stood there in that Memphis street and held our cameras high
Mom wanted to be ready in case the king drove by
But I got tired of waiting – didn’t mean that much to me
So I asked my mom to tell me more of Bailey’s history
She said he left County Claire in 1864
To leave the famine far behind he came here to this shore
Hoping for a bit of grace and opportunity
John Baily bought a patch of dirt near Memphis Tenn
Outside the gates of Graceland looking for a dream
Not too far from Bailey’s farm near Memphis, Tennessee
You don’t know you’re going if you don’t ask where you’ve been
I stand here now because of John and those who came since then
Three generations later I stood on holy ground
Thinking of the peace of mind that Elvis never found
But the story of my great granddad meant so much more to me
Guess we both found our own Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee
Outside the gates of Graceland looking for a dream
Not too far from Bailey’s farm near Memphis, Tennessee
Not too far from Bailey’s farm near Memphis, Tennessee
Somewhere I Went Right
(Michael Gaither and John Cirillo)
Words and music copyright MaryLou Tunes / St Cruz Music Publishing
ASCAP / All rights reserved
Took awhile to get here – Mmm mmm mmm
Looking back it’s so clear – Mmm mmm mmm
Every life’s disaster I thought would never end
Pieces of a puzzle that made me who I am
Can’t sleep as hard as I try
A thousand million things on my mind
I’m grateful, I’m lucky, I love a girl who loves me
Every turn took me here tonight
Somewhere I went right
Didn’t know where I was going – Mmm mmm mmm
Drove me crazy never knowing – Mmm mmm mmm
I get in my own way every chance I can
20/20 hindsight – guess it worked out like I planned
Can’t sleep as hard as I try
A thousand million things on my mind
I’m grateful, I’m lucky, I love a girl who loves me
Every turn took me here tonight
Somewhere I went right
If I added all the bad – subtracted all the good
Wouldn’t change a thing if I could
Can’t sleep as hard as I try
A thousand million things on my mind
I’m grateful, I’m lucky, I love a girl who loves me
Every turn took me here tonight
Somewhere I went right
Somewhere I went right
Tuesday Nights at Eight
I missed TV’s golden age, but I remember you
Every Tuesday evening when dad turned on the tube
Late 1960’s, a Zenith black and white
The only night my mom would let me stay up ‘til 9:00
I remember Gertrude and Heathcliff, a funny couple of birds
You even made us laugh when you never said a word
The crown prince of pantomime, all those skits you did
Freddy the Freeloader, and Mean “Widdle” Kid
Jackie Gleason was The Great One
Milton Berle was “Mr. TV”
Ernie Kovacs broke the rules
Jack Benny defined sit-comedy
I’m not one to argue
Those guys were great but… I never missed Red Skelton
Tuesday nights at eight
You had us on the floor with that bit about Guzzler’s Gin
You even laughed on camera; you couldn’t hold it in
Vaudeville and radio, movies and TV
It was a dying art, your gentle comedy
Jackie Gleason was The Great One
Milton Berle was “Mr. TV”
Ernie Kovacs broke the rules
Jack Benny defined sit-comedy
I’m not one to argue
Those guys were great but… I never missed Red Skelton
Tuesday nights at eight
I met you once before you passed way in 1993
My real-life childhood hero standing right in front of me
You told some jokes, hugged my wife, smiled and shook my hand
Like I always pictured you
I was five years old again
Jackie Gleason was The Great One
Milton Berle was “Mr. TV”
Ernie Kovacs broke the rules
Jack Benny defined sit-comedy
I’m not one to argue
Those guys were great but… I never missed Red Skelton
Tuesday nights at eight
Tuesday nights at eight
Goodnight and may God bless Tuesday nights at eight
It’s Nothing Personal (The Layoff Song)
We were a benchmark of how two people grow
From my line of sight I’d still swear tonight all our ducks were in a row
I loved her / thought she loved me
But learned I was a redundancy
When she said “you gotta go”
It’s nothing personal
I’m moving in a different direction
It could be worse, you know
But this might be the push you need
These are unplanned actions I had to take
Changes I couldn’t anticipate
But it’s nothing personal
I don’t know where we went off track
How I made her personal, personnel cutback
Our engagement platform now deceased
I’ve been restructured and released
Resized, reorg’ed, and rolled back
It’s nothing personal
I’m moving in a different direction
It could be worse, you know
But this might be the push you need
These are unplanned actions I had to take
Changes I couldn’t anticipate
But it’s nothing personal
I freelance now
She’s eased my commute
With my downsized, right sized, not so blue skies golden parachute
I thought we had potential
‘til I was deemed nonessential
Big words aside she gave me the boot
It’s nothing personal
I’m moving in a different direction
It could be worse, you know
But this might be the push you need
These are unplanned actions I had to take
Changes I couldn’t anticipate
But it’s nothing personal
Moving to Boise
(written by Michael Gaither and Glenn McPherson)
Lyrics and music copyright MaryLou Tunes / Tall Cedar Music
ASCAP / All rights reserved
Some blamed a monkey
Said it was disease
Some called it the rapture
But it spread and they had a feast
It’s not like movies
They move real fast
They’re always hungry
If I don’t leave
I’m moving to Boise
They say it’s zombie free
I’m moving to Boise
No zombie’s gonna get me
A blow to the head
That puts ‘em down
Man that gets old
I gotta lose this town
I’m moving to Boise
They say it’s zombie free
I’m moving to Boise
No zombie’s gonna get me
I’m headed to the mountains
No zombies there they say
Life on the coast was eating my brains up anyway
I got food and water
And paper map
I got bit yesterday
I think it’s just a scratch
I’m moving to Boise
They say it’s zombie free
I’m moving to Boise
No zombie’s gonna get me
I’m moving to Boise
Where it’s safe I’m told
I’m moving to Boise
‘cause they don’t like the cold
On Saturday and Sunday
(Michael Gaither and Steve Kritzer )
Words and music copyright MaryLou Tunes / Swallowtail Music
ASCAP / All rights reserved
I help sell beer on Saturday night but I’m not behind the bar
I’m back here in the corner me and my guitar
Tonight I sing the blues tomorrow I’ll play hymns
To anyone who needs a place to be or just comes stumbling in
The barman he says “One last call” as I put away my things
There’s one old guy still standing lost in thoughts or dreams
He smiles and says “You sang my song, the one that makes me smile
That’s why I come to this old place I can be myself awhile
On Saturday and Sunday, I sing and play guitar
They’re sitting in the pews or standing at the bar
Don’t matter how you got here from where ever that you came
From where I sit we’re pretty much the same
We’re all the same
Congregation’s standing, as I play Amazing Grace
Still thinking ‘bout that man last night, I see his weary face
If he walked into this church right now, would we still call him “Brother”
Or does Saturday go in one box Sunday in another
On Saturday and Sunday, I sing and play guitar
They’re sitting in the pews or standing at the bar
Don’t matter how you got here from where ever that you came
From where I sit we’re pretty much the same
We’re all the same
Jesus walked with the least of these
The drunkards, thieves and whores
Loving them for who they were
Then loving them some more
I’ll share that grace and take my place
And sing a song or two
We’re all looking for salvation a
And a shot of fellowship too
On Saturday and Sunday, I sing and play guitar
They’re sitting in the pews or standing at the bar
Don’t matter how you got here from where ever that you came
From where I sit we’re pretty much the same
We’re all the same
Little Angels Everywhere
I’m laying low but I’ll be back again
I don’t do it on my own
I get help from trusted friends
I never see ’em – but I know that they’re around
They pick me up every time that I go down
Little angels everywhere
Keeping watch, saying prayers
On the ground and on the wing
I can get through anything
Little angels
A soldier’s bible stopped a bullet back in World War Two
Some say there’s nothing to it the story isn’t true
But for every “just missed” accident when was running late
Was it just coincidence or someone steering fate?
Little angels everywhere
Keeping watch, saying prayers
On the ground and on the wing
I can get through anything
Little angels
I don’t bring a knife to a gunfight
I show up fully armed
They’re circling all around me
Keeping me from harm
Little angels everywhere
Keeping watch, saying prayers
On the ground and on the wing
I can get through anything
Little angels
I’m laying low but I’ll be back again
All music and lyrics copyright Michael Gaither / MaryLou Tunes / ASCAP, except where indicated.