Well done Peatle!
In one of my favorite Andy Capp cartoon panels his doctor tells him the best thing he can do is give up drinking, so Andy asks"What's second best?"
77 2020-12-28 15:57:03
Topic: FAMILY BLOOD - a sad country song (4 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
In the "Poems" section, Peatle posted a poem inspired by the Andy Capp cartoon and town drunks. Yesterday I made a "scratch" recording of one of my older songs about a father who drinks to the detriment of his family, and downloaded it on soundcloud today.
My wife had bought me a double CD set of classic bluegrass and country songs from the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution. I had never written a song in that "old country music" style, and wanted to give it a try. It was the Christmas season and John Denver's "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas" was playing on the radio, planting the seed for a song idea.
Just like Phill, who writes "break-up" songs even though his own marriage is rock solid, my father didn't drink and always took me hunting and fishing so I tried to imagine what it would be like for a child who's father is a drunk, and wrote the song from his viewpoint.
https://soundcloud.com/user-198880521/family-blood
DE
78 2020-12-26 18:40:32
Re: and there she was (4 replies, posted in Songwriting)
That is a wonderful song Jim. The lyrics perfectly describe what its like to meet and continue a relationship with that "special" someone. Hope you plan to record it and let us listen.
79 2020-12-25 04:02:58
Re: merry Christmas (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I also want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you are all safe, well and happy in the new year.
80 2020-12-23 16:52:58
Re: Clock Ticking (10 replies, posted in My local band and me)
Interesting/unusual Christmas song and picking technique Peatle. Thanks for sharing. I had trouble understanding some of the lyrics, could you post them?
81 2020-12-22 01:29:01
Re: Winter Solstice (5 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Chateau Zurf, the hostess of the solstice ....... 
Wish I was there to some pickin' with ya Derek. And maybe help you dispose of some egg nog.
DE
82 2020-12-21 21:04:15
Re: CHRISTMAS BEAU (5 replies, posted in Poems)
TIGLJK wrote:
things went good til new year's eve
when I was lonely, all by myself
seems she went North with Santa Claus
because she was married to an elfSorry Ken
I couldn't resist
lol!!!
That's a good idea for a bridge Jim - it would turn the story 180 degrees again......
the elves all called him Elfis
long sideburns and jet black hair
she just could not resist him
when he asked to be her Teddy Bear
83 2020-12-21 15:37:58
Topic: CHRISTMAS BEAU (5 replies, posted in Poems)
Phill's song about the pain of an old love returning at Christmas got me thinking about writing one that's 180 degrees out from his tune - a song about meeting someone for the first time and falling in love at Christmas. And as I'm never able to resist a pun, I came up with this sophomoric attempt at some lyrics. I know it's pretty sappy, if someone wants to make changes, add to it, add a score, etc, feel free to have at it.
CHRISTMAS BEAU
I saw her in the window of the store's yule-tide display
She was cuter than the dolls she placed in the back of Santa's sleigh
She was so adorable, I just couldn't wait
Pushing fear aside, I rushed inside and asked her for a date
I'll wrap my arms around her
Underneath the mistletoe
She'll be my Christmas present
I'll be her Christmas beau
Now she's the spice that's in my eggnog, the sugar in my tea
Prettier than fresh-fallen snow or lights on Christmas trees
She holds my hand and whispers when we go walking through the park
And now we snuggle close together watching movies after dark
I wrap my arms around her
Underneath the mistletoe
She's my Christmas present
I'm her Christmas beau
84 2020-12-20 13:56:43
Re: Come On Back; It's Christmastime (9 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I'm looking forward to hearing it too, Phill. But with all the angst and pain that your song evokes, it might be more appropriate to refer to them as "slay bells". 
Ken
85 2020-12-19 16:23:24
Re: Old Song/Updated Lyrics - Mountain Too High (5 replies, posted in Songwriting)
keepitreal wrote:
I really enjoyed listening to this, nice melody great lyrics what is their not to like about this song. I can hear the James Taylor influence but also a bit of John Denver me thinks and that's no bad thing.
I'm flattered. My influence for learning to play guitar and write songs was John Denver. When my wife and I were dating we went to some of his concerts. At our wedding, other than the traditional "Here comes the Bride", all other music was our favorite John Denver tunes played on piano.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
DE
86 2020-12-18 02:58:31
Topic: SONGS ABOUT YOU - experimenting with a new guitar set-up (3 replies, posted in My local band and me)
Last week I ordered a pickup (KK mini) for the Teton parlor acoustic I bought a couple months ago. It came today and I wasted no time installing it. As acoustic parlors tend to accent the treble strings I shifted the pickups a little more toward the bass strings than recommended in an attempt to provide a little more bottom when using an amp. (This was the 4th KK I've installed over the years so I'm pretty familiar with them). I used it to record one of the newer songs I've written called "Songs About You". All settings on my Fender Acoustasonic 90 were equal with no boost to the bass frequencies.
87 2020-12-14 03:02:27
Re: Charley Pride RIP (1 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Now he'll be able to Kiss an "Angel Good Morning". The man was quite a talent, both as a baseball player and an entertainer. He'll be missed by country music fans.
88 2020-12-12 21:34:21
Re: social distance (8 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
"I want to be first in the line, I'm getting old I may not have time" - well stated Phil and is now the anthem of us old farts. You've captured the angst of waiting for this pandemic to end. Well done sir!
89 2020-12-11 21:49:15
Re: Red Sails (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Zurf's Dilemna
My attempt at writing songs
Was like a cruel and painful joke
I was told that I'm too literal
For the genre known as folk
But when I tried to write a different way
A country music oracle
Said for that style of music
I'm much too metaphorical 
90 2020-12-11 15:27:22
Re: Red Sails (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Zurf wrote:
This is why I don't write songs. I'm too literal for folk, and too metaphorical for country.
That sounds like material for a song. 
91 2020-12-10 20:29:29
Re: Red Sails (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I would love to sit around a campfire with you all, sip some adult beverages, listen to everyone play their original songs and hear the stories behind them.
DE
92 2020-12-09 01:44:57
Topic: Old Song/Updated Lyrics - Mountain Too High (5 replies, posted in Songwriting)
When I was a youngster my father often told me that whenever I was faced with a problem or had to deal with an issue I should try different solutions until I found one that worked. If there were multiple solutions, then try different ones until finding the one that worked best. Or as he would say "there's different ways to skin a cat". Years later I read that a saying among mariners was "you can't change the wind, so trim your sails", which was another way to say that one must adapt to conditions and do what is required to overcome a problem.
Years ago the U.S. was hit with several major storms that decimated some areas and required the residents to find ways to overcome their loss. Some just gave up and left the area, some expected the govt. or someone else to cure their problems, but there were others that rolled up their sleeves and went to work to regain what was lost. They inspired me to write a song I called "Mountain Too High"
https://soundcloud.com/user-198880521/mountain-too-high
The whole world has been ravaged by the effects of COVID-19 this year. I was thinking about how we are all coping with the problem - some staying home, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, others caring for the sick in hospitals or working on developing a vaccine. It's necessary that we all pull together to overcome this pandemic. This evening I re-wrote the lyrics to my song to be applicable to today's problem:
Mountain Too High Ken Willis
If a [G]mountain is too high to climb we must [F#m]find a road around it
And [G]if there are no roads then [D]we must make a [A]trail
The [G]winds of life keep swirling and they [F#m]push in all directions
And [G]since we cannot change the wind then we [A]must trim our [D]sails
[D]We all woke up one morning, every[G]thing turned upside-[D]down
[D]People dying [F#m] 'round the world, others [G]fighting to stay [A]alive
[D]We must protect our families, our [G]neighbors and our [D]friends
[D]And if we work together, I [A]know that we'll survive, 'cause
If a [G]mountain is too high to climb we must [F#m]find a road around it
And [G]if there are no roads then [D]we must make a [A]trail
The [G]winds of life keep swirling and they [F#m]push in all directions
And [G]since we cannot change the wind then we [A]must trim our [D]sails
[D]We must use the tools we have and [G]we must use our [D]minds
[D]If a path leads to [F#m]recovery then [G]that's the path we'll [A]find
[D]We've got to help each other until a [G]cure is on the [D]way
[D]And we wake again each morning to a [A]bright and shining day, ' cause
If a [G]mountain is too high to climb we must [F#m]find a road around it
And [G]if there are no roads then [D]we must make a [A]trail
The [G]winds of life keep swirling and they [F#m]push in all directions
And [G]since we cannot change the wind then we [A]must trim our [D]sails
93 2020-12-06 20:10:02
Re: Song- Oh What A Night ! (7 replies, posted in Songwriting)
There must have been something extra in that coffee to come up with those lyrics. That's a keeper Jim.
95 2020-12-01 21:34:44
Topic: Crossing Genres - Death by Banjo (1 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
Beamer recently posted a video of "Beartooth" - a Columbus, Ohio heavy metal band recording some of their songs in a folk/country style. Here's a video of another band from the Columbus area, a bluegrass band named "Death by Banjo" playing a classic rock hit. Paul Brown, the banjo player hails from my hometown (Chillicothe, OH) and is a full-time dentist/part time musician. He can also blow you away with his fiddle playing. He's showed up and played in some local jam sessions I've participated in and words can't describe not only how talented a musician he is but also such a humble and nice guy. I hope you enjoy video - it was recorded by someone in the audience during one of their performances.
DE
96 2020-12-01 14:00:32
Re: Red Sails (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Thanks Zurf. I think everyone that writes songs has a particular "formula" that works for them. If we all did it the same way then our songs would sound the same and that would be pretty boring. The ideas for a lot of my songs come from hearing or reading a phrase that I find interesting, building a "story" around it, and then trying to add music that fits the mood of the song (prosody). I've already told the story about how the lyrics developed for this song. I also attempted to start the accompanying music softly and build up to the chorus just like an approaching storm. Did it work? I don't know, but the goal is to try to make all the "pieces" fit together.
I look forward to the time we can again sit around a campfire, tip a few adult beverages, talk about the things we've been up to and play some tunes together my friend.
DE
97 2020-12-01 04:33:09
Topic: Red Sails (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
We got our first snowfall today and it got me thinking about one of my songs. I had been to a songwriter's jam in Cincinnati and was driving back home in a snow storm. I began to think about how we use weather words to describe relationships (hot, cold, steamy, stormy, etc) and got the idea for a song. The verses came pretty easy but I couldn't come up with a chorus that was suitable. I got on line and did some research and found out that one of the earliest means of predicting weather was developed by Phoenician sailors. They knew that a red sunrise meant that an approaching storm was stirring up dust and causing the sky to appear red, hence the old adage "red sails in the morning, sailors take warning".
This another of my recordings done in a spare bedroom using a cheap mic. I like to think of it as my "creek bank" style as it's just me and my old acoustic, same as it would sound if I was playing around a campfire with my friends.
https://soundcloud.com/user-198880521/red-sails
Red Sails Ken Willis
[D] [F#m] [D] [F#m]
Verse 1:
[D]Looks like a winter storm is [F#m]coming
[D]Dump some snow then head back out to [F#m]sea
[Em]I hate the chilly wind it's [G]bringing
But it's [Bm]nothing like that cold front [A]'tween her and me
Verse 2:
[D]Heat wave just couldn't last [F#m]forever
[D]And now the storm clouds have let [F#m]go
[Em]Lord I hate this change in [G]weather
'Cause the [Bm]bluebird skies that come with the highs don't [A]make up for these lows
Chorus:
[D]Red [A]sails on the [G]horizon
[D]Sailors say take [A]warning and [G]watch that eastern sky
[D]I'll be [A]heading west this [G]morning
[D]Looking for some [A]shelter from the [G]storm clouds in her eyes
[D] [F#m] [D] [F#m]
Verse 3:
[D]I don't like it when rain turns to [F#m] sleetin'
[D]But there is no one I can [F#m]blame
[Em]Yesterday I caught her [G]cheatin'
And [Bm] she's just like the weather [A]I can't make her change
Chorus:
[D]Red [A]sails on the [G]horizon
[D]Sailors say take [A]warning and [G]watch that eastern sky
[D]I'll be [A]heading west this [G]morning
[D]Looking for some [A]shelter from the [G]storm clouds in her eyes
[D]Red [A]sails on the [G]horizon
[D]Red [A]sails on the [G]horizon [D]
98 2020-11-30 03:04:57
Re: I Think of You (5 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I recorded the song this evening but apparently had the settings pretty low. Might have to turn things up to hear it. I need to try recording it again.
99 2020-11-25 12:16:14
Re: Easy Beat Poems (4 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
That is so very cool!!
100 2020-11-24 12:26:04
Re: For Beamer - Small Medium at Large (4 replies, posted in Bands and artists)
I agree that years after writing the song it is now politically incorrect and I am hesitant to play it these days. But it is still the most requested song I ever wrote.