You have a beautiful style of storytelling.

Another video for another love song I wrote. I want to say I wrote this one in the early 1990s, but I can't swear to it. "The Yellow Roses of Texas" is a Country Music song I wrote about life on the road as a musician. Dreams come with consequences and many times the life of a musician comes with decisions that separate them from loved ones. Sometimes that separation costs a lot and sometimes it can cost you everything. I was lucky enough to meet the love of my life when I played at Blakely's, back in Chesapeake, Virginia. But it was only by a shear stroke of fortunes, some good and some bad, that we ever came together in the end. I know many musician friends that gave up a lot and today have nothing.

"The Yellow Roses of Texas" plays on the old song "The Yellow Rose of Texas", dating back to the 1850s. I remember submitting it to publishing companies years ago and getting such rejection responses as "How can a rose turn blue? I don't get it." I don't take it personally. After all, many of these publishing and recording companies passed up on bands like Boston. But if I could right back to that guy that was confused about blue roses, I'd simply say...""If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now. It's just a spring clean for the May Queen?"  But luck plays a pivotal role in landing songs or making it in the music industry. The other memory I have about this song is having to write the bridge in the studio. We were recording it and the engineer thought it really needed a bridge. I sat back, took out a pen and wrote the bridge..."You always told me in time, that all my dreams would come true. But dreams die hard and soon I came to realize, this road I traveled leads me home to you." He was right. It really tied the song together well. I also started writing more bridges in my songs.

I think almost anyone could run with this song. I don't think it sounds, or ever has sounded dated. It's a simple Country love song. I even think it would be easy enough to change a few words around and a female artist could do it. So, that being said, thanks for listening and here's the lyrics...

THE YELLOW ROSES OF TEXAS...

I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU JUST THE OTHER NIGHT.
I SAT ALONE AND WATCHED THE STARS SO BRIGHT,
AND SLOWLY CARVED OUT YOUR NAME SOMEWHERE IN THE SKY.

DOWN HERE IN TEXAS WHERE THE ROSES BLOOM,
I PLAY FOR HOURS IN SOME SMOKY ROOM.
AND THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE TIMES,
BABY ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN STILL SEE YOUR SMILE.

THE YELLOW ROSES OF TEXAS CAN'T BRING BACK THE GREEN GRASS OF HOME,
BUT IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS DO,
THEY'LL STILL GET BLUE FOR YOU.

I GUESS THEY NEVER REALLY LIKED MY SONG.
AT LEAST IT NEVER EVER LASTED LONG.
ANOTHER YEAR ON THE ROAD, AND ONE MORE GOODBYE.

DROPPED OFF IN DALLAS FOR A YEAR OR TWO.
SPENT TIME IN AUSTIN WITH A GIRL I KNEW.
HER THORNS RAN DEEP IN MY HEART, BUT HER ROSES CAN'T HIDE,
THIS LOVE I FEEL DOWN INSIDE.

THE YELLOW ROSES OF TEXAS CAN'T BRING BACK THE GREEN GRASS OF HOME,
BUT IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS DO,
THEY'LL STILL GET BLUE FOR YOU.

YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME IN TIME,
THAT ALL MY DREAMS WOULD COME TRUE.
BUT DREAMS DIE HARD AND SOON I CAME TO REALIZE,
THIS ROAD I TRAVELED LEADS ME HOME TO YOU.

THE YELLOW ROSES OF TEXAS CAN'T BRING BACK THE GREEN GRASS OF HOME,
BUT IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS DO,
THEY'LL STILL GET BLUE FOR YOU.
YES IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS DO,
I STILL GET BLUE FOR YOU.

The Yellow Roses of Texas

The Yellow Roses Of Texas

"Losing You To Me" is probably my favorite of all my original songs. After years of writing, I consider it to be representative of my finest work, and I wanted to record it as well as my limited finances would allow. I believe I came away with a radio ready product through the help of some fantastic local talent. After accomplishing that, I challenged myself to create a homemade video of the song of which I could also be proud. This is that video. This video encompasses my vision of "Losing You To Me" while paying homage to some classic icons of stage and theatre like "The Wizard of Oz", "The Phantom of The Opera" and, one of my favorite recording artists, Sir Elton John. The story line captures a common theme we all might find ourselves in; a life where we struggle to divorce our work that defines us, with our home lives, that embraces the essence of us. So often we get wrapped up in our jobs, our careers, and our work, that we forget what is really important, the people who love us; the people at home. Many times we simply cannot see that which stares us in the face. Many times we lose our identity while climbing the ladder of success. Some of this I capture here with classic and iconic figures. Dorothy is so drawn into the illusion of Oz that she cannot see how simple it is to just tap her heels three times to go home. The Phantom is so lost in his delusion, hating his appearance, and believes that hiding behind a mask, or simply writing an opera might make Christine Daae love him. If only he could remove the mask, not just the mask on his face, but the mask of being someone he really doesn't need to be, he might see that Christine could fall in love with him, the real him. How did he get that way? How do we become that way? In "Losing You To Me", the antagonist and protagonist are the same person. In the end, it's up to that person who wins and, ultimately, if love lives or dies.

Losing You To Me

I wrote this song about my daughter when she was ten years old. A few years after "Butterfly Kisses", I wanted a song a bit more personal and a time lapse of how I imagined her life would go. She is older now and has a child of her own. I look on her so proudly watching the words of the song come to life. So, perhaps you have a daughter, and if you do, perhaps this will be a song you can easily imagine will come true. I once had a Grammy winning producer tell me it would be more marketable if I arranged it without using my daughter's name: perhaps it would make the song more relevant for all proud fathers. I was never going to do that. I leave this song for my daughter and I don't care if it ever becomes a hit. It's my gift to her and no matter how rich or poor she becomes; how much she gains or loses in her life, she will never lose this gift I give to her.

KYRSTIN'S SONG

FIRST VERSE:
MONDAY MORNIN’ 6AM. HARD TO WAKE HER UP AGAIN. 
LITTLE EYES THAT GREET THE DAY AND SMILE.
A SUMMER DAY AND OH HOW CUTE. 
PONY TAILS AND SWIMMIN’ SUITS.
SHE’LL NEVER STOP TO NOTICE HOW TIME FLIES, 
WHEN SHE’S…

CHORUS:
BREAKIN’ HEARTS AT TEN YEARS OLD. 
CAKE AND ICE CREAM, COOKIE DOUGH.
CAN I HAVE A PONY DAD? AND LOOK AT THAT OLD PHOTOGRAPH,
OF YOU AND MOMMY YEARS AGO. 
AND CAN WE GO TO THE PICTURE SHOW?
KYRSTIN SOMEDAY YOU WILL KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.

SECOND VERSE:
MONDAY MORNIN’ 6AM. WEDDING BELLS RINGIN’ IN HER HEAD. YESTERDAY THEY VOWED TO LOVE NO OTHER.
DADDY WALK ME DOWN THE AISLE. 
I KISSED HER CHEEK AND STARED A WHILE.
THINKIN’ BACK WHEN MY LITTLE GIRL WAS YOUNGER, 
WHEN SHE WAS…

CHORUS:
BREAKIN’ HEARTS AT TEN YEARS OLD. 
CAKE AND ICE CREAM, COOKIE DOUGH.
CAN I HAVE A PONY DAD? AND LOOK AT THAT OLD PHOTOGRAPH,
OF YOU AND MOMMY YEARS AGO. 
AND CAN WE GO TO THE PICTURE SHOW?
KYRSTIN SOMEDAY YOU WILL KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.
JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.

THIRD VERSE:
MONDAY MORNIN’ 6AM. KYRSTIN RISES UP AGAIN. 
STARES A WHILE AT THE MOTHER IN HER MIRROR.
ANOTHER WORK DAY HAS BEGUN. 
SHE’LL KISS HER KIDS AND OFF THEY’LL RUN.
BUT HOW THEIR SMILES REMINDS HER OF THAT SUMMER, 
WHEN SHE WAS…

CHORUS:
BREAKIN’ HEARTS AT TEN YEARS OLD. 
CAKE AND ICE CREAM, COOKIE DOUGH.
CAN I HAVE A PONY DAD? AND LOOK AT THAT OLD PHOTOGRAPH,
OF YOU AND MOMMY YEARS AGO. 
AND CAN WE GO TO THE PICTURE SHOW?
KYRSTIN SOMEDAY YOU WILL KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.
KYRSTIN SOMEDAY YOU WILL KNOW JUST HOW MUCH DAD LOVES YOU.

Kyrstin's Song

Years ago I sang in a Country Quartet known as The Harmony Brothers. Curly Hale, Tim Jones, Little Dave, Clark Wiseman (not pictured) and I sang around the Eastern Virginia area and even performed at one of the first celebrations known as The Chesapeake Jubilee. That event still occurs and this song is the official anthem of the celebration, although that fact, I'm sure, has long since been forgotten. Curly and Clark have passed away since then, but maybe their voices can live on in this song. It's a Southern Rock and Country mix I hope you'll enjoy. My cut of it is a little rough and aged, but maybe someone else will pick it up and want to re-record it.

Chesapeake Jubilee

Anastasia's Lullabye is a short instrumental I wrote for my grandchild. The Piano and Flute carry the melody and it's a very simple piece. I plan on using the song as an intro or exit to another song on an album someday. Or perhaps I will kick off the entire album with it. I'd like to title a future album, "American Anthems", and I think a song about a newborn, especially my daughter's newborn, really fits as an opening piece for the collection.

Anastasia's Lullabye

"An American Song" is a modern American anthem paying tribute to what makes our nation great, its immigrants. We are a nation made up almost entirely of immigrants that, at one time or another, came to this great nation seeking a better life. Many came here out of free will, and many because they had no other choice. Either way, all of them are who we are, and nobody should ever stop the desire of anyone seeking to become an American. "An American Song" captures the story of three immigrants over the last 100 years that have three different stories. The first is a Jewish family escaping 1930's Germany at the rise of Hitler. The second is a woman from a war torn Middle Eastern nation. The third is an Hispanic family from Central America looking for a brighter future for themselves and their children. Immigrants have migrated to America from all over the World. I captured only three here and still ended up needing over six minutes to tell their story. I hope you'll take the six plus minutes and reflect on their story, as well as others you might know.

I had the good fortune to record this duet with one of Las Vegas' finest singers, G.C. Eccentric. Her electrifying voice was exactly what I had in mind when I wrote this song, and she truly brought it to life. Many thanks to Darren Sher over at The Omnitone for his hard work and outstanding talent in making this song possible. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.

AN AMERICAN SONG

I CAME OVER ON A SHIP, BACK IN 1933, JUST MY MOM, DAD AND ME.
FIRST TIME I SAW HER TORCH I CRIED. I LOOKED INTO THOSE EYES, KNEW I COULD FLY
NOW, YOU DON’T TALK LIKE WE DO, BUT WE’RE WELCOMING YOU.

MY FATHER SIGNED UP FOR THE CORP, AND HE WENT OFF TO THE WAR, TO FIGHT SOME MORE.
ONE DAY SOME SOLDIERS CAME TO CALL, AND THEY SAID HE GAVE HIS ALL, AND SAVED US ALL.
NOW YOU DON’T TALK LIKE WE DO, BUT WE’RE THANKFUL FOR YOU.

Chorus…
SO LAY ME DOWN UPON THIS LAND, WHERE BONES TURN INTO SAND.
TELL MY CHILDREN NOT TO CRY, FOR FREEDOM I WILL DIE.
IN A PLACE WE ALL CALL HOME. IN A PLACE WE’RE NE’ER TO ROAM.
IN A PLACE OF IMMIGRANTS, WE’RE ALL AMERICANS.

choir…
LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN. LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS.
LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN. LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS.


I WATCHED MY CHILDREN PLAY EACH DAY, IN A GARDEN WHERE WE PRAYED, SO FAR AWAY.
YOU’LL NEVER KNOW THE THINGS YOU’LL DO, ‘TILL IT’S HAPPENING TO YOU, WHAT BOMBS CAN DO.
NOW, YOU DON’T PRAY LIKE WE DO, ARE WE FRIGHTENED OF YOU.

Chorus…
SO LAY ME DOWN UPON THIS LAND, WHERE BONES TURN INTO SAND.
TELL MY CHILDREN NOT TO CRY, FOR FREEDOM I WILL DIE.
IN A PLACE WE ALL CALL HOME. IN THIS PLACE WE’RE NE’ER TO ROAM.
IN THIS PLACE OF IMMIGRANTS, WE’RE ALL AMERICANS.
WE'RE ALL AMERICANS.

choir…
LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN. LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS.
LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN. LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS.


JESÚS WAS HUNGRY, HE WAS POOR, AND HIS FAMILY THEY MOVED NORTH, TO FIND SOME MORE.
TOOK HIS CHANCES IN THIS LAND, BUILT A HOME HERE WITH HIS HANDS, AMERICAN.
BUT, YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE WE DO. BUT YOU'RE AMERICAN TOO? 

Chorus…
SO LAY ME DOWN UPON THIS LAND, WHERE BONES TURN INTO SAND.
TELL MY CHILDREN NOT TO CRY, FOR FREEDOM I WILL DIE.
IN A PLACE WE ALL CALL HOME. IN THIS PLACE WE’RE NE’ER TO ROAM.
IN THIS PLACE OF IMMIGRANTS, WE’RE ALL AMERICANS.
WE’RE ALL AMERICANS.

choir…
LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN. LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS.
LOOK AT THE DEEDS THAT THEY DO, NOT AT THE DEEDS OF A FEW.

LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN (LOOK AT THE SOUL). 
LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS (LOOK AT HER SCARS).
LOOK AT THE DEEDS THAT THEY DO, NOT AT THE DEEDS (WE’RE ALL AMERICANS) OF A FEW.

LOOK AT THE SOUL OF A MAN. LOOK AT THE SCARS IN HER HANDS.
LOOK AT THE DEEDS THAT THEY DO, NOT AT THE DEEDS OF A FEW.

An American Song

Locked down during the time of Covid-19, as a songwriter, can be challenging when you have a new song and you want to professionally record it. I've spent a lot of time trying to pretend I'm a studio engineer, but it's evident from the days I've spent trying to record and mix this song, I'm not. Maybe I'll get better. So, please don't pick it apart too much. My goal is simply to get the idea across. This tune is all about our healthcare workers and other first line defenders during this pandemic challenge in the Spring of 2020. Many of these people come home at nights and find they won't get close to their families for fear of giving them a virus they don't even know they might have. They fear getting loved ones sick. As of this writing, over 90,000 Americans have died with this virus. These first line defenders just want to do their best to make sure their families aren't among those that Covid-19 takes in the future. This struggle is something I've personally seen here at home and something I wanted to write about, so I did. It was important to me to get it out there. Lately, I've found myself writing songs about our times and how I view it through my lens. Many of you might agree, but there will be some who won't. That's okay. Not everybody is alike, and that's what makes our World exciting. 

I hope you enjoy this song. I wrote it for my wife. She's one of those healthcare workers I worry about each day. I hope, each day, she, and all other essential workers come back home safe. This song is my way of saying thank you to everyone out there helping her to do just that.

Lyrics:

WHEN I CAN HOLD HER AGAIN


SHE WORKS IN AMERICA, SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA,
WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM, BUT THEY ALWAYS COME HOME.
THEY RISE IN AMERICA, FIRST LINE IN AMERICA,
WHERE THEY LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES,
CHILDREN, HUSBANDS, AND WIVES.

AND I PRAY EACH DAY, AS I WATCH HER WALK AWAY,
FOR THE DAY THAT BEGINS, WHEN I CAN HOLD HER AGAIN.

EACH DAWN IN AMERICA, SEPARATE IN AMERICA,
AND A LOVE SHE CONFIDES, ISN'T THERE BY HER SIDE.
THEY WORK IN AMERICA, STAND UP FOR AMERICA,
AND THE SIRENS THEY SOUND, FOR THE LOST AND THE FOUND.

When I Can Hold Her Again

Uploaded with AudioShare app - http://kymatica.com/audioshare

“The Talk” music from the film Ten Doors

High Plains

Music by Gary Carter and Lyrics by Nate Sparks
Performed by Nate Sparks
A celebration of dirt track racing and those who love a little dirt under their feet.

Dirt Track Man -Nate Sparks

I am a singer/songwriter looking to place some of my songs commercially.

When I Can Hold Her Again

Jeff Alan Rule

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