The Basement Tapes

I Am

Enough

Heading Out

-----A Pop-Up Studio Series Single ----- 
Here I am in Holland, MI for a few days after my first summer assignment at a Wyldlife camp called Michindoh. While at camp, I shared what at the time was my newest song - "The Ruling Grade." The song was inspired by my previous track, "Down The Line" and was an effort to flesh out the protagonist's story (at the suggestion of my older brother, Trevor). I was kicking around ideas about the desire to relocate and start over and found more inspiration in Matthew 8:1-4 when Jesus heals a man with leprosy. The song was written as a companion to a talk given on Matthew 8:1-4 at Wyldlife camp. I was struck by the leper's confidence in Jesus' ability to heal him. He seemed to see Jesus as the last resort for a new life of peace and acceptance much the way my protagonist viewed the train in "The Ruling Grade." The song's title is a railroad term referring to a railroad's steepest section. This defines the weight a given train is able to pull. In the chorus of the song the protagonist hopes against hope that the train is able to pull the weight of his troubles to a better place.

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The Ruling Grade

Live at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, NC featuring Charlie Brown (Guitar and Vocals), Jonathan Ng (Violin), Ethan Baechtold (Bass), Felix Allen (Drums), and John Dockery (Keys).

Jewel (Live At Local 506)

To The Wind (Live At Local 506)

To The Wind

To the Wind

I and IV represent the chords you might recognize as the "amen" at the end of an old hymn. A homey resolution, the sound of consistency, and, to me, a sound image of a beautiful friendship. For Margaret.

One and Four (I and IV)

Charlie Brown is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter who grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. His music draws on influences from Doc Watson to Jack White to Jason Isbell, from bluegrass to gospel, from blues to folk.

Charlie Brown

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