Songs  about famous visual images, photographs and the like.

Lyrics: John Eagle
Music: edro

iKons: Songs about Famous Images lyrics John Eagle

Play By Numbers

Songs About Something

Songs About Nothin'

New and Old

There's arsenic in the soil
So much that my yogi in Chicago
Rinses his farm fresh kale in cheap beer

Might I suggest 
Alcohol isn't the answer
To the problem you got here

The post office  is shutting down
Never thought I'd see the day
I got a thousand pounds of stamps
I gotta unload today

I've got a friend who claims Facebook is stalking her
Who knows, maybe that's true
They're probably stalking me too
Pass the rifles, pass the beer

The kingdom's falling down
We're gonna lose the crown
For the people
For my country
For my honor

Rodney King should've made a fortune
But I hear he died last year
People if we can't get along

Pass the rifles and the beer
Pass the rifles and the beer
Pass the rifles and the beer

edro: guitars, mandolin, bass, vocals, drum programming, words and music.

Pass The Rifles and Beer

I first heard this song recorded by Bonnie Bramlett and Gregg Allman and always wanted to play it live. Maybe one day.

Two Steps From The Blues (Bobby Bland)

When I was young I used to think I might want to grow up and be a congressman
Used to see them on TV and regard their integrity
I don't think like I did when I was a child

I think I might want to be a poet now
Although I'm sure the work is hard
Most don't get to drive fancy cars
And they don't appear on TV

But they can tell you right a wrong
Expose a demagogue
Take you back to places long gone
Put you in Napoleon's shoes
Or cause a lass to beam her love at you

They can help you win your first true love
They can help you win your first true love

They can make you hear a mandolin play in the pale moonlight
Show a blind man what he can't sight
Paint the stars on a magic night

And when they must call us to a just fight
Make us do what we know is right
Show us err in revenge and spite
Stand up to evil when we lose our way

At times they've made me weep
Helped me ask the Lord my soul to keep
Allowed me to say and feel that I'd never be able to

I think I might want to be a poet 
Although I'm sure the work is hard
Most don't get to drive fancy cars
And they don't appear on TV

But they can tell you right from wrong
Expose a demagogue
Take you back to places long ago
Put you in Napoleon's shoes
Or cause a lass to beam her love to you

They can help a man win back his one true love
They can help a man win back his one true love

They gave me proof through the night
We hadn't lost the fight
And our flag was still there
Those words sometimes still make me cry

They've asked don't let evil win
Don't live your life for sin
Live up to what your god, your dreams, your guiding star
Ask of you
And they've inspired us to make our dreams be who we are

I think I may want to be a poet
Though the work is hard
They can help when you lose someone you love
They can help when you lose someone you love

edro: words & music, guitar, dobro, mandolin

Want To Be A Poet

Vocals: 
Fernando Gonzalo @fernando-gonzalo
Leilani Roosman  @leilani-roosman
edro

Guitars:
Kyo Arakane @kyoichi-arakane
Telefan  @telefan
edro

Production
edro

I started this in the summer but just couldn't complete, so I asked for a little help from my friends. Thank you Kyo, Fernando, Jim, and Leilani for offering your wonderful talent!

Help!     (w/Fernando, Kyo, Leilani, Telefan)

Lyrics: John Eagle
Music, Vocals, Guitar, Mandolins, Production: edro

From my conversations about this song with John, it's mostly about a father worrying about a son in today's sometime violent world, and ultimately about all sons and daughters out there in the wild, sometimes unsafe world. After that, it's pretty much up to the listener to find their own meaning in the song, I think.

There’s an odor in the air tonight
A smell unlike anything we should know
Streetlights bathe the scene in heat
The pain in our hearts begins to show

We murder, we create
But that doesn’t begin to tell the story
The truth is, as it should be told
We create murder in our young

We cry when the story unfolds
Because we have pulled the trigger on the gun
Our gun smoke curls about the light
If light could ever be so dark

The street lights beacon cuts the night
Cones down to the tragic scene
We stand back, out of reach
We turn in shame from the light

A body lies below its crystal beam
Crumpled loosely in the middle of night
A horror upon us we all call a son
Stop us before we kill them all

We murder, we create
The ones we raise, I only hope it’s not too late
We murder, we create
Let’s just set the record straight

Strange Times

We Murder (lyrics: John Eagle)

The view outside my window
It’s as stark as it can be
There’s bleakness to the woods
Not a patch of green I see

Winter is having its way
With thoughtful reverie
If only the sun would shine
The birds would sing to me

It’s a down, brown day
The sky is charcoal gray
I wish the sun would shine
And chase these blues away

How I long for the warmth
Of summer’s bluebird days
The north wind blew its breath
And gave the sky its gray

I think I need a cup of joe
In my cozy little place
Bring some warmth to my bones
But the cold you can’t erase

I hate to be this bleak
Not my usual way
Circumstances call for me
To let this slip away
Because it’s a down, brown day
The sky is charcoal gray
I wish the sun would shine
And chase these blues away
Chase these blues away

Down Brown Day (lyrics Johnny Eagle)

A starting point for reimagining a favorite John Eagle lyric, sitting down with an acoustic guitar figuring out the chords in a D tuning.

There’s an odor in the air tonight
A smell unlike anything we should know
Streetlights bathe the scene in heat
The pain in our hearts begins to show

We murder, we create
But that doesn’t begin to tell the story
The truth is, as it should be told
We create murder in our young

We cry when the story unfolds
Because we have pulled the trigger on the gun
Our gun smoke curls about the light
If light could ever be so dark

The street lights beacon cuts the night
Cones down to the tragic scene
We stand back, out of reach
We turn in shame from the light

A body lies below its crystal beam
Crumpled loosely in the middle of night
A horror upon us we all call a son
Stop us before we kill them all

We murder, we create
The ones we raise, I only hope it’s not too late
We murder, we create
Let’s just set the record straight

Let’s Set The Record Straight

Tesa and I had been hiding out from Coronavirus miles away, but got together for a few hours. This Beatles song is a first take, first time through the whole song, recorded on iPhone. Yet, it is just such a great song.

Tesa: vocal and guitar
Ed: Mandolin, bg vocal, percussion

Lyrics
I should have known better with a boy like you
That I would love everything that you do
And I do, hey, hey, hey, and I do

Whoa, oh, I never realized what a kiss could be
This could only happen to me
Can't you see, can't you see

That when I tell you that I love you, oh
You're gonna say you love me, too, oh
And when I ask you to be mine
You're gonna say you love me, too

So oh, I should realized a lot of things before
If this is love you've got to give me more
Give me more, hey hey hey, give me more

Whoa, oh, I never realized what a kiss could be
This could only happen to me
Can't you see, can't you see

That when I tell you that I love you, oh
You're gonna say you love me, too, oh
And when I ask you to be mine
You're gonna say you love me, too

You love me, too, you love me, too, you love me, too

I Should Have Known Better

Tesa: vocal
edro: guitar, bg vocal, percussion

Mostly live from my living room.

When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks

And darling I will be loving you 'til we're 70
And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23

And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Oh me I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am

So honey now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way, mm
I know you will still love me the same

'Cause honey your soul can never grow old, it's evergreen
Baby your smile's forever in my mind and memory
I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand

But baby now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are, oh

So baby now
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are
Oh baby, we found love right where we are (maybe)
And we found love right where we are

Thinking Out Loud

Tesa: vocal, bodhran
edro: bg vocal, guitar, mandolin

A mostly live living room performance inspired by Lisa Hannigan's version of this song.

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love, and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well, you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger, and that feels so rough

No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that, though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing (aah-ooh)
And I don't even need your love (ooh)
But you treat me like a stranger, and that feels so rough (aah)

No, you didn't have to stoop so low (ooh)
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number (aah)
I guess that I don't need that, though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody (I used to know)
Somebody (now you're just somebody that I used to know)
Somebody (I used to know)
Somebody (now you're just somebody that I used to know)
I used to know
That I used to know
I used to know
Somebody

Somebody That I Used To Know

Lyrics: John Eagle

On a moonless night the lights of the shrimp boats
like floating stars in the blackest sky
They're clear to me in just the same way
an arching jet stream appears across the summer sky

We know what they are because we associate
Connect the dots from a place as dark as night
Yet we still fail to see that which is just as clear

I smelled the change long before it came
It smelled like split pea soup with ham hocks and garlic
Truth be known, I'd smelled it before
The only excuse can be, I love split pea soup

There's much I love and still love
but as I sit on the quay, I only see stars
I see stars, stars that blink on the blackest sea
Or is that just the sky?
I'm craving split pea soup and you

Split Pea Soup

A Lisa Hannigan cover. 

Your heart sings like a kettle
And your words, they boil away like steam
And a lie burns long while the truth bites quick
A heart is built for both it seems
You are lonely as a church
Despite the queuing out your door
I am empty as a promise, no more

When the time comes
And rights have been read
I think of you often
But for once I meant what I said

I was salted by your hunger
Now you've gone and lost your appetite
And a little bird is every bit as handy in a fight
I am lonely as a memory
Despite the gathering 'round the fire
Aren't you every bird on every wire?

When the time comes
And rights have been read
I think on you often
But for once I meant what I said

Here I stay, I, I lay me down
In a house by the Hill
I'm dug from the rubble, and cut from the kill
Here I stay, I, I lay me down
In a house by the Hill
I'm dug from the rubble, and cut from the kill
I'm dug from the rubble, and cut from the kill
I'm dug from the rubble, and cut from the kill

Little Bird

This must have been the year John and I discovered ultra sweet blueberries.

John Eagle: lyrics

Had a cup of Joe
Black...as an ocean trench
Little swirls of joyful steam
Rose like dreams
A cup of Joe
Is more than it seems

Oatmeal for lunch
Don't look at me, that way
It's food, lunch requires that
Besides, i delight at noon
To find boisterous blueberries
At the end of my spoon

Tommy the boxing judge
Made me want to leave
And never come back
But after oatmeal for lunch
Things are back on track

Had a cup of Joe
And oatmeal for lunch
Heard people say
Joy is where you find it
Consider it found
In things coarse and ground

Oatmeal For Lunch

John Eagle: lyrics

Yeah, I met Davis in New Orleans near the levee. He and John go back a long way. with real stories to tell. John tells this one.

Chorus
Another leaf blew from the tree
And I’m not sure why
And I don’t know why
Another leaf blew from the tree
And I’m not sure why
And I don’t know why

It was a gusty wind
As each life is
Or can be
I’m sure you know

The wind blows late in life
It comes over the hills
And shakes the trees
We all see this

Hang on to the great limb
Spread strong and wide
Huddled leaves shaking
Clattering in the wind

And when the gale ends
A sigh of relief
Live to fight another day
Purloined like a thief

Davis

Gordon M plays all instruments, pretty damn good at that.
edro sings all vocals

George Harrison wrote the song which was performed by the Beatles with Eric Clapton.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I posted another version of this, which John and I pretty much agreed sucked. This earlier version also has problems, but this take with all its warts captures the emotion.....; I sat down with a guitar and sang the musical idea from John's lyrics, which I really dig. I plan on doing this right in the future. 

OK - I tried again on 11-11-14

The Flowing Skirt

A flowing skirt
Above a grated pit
The paradigm changing
This image of woman
Rearranging

She’s everyone’s girl
Iconic ‘round the world
The girl in our dreams
With the billowing seams

What did we see
In all the billowing white?
The laughter of a little girl
Full of youthful mirth
And…the sensuality
That forever changed the world

She stirred us
In ways we do not tell
For the women of the world
We heard the liberty bell
In all its joyous ringing
The times they are a changing

She’s everyone’s girl
Iconic ‘round the world
The girl of our dreams
With the billowing seams

And all through the years
As we lost all our fears
And long after she was gone
Little boys fell in love
With the flowing skirt
That rises billowing above

The Flowing Skirt (lyrics: John Eagle)

lyrics: John Eagle

John's onto something here. Hunker down; grab your Ray Bans. Sage advice. 

We dodged a bullet
That came back around
Time to mask up
Everybody hunker down
When will it end
Nobody knows
It's a hundred year pandemic
And that's how it goes

Everybody start hoarding
And stack up the cans
Don't go in the sun
Without your Ray Bans
It's a happy hunker down to all
At the bar's last call

Why is it so
No one can say
Lost so many souls
Along the way
So, smoke em if ya got em
And save one for me
This one's in extra innings
Strike one, two, three

When will it end
Nobody knows
It's a hundred year pandemic
And that's how it goes
That's how it goes

That's How It Goes

There's something in the air tonight...Sounds like I recorded it with the door open to the street.

Evil people will kill
They'll take your money
They'll call you names
But in the end you must know

Hate won't win
Sometimes it hurts and leaves blood stains
But in the end
Love reigns

Dark pretenders will take us to sad places
They'll make promises
and they'll lie straight to our faces

Hate won't win
Sometimes it surges and it's beat back again
But in the end
Love reigns

False religions will attract weak minds
Yet they'll lose over time
We've seen it before
We'll see it again

Hate won't win
Sometimes it hurts and leaves blood stains
But in the end
Love reigns

Instrumental break

Hate won't win
Sometimes it surges 'til it's beat back again
But in the end
Love reigns
Love reigns

edro: words and music

The Truth About Hate

Wonderful lyrics by John Eagle. Called John up while driving one morning and asked him to write lyrics about the question can love really be never-ending. Dedicated to our mothers, who we will love for evermore.

For Nevermore

A lifetime ago you gave me a gift
That shimmers like summer's shoal
Swaddled so close in the morning light
I saw your eyes for the first time

How this spirit love enveloped us
I listened and you taught me everything
And there were times when muted
The world came crashing down

I go to see you now but its nevermore
I go to see you now but its nevermore
Yet some day beyond these rainy days
Our eyes will meet in the center of time

'Til then I'll love you for nevermore

Just when I discovered my voice
It seemed that you were lost to me
Yet when the chips were down
The spirit love came suddenly

(break)

Its a long, long road, this life we have
But time has a way of telling all
Its time to range and chart a course
Knowing the lonely road home

I go to see you now but its nevermore
I go to see you now but its nevermore
Yet some day beyond those rainy days
Our eyes will meet in the center of time

'Til then I'll love you for nevermore

'Til then I'll love you for nevermore.

© 2024 edro & j.eagle
All Rights Reserved

edro: music, production, vocals, mandolin, bass, guitars
John Eagle: lyrics

For Nevermore

Lyrics: John Eagle
Music and performance: edro (vocals, guitars, mandolin, bass)

Hey Dad, how you doing?
I'm fine, don't you worry about me.
I'm just trying to remember that story you told,
And wishing you were here dad
Wishing you were here.

I remember when we all clowned around
On that New Years Eve
When our eyes were young and the truth so profound
Was that the way we wanted it to be?

Life has a way of dividing us all
Yet we never know when to quit
Change tells us we are all moving on
Even though we know there's an end

But we moved on to another place
That tells our stories with grace
Had our broods and we made our hay
In the shadow of our great tree

So I remember the very first son
Of the very first son of the father
And how his eyes studied mine
Suckling his very first bottle

In the child, I saw myself
saw my father in those eyes
And remembered what my father said:
"You'll never tire,
looking in your son's eyes."
And so it was
I never tired
looking in my father's eyes.

Looking In My Father's Eyes

Lyrics: John Eagle
Music: edro

Lost but found...

I miss you in the summer air
I miss those times we spent together
When our hearts were so young
And the tree so strong
We thought it'd never end

Sound of the wind keeps telling me
Return to that place
If only summer smelled like that again
We would all be free
and let the days be new

Chorus
How will ever know when to go home
How will ever know when to go home
Oh call me when you get there dear
Oh call me when you get there dear

It's just a place I've' been calling me home again
It's just a place I know
We thought'd never end
Can't you remember when
Can't you remember when

Chorus

Changes will move us on
Even though there is an end
Yet there is a place in time
Calls me back again

Chorus

Call Me When You Get There, Dear

Cecil Smith Jr. (lap steel)
John from Springfield (drums)
Keith Griffin (6-string guitar)
Ric Walsh (bass)
edro (piano)

From a wedding reception in Dayton, OH

Sleepwalk (lap steel)

I met Lisa from south of Nashville, and she had written these lyrics. Later, near Seaside I played her my first version of this song. The mandolin and bass part survived. Too bad she didn't hear this one.

I dreamed of the day that I'd see you again
How you looked and what'd I say?
I saw you this morning
Seven years had passed since we loved one another
It was supposed to last

I imagined it quite different than it turned out to be
More'd changed than looks
I'm off the hook

I'm off the hook from all my dreams
I'm off the hook and planning schemes
We really were a losing team

I thought my heart would flutter
I would stammer and I'd stutter
Just one look is all it took
I'm off the hook

Lisa L. :  lyrics
edro: music, vocals, mandolin, fiddle, drums, bass, memories

Off The Hook

Our Tampa band, the Galaxy Dogs, play Badfinger live. Rehearsal...I was quite loose with the words.

Dave, Steve, Fred, Ed

No matter what you are
I will always be with you
Doesn't matter what you do, girl
Ooh, girl, want you

No matter where you go
I will always be around
Won't you tell me what you found, girl?
Ooh, girl, want you

Knock down the old grey wall
Be a part of it all
Nothing to say, nothing to see, nothing to do
If you would give me all
As I would give it to you
Nothing would be, nothing would be, nothing would be

No matter where you go
There will always be a place
Can't you see it in my face, girl?
Ooh, girl, want you

Knock down the old grey wall
Be a part of it all
Nothing to say, nothing to see, nothing to do
If you would give me all
As I would give it to you
Nothing would be, nothing would be, nothing would be
No matter what you are
I will always be with you
Doesn't matter what you do, girl
Ooh, girl, want you
Ooh, girl, you girl, want you
Ooh, girl, you girl, want you

No Matter What

Lyrics by John Eagle
edro: vocals, guitars, melodica, percussion, bass

Sometimes you just want to get away.

I’m getting tired of the race
My house is a disgrace
And life is dragging me down
I need a vacation
Get away for the duration
Let the surf wash away my blues

I think you’re in the same boat
Yours is hardly afloat
And trouble is your middle name
So, put life at your six
And a little sun in the mix
And let’s get out of this town

Chorus
So, meet me at Chub Cay
Where the palm trees sway
And the tide washes over the beach

Meet me in Chub Cay
Where the palm trees sway
And the tide washes over the beach

I think you see my point
Gotta split this joint
A little heaven is on its way
We need a vacation
Get away for the duration
The Berry Islands are calling me

Chorus

Just take a minute to think
You can decide in a blink
Let the islands be your vibe
Pack your bags in a hurry
Soon you’ll have no worries
And we’ll be in paradise

Chorus
So, meet me at Chub Cay
Where the palm trees sway
And the tide washes over the beach

Meet me in Chub Cay
Where the palm trees sway
And the tide washes over the beach

We need a vacation
Get away for the duration
 
A little piece of heaven is on the way…

Chubb Cay

For years I recorded in the basement, plenty of room but no sunlight. Lately I moved into my office, little room and beyond playing acoustic instruments, it never felt right. For one, no room for drums and keyboards, but I am inching back.

I was figuring out some new gear and started with a little thing with mandolin and drums. Three chords I first named Minor Fling, a reference to the chord changes.

First Fling

The sun’s up in the east
There’s fair wind a blowing
The ketch on a beam reach
And the old girl is a going
What a day in the tropics

Nothing like the freedom under sail
And with my troubles astern
So glad to be on a spree
With plenty daylight to burn
Another day in paradise

Chorus
Over one wave, then another
The nautical miles slip by
The lines are singing
All the way to the BVI

Puffy clouds ride the wind
Across a cobalt sky
The Salty Gal on a broad reach
The day is drawing nigh
Oh, how she rides

The salty spray is cool
The sea air so sweet
Here at Cockburn Town (Co-burn)
Time to drop anchor
In this tropical retreat

Chorus
Over one wave, then another
The nautical miles slip by
The lines are singing
All the way to the BVI
…
Over one wave, then another
The nautical miles slip by
The lines are singing
All the way to the BVI

All The Way To BVI

A symmetry of motion
Brown legs, like brushes on a canvas
This living whir beneath a world of light
A jabbing knife in a fist fight

He stands above, in iconic unrest
A raging fist, across his chest
A face contorted in a scowl
A fallen menace, like a silent vowel

And so we met
The dancing tassels
a world of kings
and all the vassals

And how the world shook
from the thrill of his might
voice raging, above the din
the throne his… by way of rite

And then his form was played
on all the worldly stages
but it all began
in an image for the ages

And so we met
The dancing tassels
a world of kings
and all the vassals
a world of kings
and all the vassals

The third song with lyrics by John based on a conversation we had about iconic images. Seems like I was thinking mandolin and John said rock it.

The Scowl (Lyrics: John Eagle)

A work in progress on the drums.

I woke up this morning
And got out of bed
A
nd what do I find
I’ve got rocks in my head
What did I do
Where did I go
What’s all this rattling
I need a cuppa Joe

Chorus
I need to get out of my own way
Before I run myself down
Try not to wander
To the middle of my road
When I come back from town

It happens more and more
The sirens calling me out
A glass of beer here
A couple shots there
Next thing you know
I’m with an old trout
Rap me in a newspaper
Right across the snout

Chorus

Home I’m just fine
Fair dinkum’s my game
But when I get the call
I’m just not the same
Blow the lid off
A benders on the way
In a couple of hours
Somebody drag the bay
Chorus

My Own Way

I found an SD card this morning with about 30 files on it. One was a file with a live recording of Tesa, Greg, and I playing at a local coffee house one evening. The place was packed.

The recording was on someone's phone. I have some tools to break out the stereo file into tracks, but it is hardly a science at this point. I did the best I could. Technically this is AI pulling the tracks out, but not like AI genius, just average AI that graduated with a low C.

If I Die Young Live At Flyteline Cafe

Raven's Holiday
Tesa - vocals, mandolin
Greg - percussion
edro - bg vocals, bass

I was scared of dentists and the dark
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations
Oh, all my friends are turning green
You're the magician's assistant in their dream
Ah-ooh-ooh-ooh, ah-ahh-ah-ah
And they come unstuck

Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left-hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

There's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's running from himself
And she's been living on the highest shelf
Ah-ooh-ooh-ooh, ah-ahh-oh
And they come unstuck

Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left-hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

I just wanna, I just wanna know
If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay
I just gotta, I just gotta know
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way

I swear she's destined for the screen
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh
Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left-hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

Oh lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left-hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong

Oh lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left-hand man
I love you when you're singing that song
And I got a lump in my throat
'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong
Yeah, I got a lump in my throat

Riptide

Raven's Holiday
Tesa, Greg, edro

Twenty dollars to the door man
He pulls the rope aside and lets me in
Count the steps to the club downstairs
Cross the floor and breathe out despair

I didn't think you'd love me
I didn't think you care
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go...

Looking past a little red-hair boy
I saw you standing over by the wall
What'd you say to a girl like me
If I could get you alone

I didn't think you'd love me
I didn't think you care
I didn't think you'd love me
I didn't think you care
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go...

Didn't think I'd find a boy like you
in a place like this
Never thought by the end of the night
You'd give me a kiss
You gave me a kiss

I didn't know you'd love me
I didn't know you care
I didn't know you'd love me
I didn't know you care
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go...

Don't Go

Raven's Holiday
Tesa: violin, bg vocals
Greg: percussion
edro: vocals, guitar, bass
John Eagle: lyrics

The world is going to hell
There’s crime in the streets
My kids are running around
Nike Jordan’s on their feets

Someone robbed the little store
Where I buy my wine
They caught him at his mama’s house
He’ll soon be doing time

Chorus
Let’s all chill
Drink some more wine
Light up a Kool Filter King
We’ll all be right on time

It’s a long way to freedom
We'll all get there yet
It won’t happen soon
That you can bet!

Let’s all march on Washington
Our flasks filled with booze
It will be better than the Super Bowl
Hey, what have ya got to lose?

Chorus
Let’s all chill
Drink some more wine
Light up a Kool Filter King
We’ll all be right on time

Right On Time

Raven's Holiday in Cincinnati. Lyrics by John Eagle.
Hello, Ziggy 
I wonder where you are
Wonder what you’re doing
As I gaze toward the heavens

Looking at a star
It is bright like you were
A beacon in the night
You shined all those years

The center of the circle
The ballroom’s brightest light

I’m doing okay
Life ain’t so bad
Once you get it simplified
The pain goes away

Hello, Ziggy
You left us all in the blue
Just faces in a crowd
Our roads converged again

With flowers as a shroud
Now you lost the pain
That caused all the grief
Took it from us all
Stolen like a thief

I’m doing okay
Life ain’t so bad
Once you get it simplified
The pain goes away

Hello, Ziggy
It’s a dog’s life for me
I’m not a shooting star
I bathed in your light
As I watched from afar

Hello, Ziggy
We couldn’t keep you from the pain
You never figured it out
I got it right for us

So… I’m doing okay
Life ain’t so bad
Once you get it simplified
The pain goes away
You shoulda known that
The pain goes away
Hello, Ziggy

Hello Ziggy Live in Cincinnati

I found this on an old YouTube video I had done many years ago. Probably a good season to relearn it.

edro: vocals, guitar, banjo, bass

Far between sundown's finish
An' midnights broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts
Struck shadows in the sound
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing
Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
An' for each an' every underdog soldier in the night
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

Even though a cloud's white curtain
In a far-off corner flashed
An' the hypnotic splattered mist Was slowly lifting
Electric light still struck like arrows, fired but for the ones
Condemned to drift or else be kept from drifting
Tolling for the searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail
For the lonesome-hearted lovers with too personal a tale
An' for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

Starry-eyed an' laughing as I recall when we were caught
Trapped by no track of hours for they hanged suspended
As we listened one last time an' we watched with one last look
Spellbound an' swallowed 'til the tolling ended
Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones an' worse
An' for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

Chimes Of Freedom

I think John said something about wanting to change some words, but by then the song snuck into the room.
John Eagle: lyrics
edro: guitars, drums, vocals

I lost my mind
Back in 68
It was in some dark stretch
Of Highway 61
In a 55 Chevy
That rattled and groaned
The Mississippi moon
Rose like a bloom
The only light
On a cold dark night

I was lookin for Robert Johnson
Or the devil himself
I was gonna learn this guitar
Or drive on forever
Its was a starburst Gibson
And sounded like a dream
So i am rockin down the road
Lookin for the man
In the ten dollar suit
And lightening in his hands

Bright lights blinded me
I swerved down the road
Like a deer captured in headlights
A frail figure emerged
Dressed in a rumpled suit
And an old fedora hat
He said come with me
And i'll show you a riff
But i hit him just square
I knew he was a stiff

Lord, lord, what have i done
Killed the guitar man
I will never never never, get back the band
I drove home as if i were a drone
The starburst Gibson
All quiet and alone
Was the only witness
To that tragic night
Never will it play
Although i wish it might
Never will it play
Although i wish it might....

On A Cold, Dark Night

There were whispers at first
About a race above all the rest
Heard in a far off land
This would be put to a test

There would be a trial
Founded in the western world
A man against the race
An icon across the space

There was a man
A comet from Alabam
Shattered the scourge’s ideal
Whose disdain could not be concealed

The world watched in awe
As he mastered the race to the end
Surging chest caught across the tape
We were caught in the wake of his wind

There was a man
A comet from Alabam
Shattered the scourge’s ideal
Whose disdain could not be concealed

Along the way they followed
Making a case for the cause
Gloved fists raised in the air
Taking a slice of his applause

For all his medal prizes
We saw how the wind rises

Lyrics: John Eagle
Guitars, percussion, synths: edro

The Wind Rises (lyrics: John Eagle)

John and I have talked about Migrant Mother often. The photo pictured was taken in the same session. Perhaps no other photo in American history has had the impact of that one taken in the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. 

I often use Migrant Mother in my college teaching. On a night following one of those classes John and I discussed the power of visual imagery and how we might in song capture the feelings embodied in these iconic images. I suppose it was a given that journey would lead us back to this one.

John has blown me away with his lyrics in our Ikonic set of songs. Overall, we have written perhaps fifty songs together. This is among his best.

As far as the music, in the spirit of great troubadours like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger who sang songs about something, I've kept it simple and let John's beautiful words take center stage.

Dorothea, Dorothea
Where has all the time gone?
Time you captured
Time you froze
Time enraptured
In the confines of your frame

Chorus
You were once our eyes
In a time where hope was hanging
The will of mankind left dangling

Dusty roads that lead to where
Poor people working on share
Eyes the stare to eternity
Buried deep in unwanted fraternity
Our eyes were there
And we began to care

Bridge
Dorothea, Dorothea
Where has all the time gone?
Where has all of the time gone?

Chorus
You were once our eyes
In a time where hope was hanging
The will of mankind left dangling
Where have you gone Dorothea?
You were our eyes back then….
We need to care again….

Dorothea, Dorothea
Where has all the time gone?
Time you captured
Time you froze
Time enraptured
In the confines of your frame

You were once our eyes
In a time where hope was hanging
The will of mankind left dangling
Where have you gone Dorothea?
You were our eyes back then….
We need to care again….

You were once our eyes
In a time where hope was hanging
The will of mankind left dangling
Where have you gone Dorothea?
You were our eyes back then….
We need to care again….

Our Eyes (Lyrics: John Eagle)

Lyrics: John Eagle @marshmaster-1johneagle
Harmony vocals: Leilani Roosman @leilani-roosman
Guitar, vocals, strings: edro 

The newest installment in the Ikons series: songs based on visual images. John's lyrics are beautiful as is Leilani's vocal. Both are brighter stars to me.

A Brighter Star

Oh, they came poor
And oh so tired
Child, woman and man
Those first sight wonderers
Of the towering dam

A dark gray sea
Was a labor of love
It’s crossing a danger
To the hopeful landing
'neath the lady above

Chorus
Hardened were they
Right down to the core
Yet man and woman
Were up for the chore

In huddled masses
They yearned to be free
Willing subjects
'neath the icon’s flame
Holding close the family tree

Prodded like cattle
And numbered not named
They waited not alone
With the eyes of children
And with futures unknown

Chorus
Hardened were they
Right down to the core
Yet man and woman
Were up for the chore

It was the end of the line
On the immigrant trail
And the welcome lintel
Of a brighter star
To hang in the sky
A brighter star
To hang in the sky…
A brighter star

Hello Ziggy (ft joerxworx; lyrics: J. Eagle)

Well, John sent me this challenge. I've since re-recorded my first night's version. Acoustic guitar sound especially nice on headphones.

https://lowercoastmusic.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/the-experiment/ 

"Ok, I just sent Ed some lyrics, with my vision of how I see the song.

My vision of the song is folk. I am thinking 12-string acoustic guitar laying down the rhythm, along with some jingle jangle from the Rickenbacker in the breaks, and some lite backing vocals in the lalalalas and wooo wooo woos…..

Now let’s see what he comes up with…below are the lyrics. My gut is he will have Mandolin, two Strats, a Les Paul, a Uke, and Kalimba…."
(For the record: vocals, acoustic 6 and 12-strings, Ric 12-string, drums, bass, no Kalimba....edro)
Angie Girl

It’s raining buckets up in the hills
But you’re not seeing my point at all
We’re not here just standing still
Life is a breeze across the field
Come with me let’s keep it real

Oh Angie girl I wanna see the farm
With you in a dress all sunny and warm
Take my hand, let’s leave this place
We’re running out of time and space

La la la

Wo wo wo

whatever

So don’t let the grass grow under our feet
The time is now to leave this town
The rains are coming I can see the mist
The wind is blowing cold and brisk

Oh Angie girl can’t you see my tears
The road is waiting to calm our fears
Oh Angie girl I wanna see the farm
With you in a dress all sunny and warm
Take my hand, let’s leave this place
We’re running out of time and space
Oh Angie girl I wanna see the farm
Oh Angie girl, there’s a place that’s warm
Oh Angie girl let’s go to the farm

La la la

Wo wo wo

whatever

Angie Girl (new version w/John Eagle)

John says early on he was into the Beatles, and then due to his sisters constantly playing the Fabs on the record player, he soon got burned out and turned to rock wih a sharper edge.

Just recently, he dove in again, reading, watching YouTube, and listening with a fervor. 

I wrote my senior paper in high school on the history of rock 'n roll and had pretty much read and listened to everything Beatles since I was about thirteen and had a neighborhood band.

Anyway, we've been talking and then these absolutely wonderful lyrics turned up in my inbox. I only hope to have done them justice.

In the end, this is a love song not about the Beatles, but John certainly masterfully works 'em in. As for me, just as my Chet Baker song wasn't jazz, this song isn't Beatles' music, but I did borrow some chords from two of their songs. Reminds me more of a song by songwriter John Stewart, or perhaps Nanci Griffith.

To listen to the first draft of the song, visit our blog: http://littleeddieandtheeagle.com/2015/08/31/rough-drafts/

I remember the day we met
It was foggy, or was it clear?
Perhaps the ship horns were singing
Or was my heart pounding with fear

What did Rilke say, 
oh what did he say?
Beauty was the beginning of terror
We're still able to bear
Which seems true for us
As our love is who knows where

Chorus
Love me for my wisdom
Love me for my shame
Love me in the night
It’s not the day to blame

But somewhere along the way
You got use to me, I got use to you
So we are well past the innocence
And not still hearing Love Me Do

Can you remember me for who I was?
But Please, Please keep me for who I am
This is not the breaking point
Nor is it the master plan

Chorus
Love me for my wisdom
Love me for my shame
Love me in the night
It’s not the day to blame

Close your eyes. Imagine
That you’ve lost all my lovin’
And that one Day in a Life
I was gone and not forgotten

And with regard to Yesterday
Let it Be, 
Let it Be, oh Let it Be
Let it Be, oh Let it Be
Let it Be, oh Let it Be

John: lyrics
edro: vocals, 12-string guitars, drums, bass, synth, harmonica

Love Me (lyrics: Johnny Eagle)

As you must know by now, John and I talk fairly often.  A week or so ago we spoke about those that watch over and lead us to the good places.  The demo was pretty cool, too. I posted it on the blog. http://littleeddieandtheeagle.com/

(lyrics, John; music, edro)

In a meadow flanked by tall trees
We graze on a life of comfort
High on a hill stands a solitary figure
Backlit by the burning sun
Staff in hand he wards his flock

Who are we to ask why
It is by faith we standby
The shepherd knows his place on the hill
A divining staff to enforce his will

Shepherd O Shepherd
What is your will
Shepherd O Shepherd
Come down from the hill

No need to manage by the clock
With charges focused on his lead
Such is the shepherd to his flock
Who cares when the rest will not

Shepherd O Shepherd
You made the meadow free
Shepherd O Shepherd
What do you foresee?

There is goodness in the shepherd’s gaze
Each minion an equal share
A need for direction amid sheep
Non-believers better beware

Shepherd O Shepherd
I’m one of your sheep
Shepherd O Shepherd
I’m yours to keep

Shepherd O Shepherd
I’m one of your sheep
Shepherd O Shepherd
I just need to sleep


The Shepard (Lyrics: Johnny Eagle)

This must be a song about something despite which playlist I put it in. John offers some good advice in this one.

I gave up recording guitars direct into the DAW months ago. Really like the tone coming mic'ed from the amp on this one. ;-)

I know you are hurting
I can see your pain
It’s sunny outside
And you’re feeling rain

You want to strike back
You want your revenge
There’s a fire burning
One name makes you cringe

Chorus
Save your breath, save your rage
Don’t let your ego swell the stage
The best revenge is living well

Bridge
Live well, ride a palomino naked
Have an extra scoop of chocolate ice cream
Take a ride on a roller coaster
Listen to everyone scream

Isn’t that better than feeding your rage?
Ice cream in bed, not acting your age
Chorus
Save your breath, save your rage
Don’t let your ego swell the stage
The best revenge is living well
The best revenge is living well

lyrics: John Eagle
vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums and percussion: edro


Revenge (John Eagle)

Well John and I talk....you must have known it eventually would come to this, didn't ya?  We're ordering crowns and capes for when we make this happen. Life will be great, we're great, you're great. We love ya all.....

Just imagine, if you will
If Edro and Eagle were the men in charge
We would eat shrimp and oysters, by the barge
Jack Daniels would be the drink at large
If Little Eddie and The Eagle…ruled the world

No longer would the work day end
As a matter of fact, it would never begin
A Stratocaster (sorry Jim) would be the weapon of choice
So the world would hear, sounds to rejoice
If Little Eddie and The Eagle…ruled the world

The world is a vast and varied place
Imagine for a moment that we hold the deed
And just to show you we have priorities in order
Right off the top… we’ll legalize weed
If Little Eddie and The Eagle…ruled the world

Our world capitol would be a sunny beach
A pin-up of Marilyn Monroe would be our flag
Paul McCartney would be ambassador to Mars
Johnny and me would drive Italian sports cars
If Little Eddie and The Eagle…ruled the world

Our personal staffs would be a gaggle of girls
To take a letter and freshen our drinks
They make a lousy drink, but we like to look at ‘em
You know, one of our songs would be the world anthem
If Little Eddie and The Eagle…ruled the world

Johnny Eagle: lyrical king
edro aka Little Eddie: guitars, drums, keyboards, vocals, musical sovereign 

If We Ruled The World (John Eagle)

There are other versions. This is just me and my guitar, which is the title of a great Batdorf and Rodney song btw,
https://soundcloud.com/little-eddie-the-eagle/back-to-you-ravens-holiday-edro-eagle

I know there’ve been some times
Times when I’ve lost my mind
Or times when you lost yours
And somehow we’ve managed
To stay the course

Could we be better
Stand on a bigger stage?
Just how is that gonna happen
When I can’t act my age

You’re laughing now
Because I called myself out

Chorus
Just when you think I’m gone
I’ll come back again
Just when you think we’re through
I’ll come back to you

Sometimes you would scream out at the stars
Or rage about the way people drove their cars
Or the time I tossed my golfing clubs
Watched them sink from the bridge above

We laughed about those things then
Why can’t it be like this again?
Even so…

Chorus
Just when you think I’m gone
I’ll come back again
Just when you think we’re through
I’ll come back to you
I’ll come back to you

Come on baby, can’t you see
I’m crazy ‘bout you
And you're crazy ‘bout me

… just when you think I’m gone
I’ll come back again
Just when you think we’re through
I’ll come back to you
I’ll come back to you
Yes, I’ll come back to you

Back To You solo (Lyrics: John Eagle)

Take two live from our rehearsal studio in beautiful Tampa, Florida

Dave - drums and vocals
Ed - bass, bg vocals
Steve - guitar
Fred - guitar

When you close your eyes and go to sleep
And it's down to the sound of a heartbeat
I can hear the things that you're dreaming about
When you open up your heart and the truth comes out
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
When I hold you in my arms at night
Don't you know you're sleeping in a spotlight
And all your dreams that you keep inside
You're telling me the secrets that you just can't hide
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
When you close your eyes and you fall asleep
Everythng about you is a mystery
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep

Talking In Your Sleep (Galaxy Dogs - Romantics cover)

Hi. I'm Ed. First off, thanks for listening. 

You might notice a link below to a blog site John Eagle and I started to add a new dimension to the stories we tell. 

Once I played in a band that had two Elvises (Elvi) and adopted the pseudonym edro as a cover.  

Mostly it is me playing guitar, keyboards, mandolin, and whatever else makes sense for a song. Most of the songs are original with a few live. The originals are written and performed by edro. I have been fortunate lately to be involved with some collaborations with some real fine folks.

edro

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