She is an icon of folk music, she played her guitar upside down and backwards, and she served Don a fried chicken dinner when he got an opportunity to meet her in her home in Alexandria, Va.  In return he tried to teach her the Gary Davis tune "Candyman".  Don's roots run deep in folk music, not in just his knowledge of the genre, not just in the vintage instruments he owns and plays with deft skill, but in having encountered the artists themselves in live and personal settings.  His Cloud is full of his wonderful melodies and fine performances @https://soundcloud.com/user-399104119
We continue our "front porch jam" by covering "Libba" Cotten's cherished tune; I play the main melody on an Ibenez OM guitar, Don joins in with his Washburn parlor, Gibson mandolin, and a dulcimer tuned to C--a string band to be sure;)
Thanks also to Debra Buesking for her personal request that I attempt a cover of the song that got the ball rolling.

Freight Train (Elizabeth Cotten cover) Don Jennings, David Dunham

Our little band has been busy over the summer months working on songs for a fall release.  This is perhaps one of the more spiritually-centered songs we have written and published.  How responsible are we for the evil that has come upon the world, for the resultant suffering it has brought. Peter's beautiful words begin with an act of redemption for mankind, but end with judgement not by God's choice, but man's will. 
The words did not come easily as Peter confesses that his pen "hovered above the last line for several minutes" not wanting to write it, but with a prophet's conviction, knew it must be written. The question is begged by those who will to believe, does the beauty of God's creation also involve justice and judgement, what Luther called "God's alien work"?  
Peter's verse has never been more poignant or Seagull's production more finely crafted. His track note also offers further insight into our thinking on the song and is well worth reading.
Guitars left & right; David Dunham; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Superb Poetry/Lyrics, Narration; Peter the Poet; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Music, superb Mix & Production, Seagull; @farout-music-studio
Wonderful voice - Clara Sorace

Web of Circles

…and place the host upon my tongue
as his grace, the bishop did, when I was young
to set life's path as angels sung
since when I've tracked an arcing line
my cracked heart marinades in altar wine
as webbed circles on repeat define
…
……the mirrored threads within my mind.

…and carbon copies as before
in mobius time reflect the score
while catastrophes gorge today once more
identikits forged on command from yesterday
nothing learned, just press replay
and watch heads in hands as the people pray
…
……for the pendulum to swing the other way

…and certain as the wheeling orbit's path
history founders on future’s aftermath
to sin once more as lucifer belly laughs
run aground we last forget that sacred host
‘neath chancel’s hell he resurrects what aches the most
humanity self-lashed to eternity’s whipping post
…
……by the Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Web of Circles (Seagull, Peter, and David)

Years ago, my brothers and I had spent several weeks getting my dad's house ready to sell after he had passed. I was in the realtor's office ready to sign the paper work when the prospective buyers asked why I wasn't buying the house I grew up in.  I said (not thinking) "Too many ghosts".  The realtor immediately jumped in and said, "he means memories" to which I smiled confirming the needed clarification:)  It does beg the question however, how many "ghosts" haunt our lives; bad decisions, fractured relationships, things we did or failed to do.  I have found hope and forgiveness in the Christian faith, others have found healing in the passing of time, others still carry a heavy burden of what could have been or should have been.  Peter explores the theme in poignant verse to Seagull's quixotic soundtrack.  I am honored to  contribute a few colors to the tapestry;)
Acoustic guitars left & right; David Dunham; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Superb Poetry/Lyrics, Narration; Peter the Poet; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Master of the music, lead guitar solo, mix & production;  Seagull @farout-music-studio
Wonderful voice: Clara Sorace
Track art: Bing images
Ghost of a Sense:

Yes, I know you.
I can feel your presence.
I can touch you, smell you.
I see you not by sight of eye
And yet I ken that you are I
That vespered wraith that writhes within
To test my faith, try my sin
Push the bounds to cause offence
A moral, soul thing, ghost of a sense recalls myself, so well defined
Entrenched, walls behind, built so sound of dust that crowned the pity, falling soft amiss,
Deep inside the tears I cry as here I find my self-abyss.

Whispers bringing shadows, filled of secrets therein held,
Memories, morose, piece me still, to wear in time, my wasted face.
And now reside, cast aside, to forge and ever meld,
Of haunting, ringing echoes, that will alone their chime erased.

Ah! But you won't twist me, nor bind me fast, to the sandy doctrines of the misty past,
With its beards and staffs and crinkled testaments.
My future's sprinkled here present with your crass irrelevance and matters not that sat right there,
The blackest chasm in my simpling world so spare,
Where space and time have overspilled the leaking psyche of a crippled mind,
That barely copes, unfulfilled, a crooked, limpid moral health of broken shrines
That hopes to find ....
.......some worthwhile inner self.

Ghost of a Sence (Seagull, Peter, David)

I had left the pastorate in 1985 but many friends remained in the little town of St. Francis, Kansas.  One of them was a woman who found love again after the death of her spouse.  I composed this song for them and officiated their wedding and as far as I know, they lived happily ever after.  
Then came the wedding of my oldest daughter and she requested the song be done for her and Thor (yes, his real name;) That was 27 years ago.  
This past summer, I had suggested the song to Axel and after hearing my rough, 35 year old demo, he loved the song straight away, but wanted to change it up a bit.  The song I had written was done in a more devotional 4/4 meter, he wanted to bring to it the flavor of a Celtic dance.  Enter Mike Fox who gives the lyrics a definitive voice and excellent guitar to the backing track.  I loved the track art Axel had created because it resembled the wedding of my 2nd granddaughter Grace at the end of September, a lovely garden ceremony in Oklahoma City.  It resembles it right down to the kilt another son-in-law wore by request.  They didn't use the song as part of their ceremony, but I dedicate this new version to Grace and Ethan and wish them a lifetime of love, happiness and fond adventures together.
Thank you Axel and Mike for lavishing your talents on my songwriting efforts.  I am truly honored.  Hear more of their fabulous music creativity @soundcloud.com/axel-m-501052973, and @soundcloud.com/michael-fox-925325997

Gathered--Lyrics:
 What are we gathered here for, what have we come to see?
Two people who believe that a better life
Is lived together not separately.
Father we ask you blessing upon the union of these two,
That the vows they are both confessing
Will bind their hearts to each other and You.

Bridge:
And it's more than just "tying a knot" and it's more than just getting "hitched"
We're seeing two hearts being sewn together,
We're witnessing it stitch by stitch.
It's the miracle of seeing two become one,
Though the two are really not the same,
Like the paint and the canvas are separate until 
The Artist joins them in a beautiful frame.

Instrumental Interlude

Repeat Bridge

Repeat Verse:
What are we gathered here for, what have we come to see?
Two people who believe that a better life
Is lived together not separately.
Father we ask you blessing upon the union of these two,
That the vows they are both confessing
Will bind their hearts to each other and You.
Will bind their hearts to each other and You
Will bind their hearts to each other and You.

Gathered-A Wedding Song (Axel Menningen, Mike Fox, David Dunham)

Skin In The Game

It's just a Halloween Album.  For Halloween

Jaded

Pulled From The Muck

Thank you Seagull and David for your exquisite musical canvas.

Find Seagull's brilliant music here: @farout-music-studio

Find David's sublime guitar work here: @david-dunhamuser589535203
_______________________________________________________________________________

Oh dear.

We really haven't done very well with what we were gifted. 
 
Have we?

In any sense, under any interpretation, through any lens, via any belief system, under any political prism, upon any philosophical foundation, we have utterly corrupted the entirety of the social, cultural, spiritual, environmental and biological ecosystem that we touch, and which defines and sustains what we understand as "life" on our home planet.

And on every front, by all metrics, under any assessment - empirical, analytical, theoretical, logical, it gets progressively worse.

Every day.

Oh dear.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Deep Inside

When your broken moral compass assaults his eternal soul
When folk apportion token fault upon what little faith I hold
When humanity has knifed itself, and hope bleeds from infernal holes
When night's arrival, day concedes, its warmth displaced by bitter cold

When evolution's vanities lie buried deep in fossil earth
When pagan rite insanities, render cheap, their measly worth
When any good God's lessons die 'neath cloven crackled mirth
When children' hearts bear tender fear from the very instance of their birth

When the simplest of kindnesses stands blatantly denied
When respect for fellow mortal lands gutter-bound, cast aside
When the spyglass is inverted to inspect what’s deep inside
When the court of civil fortitude finds us guilty as described

When the very least of all is but the best that can be done 
When portends toss and nightmares turn, and grace is on the run
When you, my friend must burn your shame, face the shadows of our sun
Then all is lost, accept the blame, for hell on earth has just begun.

Deep Inside .....with Seagull and David Dunham

Peter and Seagull reflect on what could happen, but has not happened yet, and I pray never happens if humanity ceases to be human.  The headlines would tell us we are near the brink, but daily life and interactions with everyday people tell a different story.  Hope abounds when helping hands are present, there is plenty to go around when the plenty is shared, and forgiveness can heal the deepest wounds.  None of it is easy and there are no easy answers and great effort may be required, but infinitely preferable to the despair depicted in Peter's sobering lyric poetry.  The bottom line for me is; keep the faith, with God and with each other.

Music, Mix, Production, beautiful lead guitar - Seagull; @farout-music-studio
Superb Poetry/Lyrics, Narration; Peter the Poet; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Acoustic guitars left & right - David; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Wonderful voice - Clara Sorace

Deep Inside

When your broken moral compass assaults his eternal soul
When folk apportion token fault upon what little faith I hold
When humanity has knifed itself, and hope bleeds from infernal holes
When night's arrival, day concedes, its warmth displaced by bitter Cold

When evolution's vanities lie buried deep in fossil earth
When pagan rite insanities, render cheap, their measly worth
When any good God's lessons die 'neath cloven crackled mirth
When children' hearts bear tender fear from the very instance of their birth

When the simplest of kindnesses stands blatantly denied
When respect for fellow mortal lands gutter-bound, cast aside
When the spyglass is inverted to inspect what’s deep inside
When the court of civil fortitude finds us guilty as described

When the very least of all is but the best that can be done
When portends toss and nightmares turn, and grace is on the run
When you, my friend must burn your shame, face the shadows of our sun
Then all is lost, accept the blame, for hell on earth has just begun.

Deep Inside (Seagull, Peter, David, Clara)

I love this time of year when the light seems to play on the floors.  It's just a peaceful thing I notice.  Certainly not earthshaking, but lovely.
Thank you to David Dunham for his friendship and his unending help in mastering my piano tracks.
@david-dunhamuser589535203

Pulled From The Muck

Jazz Cabbage Express