Dirty crowded streets, they're not so distant anymore
I don't remember what I came here for.
Outside in the city, its 10 degrees below
Homeless on the subway grate, nowhere to go.
City life's got me down, got me down
The winds are blowing cold, I'm so alone.
When the sun goes down, I'll be leaving town
I'm looking for a place to call my home
Looking for a place to call home.

Copyright 2013 by James M. Newell; all rights reserved

More at www.jamesmnewell.com

Requiem For A City

I wrote this song for my father, who died on Labor Day 2006.  At his request, he was cremated and his ashes scattered at sea by the US Navy.

You can view the accompanying video at www.jamesmnewell.com


Sundown, another day; crimson sky fades to grey
I see your smile; a memory of yesterday as ashes drift away

God in heaven, where were you tonight?
Did you see him suffer?  Did you feel his plight?
I hope you know the man you took today, as ashes drift away

No one left to ease my fears,
pick up my shattered world or dry my tears
I see you in the sky today, and as I watch the children play

Rain fell down; a lonely Labor Day
The angels called you back, and took your soul away
I couldn't cry; I refused to pray
What's it matter anyway?

For eighty years you put up a fight
Taught me how to live; taught me wrong from right
You picked me up, took me by the hand
Showed me how to be a better man
and now you drift away...
Ashes drift away.

Now I find myself all alone
In this city of glass and chrome
Can I face another day, as ashes drift away?
As ashes drift away.


Copyright 2007 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved

Ashes

Why do you seem so close when I know that you're not there?
I can see your blue eyes, I see your silver hair
Like the flowers on the delta, like the setting sun
Where have you gone?  Where have you gone?

Why do I feel I need you now; never needed you before
Can't stop now I gotta go, I see an open door
Now it seems the doors are closed, I've nowhere to run
Where have you gone?  Where have you gone?

As the last carnation was laid upon the pall
The sun stopped shining, the rain began to fall
Like the flowers on the delta, like the setting sun
Where have you gone?  Where have you gone?

Copyright 2013 by James M. Newell.
All rights reserved.

Flowers On The Delta

"I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" was originally recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936, as a traditional Delta blues song.  It was subsequently recorded in an amplified slide guitar style by Elmore James in 1951, that has served to inspire rock-and-rollers for decades.  This is my tribute to Johnson and James...

Dust My Broom  (Robert Johnson/Elmore James cover)

This song is for Paul, who never made it home…

I remember deep green fields, gentle delta rain.
Take me to a southern land, the Mississippi plain.
Grandma’s walking down the drive, a smile across her face;
this must be my destination, this must be the place.
I’m home at last.  Home at last.

Where have all the faces gone, Papa, Robert, Roy?
Thank you for the memories, thank you for the joy.
There’s no greater treasure than a family bound by love.
A love that grows throughout the years; a gift from God above.
I’m home at last.  Home at last.

Uncle Gus is sitting there, underneath the tree.
Never had a lot to say; reminds myself of me.
A whistle blows, my thoughts are stirred, a train rolls down the track.
Won’t you take me to my home, won’t you take me back?
Home at last.  Take me home at last.  Home at last.

Copyright 2014 by James M. Newell.
All rights reserved.


Home at Last

This one is for you, mom…

Paddle turns, the river churns, memories take me back
to a time when I was young; a place beside the tracks.

River wide, sunny skies, young hearts wild and free.
Banjo plays a fiddle tune; it rings from earth to tree.

Take me back to yesterday, to faded memories
of paddle wheels and riverboats, thoughts of you and me.

Table bare, we gathered round, bluegrass music rang.
Filled the air with hope and joy every time we sang.

Paddle wheel beats like a drum, plays a southern song.
The Mississippi riverboat slowly moves along.

Take me back to yesterday, a faded memory.
The paddle wheel riverboat played its song for me.

Copyright 2014 by James M. Newell.
All rights reserved.


Paddle Wheel Rag

Can't Make You Love Me
By Jim Newell

Blue skies and sunshine; a picture perfect day.
Wind blows with a sigh.
Still I've got the blues and I guess they're here to stay.
Can't make you love me, hard as I try.

I try to laugh, but everything I do
just makes me want to cry.
Can't stop the pain I get from loving you.
Can't make you love me, hard as I try.

I hear you crying in the night.
There's nothing I can do to make it feel alright.
You'll be in my heart till the day that I die.
Can't make you love me, hard as I try.

Alone in my room; not where I'm s'posed to be.
Since you said goodbye.
Broken by a life that I thought would set me free.
Can't make you love me, hard as I try.

I hear you crying in the night.
There's nothing I can do to make it feel alright.
You'll be in my heart till the day that I die.
Can't make you love me, hard as I try.


Copyright 2014 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved.

Can't Make You Love Me

Thank you, SoundCloud community, for a great year; 14000 plays and 2000 followers, including some of the most talented people on the planet.  I am truly honored to share the cloud with you...

So here's a new song that I hope you enjoy.

A winter's night, cold wind was blowing; you were standing there
I liked the way you looked at me, warm smile, flowing hair
Big brown eyes so innocent, confused me from the start
I had to kiss your ruby lips, had to win your heart
Dance all night, love all day, never let me go
Judy I love you so

Georgetown nights were cold and lonely until I met you
I never knew what life could be like; didn't have a clue
You danced your way into my heart and chased away my blues
No one else before or since could follow in your shoes
Dance all night, love all day, never let me go
Judy I love you so

Copyright 2014 by James M. Newell, All rights reserved

Judy

Tunnel Vision on First Street

Last night I saw a woman; her address was First & Mass.
She was laying by the station in the snow
Talking to herself as the people hurried past
They were staring straight ahead; gotta go
Careful with your eyes, if you don't want to see her
Careful now that you don't say hello
Keep on walking, don’t you know
Homeless womans dying slow
You’re staring straight ahead; gotta go

Laying on the subway grating keeping warm
Five old soldiers, North Korea's foe
People pass as quickly as the memories
Staring straight ahead; gotta go
Careful with your eyes, if you don't want to know
Careful with that dime you might save them
Keep on walking, don't look back
They don't need you anyhow, Jack
Staring straight ahead; gotta go

Careful with your eyes, if you don't want to see them
Careful now that you don't say hello
Keep on walking, don't look back
Where'd you park your Cadillac?
Staring straight ahead; gotta go


Copyright 2014 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved.

Tunnel Vision On First Street

Isotope
by Jim Newell

Woke up this morning
Saw that you were gone
You left a note to tell me we were done
You're radioactive; you kill without a gun

You're an isotope
You're a slow decay
You keep me warm
And send me to my grave
You're radioactive
I just can't stay away

You wrote me letters from Memphis Tennessee 
From New Orleans, Chicago, NYC
I miss you baby but you sure don't miss me

Thought I saw you walking in LA
With another man; dude of the day
I fell down to my knees and had to pray

You're an isotope
You're a slow decay
You're a burning fuse
On a time delay
You're radioactive
I just can't stay away

Stars above & moonlight on the plain
Illuminate my broken hearted pain
Gonna find my baby
Start over again

'Cause she's an isotope
She's a slow decay
She's a sunburn
On a cloudy day
She's radioactive
I just can't stay away

Yeah she's an isotope
She's a slow decay
She's the axe man's doom
She's a gamma ray
She's radioactive
I just can't stay away

Copyright 2014 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved

Trefoil "radiation warning symbol" licensed under public domain


Isotope

It's Alright
By Jim Newell

I saw you walking yesterday
The sky was overcast & grey
You captured raindrops, hands cupped as if to pray
And this is what I heard you say
Come the wind, come the rain
Ain't no good times without pain
Come what may, and come what might
It ain't over, but it's alright

The flowers that grew outside your door
don't grow there anymore
The places you remember
the people you adore
are different than before
Come the wind, come the rain
Ain't no good times without pain
The day is done; comes the night
It ain't over, but it's alright

The waves come crashing on the sand
to pull you out to sea
Be not afraid now, just take my hand
And together we'll be free
Come the wind, come the rain
Ain't no good times without pain
Gone the dark; comes the light
It ain't over, but it's alright

Come the wind, come the rain
Ain't no good times without pain
Come what may, and come what might
It ain't over, but it's alright


Copyright 2015 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved.

Image “Sunset from a California beach after a winter storm” by Andrew Schmidt; licensed under public domain.

It's Alright

Walk This Road
by Jim Newell

Come with me and walk this road
Strong of heart, following our code
We will walk this road to a distant antipode
Together we'll begin a new episode
Together we will walk this road

Before us, there's no boundary but the sky
Where eagles dare, there our spirits fly
Together by and by, our souls in heaven high
will hear the trumpets sound and the angel's cry
No boundary before us but the sky

And is that heavens gate I spy?
Did we live to see today or did we die?
The road it calls; we must reply
Let's travel it together you and I

Brothers take your sisters by the hand
Mothers take your children by the hand
Walking hand in hand, our hearts are in command
Brothers take your sisters by the hand
Mothers take your children by the hand

And is that heavens gate I spy?
Did we live to see today or did we die?
The open road, the endless sky
We'll travel them together you and I

Come with me and walk this road
Strong of heart, following our code
We will walk this road to a distant antipode
Together we'll begin a new episode
Together we will walk this road
Come with me and walk this road


Copyright 2015 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved.

Walk This Road

State of confusion
By Jim Newell

Sun came up this morning; think I lost my New York State of mind.
Came here looking for myself, never really knew what I might find.
From the Amish farmers upstate, to the money masters down on Broad and Wall,
It's a State of confusion, and I've had enough of it all.

Chorus:
Well there's no rhyme or reason; don't know what it's all about.
I'm in a State of confusion, looking for an exit route.

Back home in Virginia, where the Blue Laws rule;
no drinking there on Sunday, but God says any other day is cool.
And as Norfolk trains the sailors, Arlington buries them away.
It's a State of confusion, and I just can't stay.

Chorus 

Moved to California, to escape the cold.
Found no milk or honey; Lord knows I found no gold.
And the police want to beat me, but Feinstein says I shouldn't have a gun.
It's a State of confusion, and I've gotta run.

Chorus

Copyright 2015 by James M. Newell
All rights reserved 

Jim_Newell

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