When Cousin Ronnie knew he couldn’t win, 
My father made the drive in the snow 
To Memphis to help Ronnie loop his belt and 
Give his family one last go. 

His family was gathered together 
Under memorabilia of The King. 
But since Elvis had passed and gone 
They couldn’t offer Ronnie anything. 

My father isn’t one for praying, 
So he spoke. "Let the past be in the past," 
And pleaded, "Let the dove of forgiveness 
Land in your heart before it’s passed." 

But they pointed to a road sign to Fort Pillow, 
In the town of a man who dreamed of war (Henning TN), 
Crying “Our roots have been drowned in sorrow 
We have to live with what was done before.” 

“And it’s no use to try and change the story 
Because we never will agree. 
The King has died and this man massacred our people 
So we will never let him be free.” 

This morning as Ronnie awoke 
A feather by grace landed on his nose. 
The dove of forgiveness bore his spirit and 
The King passed him a brand new set of clothes. 

Now my father nearly never speaks 
except to say what is exactly true: 
Ronnie sung his final words said 
"Please, lets forget my past, 
The future looks bright ahead, 
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true."

Cousin Ronnie and The King

Pablo Picasso

Nick and Matthew Jam

A version of the classic by Matthew Austin Williams.  

If I Needed You

Television.WAV

Passing through Winfield KS I met up with Matt and Greg from Grody Riggins and performed with them when they needed a lead guitarist.  We met again recently and recorded this track, cicadas and all.

End Of The World Blues With Grody Riggins

This is an early version of Perfect Round that eventually ended up more produced.  Here: 

https://bluejaguar.bandcamp.com/track/guise-and-otherwise

Perfect Round Stripped Down Version

"Easy Leaving" describes the feeling of giving up, when chaos or rage overcome the normal order of things, and explores how that experience can be both destructive and clarifying.  It's a deeply felt song, describing personal darkness and offering it as an artistic expression.   

Peter recorded Matthew one morning in the early summer of 2018 when Matthew passed through Taos, after playing a show the night before.  The two musicians met many years before, in Lawrence, KS, when they both lived on a musician's separatist colony dedicated to the restoration of the natural earth through the power of sound.  Drawn to one another through a love of american music and innovative branches from that venerable tradition, Peter and Matthew have maintained a friendship and camaraderie and now, for the first time, have done production work together.

Easy Leaving (premix)

Jellyroll

Good as satire

Perfect world

Us to Sing

Chapel Room Part II

I design my music to open vistas into the magic of this world, and bring joy to you.  

My recent ancestors are from New Orleans and Memphis, and I grew up in St. Louis, so the Mississippi river music flows in my blood and lives in my DNA: blues, jazz, bluegrass, and country.  I combine these as part of a living folk tradition of shared songs, stories, and love.  

I'm secretly hoping to rewrite the mythologies that guide our lives, and help us to learn to leave our anxiety and isolation behind, in favor of working together and living in magic.

Matthew Austin Williams

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