Sandy  Blue 

Well the world it’s own way
is trying to fill us in
the sins of the parents don’t fade away
they just come ‘round again

And it’s a high price we’re paying
when our schools are filled with guns
when everybody was out to lunch
look what’s come undone

And I, I,  I
came looking for you, for you, for you
and in that moment I knew, I knew, I knew 
life as I’d known it, never owned it
what could I do?
Sandy Blue

Well, they say there ain’t nothin’
any American can do
and they say these things happen
Can’t blame me or you

and the holy ammendment
where we pledge our faith in guns
Somebody tell me why it is
We’re killing our loved ones?

And I, I,  I
came looking for you, for you, for you
and in that moment I knew, I knew, I knew 
life as I’d known it, never owned it
what could I do?
Sandy Blue

Sandy Blue (M. Breen) 5:24:22, 8.58 PM

Here's a "Live" Version on John Denver's beautiful song "Leavin' On A Jet Plane."  I used my looper and soloed over the song with my acoustic guitar and b bender telecaster.

Best of Mike Breen (Live)

Leavin' On A Jet Plane (Live Cover)

Mean Old World (Breen) 

What can I do to make things better
What can I say to make it ok
Even though It ain’t gettin’ easier
I’m always here every night and every day

CHORUS
‘cause you’re still my angel
Daddy’s little girl
heart full of kindness
In a mean old world

A long time ago I’d put you on my shoulders 
we’d walk to the park laughing all the way 
you’re mom would get mad but we’d just ignore her
that smile’s in my heart and it’ll never go away

CHORUS
‘cause you’re still my angel
Daddy’s little girl
heart full of kindness
In a mean old world

Harder times well, I’ve never known them
You don’t want to talk and that’s ok
But I’m always here, always hopin’
To see that smile again someday

CHORUS
“cause you’re still my angel
Daddy’s little girl
heart full of kindness
In a mean old world

CHORUS
‘cause you’re still my angel
Daddy’s little girl
heart full of kindness
In a mean old world

Copyright 2022 Mike Breen for Breensongs Pub. BMI

Mean Old World

Not that Tom Petty needs any re-imagining of any of his songs...
Here's a cover of his and Jeff Lynne's song "Learning To Fly."
Original Track: Drums, Guitar 1, Synths: Ryan Breen
Vocals, Strings, Organ and added guitars:  Mike Breen
Cover Photo: Della Breen
Songwriters: Tom Petty / Jeff Lynne
Learning to Fly lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Gone Gator Music
https://mikebreen1.bandcamp.com/track/learning-to-fly-cover-by-mike-and-ryan-breen

Learning To Fly (Tom Petty Cover)

Learning To Fly (Tom Petty Cover by Mike and Ryan Breen)

How Will I Ever Be Simple Again (Richard Thompson) - 
Live Cover by Mike Breen

Oh she danced in the street with the guns all around her
All torn like a rag doll, barefoot in the rain
And she sang like a child, toora-day toora-daddy
Oh how will I ever be simple again

She sat by the banks of the dirty grey river
And tried for a fish with a worm on a pin
There was nothing but fever and ghosts in the water
Oh how will I ever be simple again

War was my love and my friend and companion
And what did I care for the pretty and plain
But her smile was so clear and my heart was so troubled
Oh how will I ever be simple again

In her poor burned-out house I sat at her table
The smell of her hair was like cornfields in May
And I wanted to weep and my eyes ached from trying
Oh how will I ever be simple again

So graceful she moved through the dust and the ruin
And happy she was in her dances and games
Oh teach me to see with your innocent eyes, love
Oh how will I ever be simple again
Oh how will I ever be simple again

How Will I Ever Be Simple Again

How Will I Ever Be Simple Again (Richard Thompson) LIVE COVER

Lyrics
"One Of The Best Ones"
(Bruce Cockburn) “Live” Cover by 
Mike Breen

Guess I'd get along without you
If I had no choice
It's taken me this long to find you

Done a lot of getting ready for this
Some things we learn so slow
But look at you, you've got plenty behind you

There's lots of ways to hit the ground
Not many answers to be found
We're faced with mysteries profound
And this is one of the best ones

There are eight million mysteries
In the naked body
Can't even sight on some distant horizon

Like the nine billion names of God
Don't bring you any closer
To anyone you can simply set eyes on

But in the same way it's as real
Don't always recognize what I feel
But of the dancing scenes that life reveals
This is one of the best ones

Say what you will
There's no snake oil or pill
Can make love less painful or fine
There's no theater
Even of the absurd
Can express what goes on in this meeting of hearts and minds

Guess I'd get along without you
If I had no choice
But please never make it so I have to

Paid a lot of dues to get here
And after all this life
I'm a loser if I don't live with you

There's lots of ways to hit the ground
Not many answers to be found
We're faced with mysteries profound
And this is one of the best ones

One Of The Best Ones - (Bruce Cockburn) "Live" Cover

From my CD "Apartment Living" on Basilbone Records. Copyright Michael J. Breen, Breensongs Pub. BMI.  Written, Performed, Recorded and Produced by Mike Breen.

Apartment Living

Javalina Hill

The Space Between Us (Breen)

It's so strange our common threads
it's more than chance we met 
love flows from you like a deep river strong

finally after all these years 
I swim unshackled without fear
and the pain of living
has gone

And though I don't know you well
in the space between us i can feel
you heal me, you heal me

CHORUS
And I find myself living in the space between us
wanting more than just the energy that flows
but I can never taste your lips or feel your gentle finger tips
and so I live in the space between us

Sometimes awake at night
I curse my luck in life 
for love to shine so late it's light on me

After all the roads are paved
and foundations have been laid
and wives and husbands all agree

but with a breath of cold night air
I know that I still want you there
to heal me,  you heal me

CHORUS
And I find myself living in the space between us
wanting more than just the energy that flows
but I can never taste your lips or feel your gentle finger tips
and so I live in the space between us

So now my love , I must confess
In words that cannot stay unsaid
that though the roads we travel lay apart

Whether you are near or far
you will be my shining star
and I will keep you burning in my heart

and of all the things I can't explain
the space between us will remain
to heal me, you heal me 

CHORUS
And I find myself living in the space between us
wanting more than just the energy that flows
but I can never taste your lips or feel your gentle finger tips
and so I live in the space between us

A track off my "Apartment Living" Album.
Written, Recorded, Produced and Performed by Mike Breen c. All songs copyright Michael J Breen for Basilbone Records.

The Space Between Us

A cut off my CD "Mike Breen And The Big Dream - All Night Long."
Mike Breen - Guitars And Vocals
Percussion - Mickey McGee
Bass - Doug Haywood
Pedal Steel - Mike G. Smith
Written, Recorded, Produced and Performed by Mike Breen
https://mikebreen1.bandcamp.com/album/mike-breen-and-the-big-dream-all-night-long

Mike Breen And The Big Dream: All Night Long

Good Girl

Carnival Queen (Breen)

She's a lifetime commitment she suffers no fools
She can read you she can lead you and she'll take you to school
If you thought you knew love well you ain't got a clue
Della my Della she knows how to do

CHORUS
The carousels’ higher the merry-go-round faster
The barker's all smile when she walks down midway
With my arm around her I feel like I found her
The girl of my small town dreams
Della my carnival queen

She worked concessions when I hired on
Hotdog and a frosty root beer and it wasn't
Last time I thanked sweet God up above
For the girl at the counter, Della my love

CHORUS
The carousels’ higher the merry-go-round faster
The barker's all smile when she walks down midway
With my arm around her I feel like I found her
The girl of my small town dreams
Della my carnival queen

And I just can't wait to put up that closing sign
On this roller coaster because tonight me and Della we're going to ride

I'm just a hayseed Lord knows where I'd be
If it weren't for the woman who is right beside me
As we walked down the aisle with our friends looking on
Hi wire Ronnie and fire eating John  

CHORUS
The carousels’ higher the merry-go-round faster
The barker's all smile when she walks down midway
With my arm around her I feel like I found her
The girl of my small town dreams
Della my carnival queen


Mike Breen - Acoustic and B Bender Guitars, Mandolins, Bass,
Harmonica and Vocals
Written and performed by Mike Breen
Breensongs Pub. BMI Copyright 2012

Carnival Queen (Breen)

Cover of Paul Simon's American Tune.  Photo: Thom Scott

American Tune (Paul Simon)  Cover

Cover of Dylan's  - The Times They Are - Changin'  Photo: Thom Scott

The Times They Are A-Changin' (Bob Dylan) Cover

2024 Greater Arizona Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee Mike Breen began his musical career in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania playing guitar and singing bluegrass music.  After a few years at Penn State University studying creative writing and playing with the "Magnificent Truckstop Band" Mike moved to Phoenix, Arizona and immediately got a gig in a folk duo called 'Smith and Breen' performing at the Salt Cellar restaurant.  A year later Mike began a three year stint as a "Barnstormer" at The Windmill Dinner Theater.  During this time Mike met many musicians and songwriters including Darcie Deaville with whom he collaborated on stage and in the studio and co-wrote her Kerrville winning song 'Icy Barrel of a Loaded Gun.’

Mike released 2 Cds in the nineties -  "No Excuses" and "Past Lives" to critical acclaim (favorable reviews in "Dirty Linen," "Sing Out" and several other national publications) and started to have other artists record his songs which eventually led to a passion for recording.  Also, during this period of time Mike got the call to perform with the Red River Opry Band in Tempe, AZ and in 1996 got his first b bender telecaster which would eventually lead him to write and record a CD called "Mescal Mary and Other B Bender Guitar Instrumentals" which received notable reviews in many national publications including "20th Century Guitar." 

Mike's freelancing work on stage and in the studio has given him the opportunity to work with several country stars that would come through town including Jessi Colter (with whom he recorded tracks for her "Out Of The Ashes" CD produced by Don Was), John McKuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Doug Haywood of Jackson Browne's band, Hank Thompson, Colin Raye, Skip Ewing and opening for such artists as Roy Clarke, Jo Dee Messina, Confederate Railroad and Eddie Rabbitt as well as well as releasing more of his own work including "Apartment Living" and "All Night Long" which include some of Mike's most compelling songs.
Over the years Mike has gained an enthusiastic following for his "story songs" and has been a finalist in many songwriter competitions including 
The Tucson Folk Festival, The Sierra Songwriters Festival, The KRCL Songwriting Competition and The Lake County Folk Festival Songwriting Competition.  

 Currently, you can find Mike performing at the Rusty Spur Saloon in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ, The Musical Instrument Museum - The MIM - contributing to other projects including "Spirit Cave" with his son, Ryan, and composing and recording music for television and movies including the made for TV special "Walker, Texas Ranger - Trial by Fire,"  A&E's "Duck Dynasty" and "Intervention," Discovery Channel's "Sucking Amps," and "Auction Kings," A&E's "Biographies" on Bruce Willis, Halle Berry, Will Smith, Cuba Gooding Jr, Kevin Costner, Kevin Kline, Leonardo Di Caprio, Patrick Duffy, Owen Wilson, "Lassie's Pet Vet," NBC's "America's Got Talent," TLC's "Property Ladder," "My First Home,"  and "Toddlers And Tiaras,"The Discovery Channel's "Clinically Wild - Alaska," "ABC's Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," "American Idol Rewind," "Wedding Central," "Farmer Wants A Wife" on the CW network, "Can You Duet" on CMT, "Clean House" on the Style Network, "Losing It, Tales From Fat Camp,"  "The Osbornes Reloaded," "Love Kills" on Investigation Discovery, "Blood Money" on the History Channel, "Aerial America: Yellowstone" on The Smithsonian Channel, "America's Got Talent" and the theme song for "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo."

Mike Breen Singer/Songwriter

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