Jimmie: 
Under a bridge on I-5 in Northern California, the 16-year-old sleeps. He’s looking for something and has no idea what it is. He’s left the warmth and provision of home and wanders, hoping to find whatever will fulfill the desires of his restless heart. That 16-year-old was me. 

I grew up in a wonderful home with loving parents and two older sisters. Yes, I am the baby and yes, I am the spoiled one. Growing up I had little respect for anything in my life, including our loving family. I thought I knew everything about everything when I knew nothing at all. It would take decades before I came to know the riches that were there in our home on 309 Grant Street in Liberty, Missouri, that I walked away from. Once I learned what I was really looking for, home would be what I longed for most. 

I know that many of us can’t go back home, yet we long for home in our hearts and I guess we will always carry those longings. Since we can’t go back, what can we do? My answer is this: I can create in my home NOW all of the love I felt in our home so long ago. I can create a home with the same atmosphere of love and safety that I felt at 309 Grant Street, and so can you!

Eric:
This one is a special one for us. We were having one of our weekly writing sessions and Jimmie said he had an idea for a song called “I Think I’ll Go Back Home” from the prodigal son story found in Luke chapter 15. At first, I was hesitant because I had already written a song using the parable as a framework. Jimmie said he wanted a song from the point of view of the younger son looking back and longing for the life he had in his father’s house. When we were finished with our session, I started thinking about what might be going through the mind of the young man remembering the love he knew but now felt he had lost. As I began ruminating on these thoughts, a song began to take shape. I knew a few facts about Jimmie’s younger days and tried to work them in so he could feel attached to the song. I contacted Jimmie and told him I may have a direction. He told me to go for it, so I wrote the song and recorded a demo so he could see what he thought. I was pleased when he said he liked it and wanted to put it on the record. 

One thing I do want to say is that I realize for many, looking back at their earlier days is a painful experience. I was fortunate enough to have had a wonderful, loving family and many great friends growing up. For me, looking back at the days in my father’s house elicits warm, happy memories. I understand how lucky I am and feel for those who didn’t have the experience I had. Looking back may be the last thing someone might want to do. This song is written from the perspective of the Prodigal Son and prodigals like Jimmie and myself.

Photo Credit: Patsy Bratcher, The picture is me at 12 years old. The 1958 Desoto in the background is the car that my dad would trade for my White Gibson SG Jr that I played on several of the songs on this album. 

Luke 15:17-18 NLT – When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home, even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you.” 


(c) Eric Stark & Jimmie Bratcher
(p) Ain't Skeert Tunes

The Road That Leads Home

Jimmie:
Dreams are such an important part of life and without them, life can become hopeless. Even when we experience extreme hopelessness, we must allow ourselves to continue to dream. Seeing the pictures in our mind's eye causes us to continue to have hope, to believe, and to dream, and with all of our might fight against the darkness that would try to stop us from experiencing all that we dream. 

When writing songs you never really know how they will end up. You can only start writing and hope that your ideas and inspiration stand. Once you have a place to start, the song will lead you and that’s how “When He Dreams” happened. In 2010 I was playing slide guitar in my office/studio when a melody started developing. Somehow, in my spirit, I knew the melody would become a song with a Western theme. I would try to finish it and would get nowhere, so I put it away with all the other really cool bits and pieces of songs I have that need to be finished. 

I played the slide part for Eric in one of our writing sessions and told him the song was about a Western. He started twirling his mustache and ruminating on my suggestion. Eric is known as “The Ruminator!” He said, “What kind of Western?” I answered, “You know, John Wayne, John Ford, Monument Valley, Arizona, Western.” I love Westerns, especially the classics. I bet I’ve watched Rio Bravo 100 times or more and every time, I love it.” Eric responded, “Send me the slide riff and I’ll live with it for a while.”

Eric: 
I grew up watching cowboy movies, so when Jimmie showed me a slide guitar melody he had and said he wanted a cowboy song, I jumped at the chance to write something. I thought and thought about a direction for the song and everything I came up with sounded cliche. Then one morning I woke up and turned over and these words popped into my head, “When He Dreams,” and I knew that was the direction for “the cowboy song.” So I set out to write a story song about a blind cowboy that only saw the things he loved in his dreams. When I wrote the line, “memories flood his mind's eye like pictures in a magazine when he dreams,” I knew this was the right direction. For the first part of the verses I utilized Jimmie’s original slide melody, and then we included Jimmie playing it as the song built. In the second verse, I borrowed some lyrics from an old folk song that my mother’s grandmother would sing to her, and that my mother keeps alive through her children. 

“He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.” Job 33:15


(c) 2023 Eric Stark & Jimmie Bratcher
(p) Ain't Skeert Tunes

When He Dreams (The Cowboy Song)

Don't Bring That Evil 'Round Here
℗&© 2022 Eric Stark Music

On a cold afternoon in late January 2022 near Macon, Georgia,  on I-75 I received an email from Eric with a demo of the song, “Don’t Bring That Evil Around Here,” and knew that something very, very special, had begun. It was the first song Eric had written for this album. 

At that time we were nearing the end of the pandemic and we had lost several friends to the virus. It was one of the craziest times I had ever experienced. It seemed that globally everyone suddenly lost their minds, or at least their common sense. We watched as families were pitted against each other as issues were promoted that were designed to separate us. Churches were shuttered and divided, and everyone seemed to take a side. Everyone was fighting hard to be right when no one knew what “right” was. It was a very evil time. 

Like everyone else, I was trying to figure out what to do. At some point, I finally gained some clarity, and prayed, asking The Lord for a strategy. You know, a plan, a vision, something that would make sense and give me guidance to make it through the chaos. Immediately my answer came from a passage in The Bible, “Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21, and there was and is my plan. I know it seems simple, however, it is so powerful and it is also one of the first things that we should learn about the character and nature of God.   

God is “good” always. He’s not the way some preachers, our culture, politicians, or some religious leaders have portrayed Him as mean, harsh, and indifferent. I have learned through decades of following Jesus that God is not that way. Once we believe that God is good and only good, we are then able to see Him and our world in a very powerful way that transforms our hearts and our world. When we trust that He is only good time after time, experience after experience, it proves to us that we can trust His goodness and love for us. Because after all, it is impossible to fully trust someone who is not good. 

Eric:
This song was written as a song of lament over how some in the American church seem to have politicized Christianity. Choosing sides and saying, “We’re right and God is on our side and if you don’t think and believe like us, you’re fools.” This brings division among the people of God and I don’t think it is pleasing to our good Father. Participating in culture wars will not bring about the Kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy.

Luke 18:19 – "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.”

Don't Bring That Evil Round Here

Eric:
“Livin’ Here In Babylon” is a song of trust. It may not appear so at first glance, but what is trying to be communicated is that we must trust in the Lord above all earthly organizations and governments. Isaiah 9:6 tells us, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us, a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder.” In verse 7, it says, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” Many find themselves worried and distressed concerning how the government is being run and I understand that. Ultimately we all want good, honorable, trustworthy men and women in positions of authority. But I believe the Kingdom of God is higher than any of the governments of this world and the One to which every knee will bow. The Kingdom of God is not dependent on who is elected or not elected. When we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven,” do we trust the Lord to do it? Can we trust and have peace?

Jimmie:
For me, this song is about standing strong and staying true in the midst of chaos and pain. 
When I look back at history, I am reminded of the horrors that so many governments have produced, then I look inward and question my own beliefs. I’ve been wrong so many times, thinking that if we only had the right people in power we could somehow bring peace to this planet. After all, it is a noble pursuit, right? I long for the time foretold when we beat our swords (our weapons) into plow shares, and a time when we no longer teach our children war. I dream about just what this planet will be like when corruption is banished and all power and authority are given to the only One who is able to correctly execute that authority. The One whose only motive is and always will be “love,” and His government is peace.

 Isaiah 9:7 – Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end.

(c) 2023 Eric Stark
(p) 2023 Ain't Skeert Tunes

Livin' Here In Babylon

Jimmie:
Sherri and I stand in front of thousands of men and women in prison every year. Every time I look into their eyes, I see a little boy or girl. I see someone’s mom or dad. Even though they committed horrible crimes, they are still someone's son, daughter, mother, father, brother, or sister, and God loves them. In spite of their crimes, they are still human beings, and they still have value. 

There are 2.4 million people who are incarcerated in America. That is 2.4 million fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. Making the prison population the fourth largest “city” in America, it’s like the entire population of Houston, Texas, is locked up. Yes, many are very bad people and need to be locked up. But here is something you may not know: Up to 97% of them will at some point be released back into our communities.

Those statistics are shocking and sad. What happened that we are the most incarcerated country in the world? Recidivism rates are as high as 68%. This means 68% of the 97% that will be released will re-offend and return to prison. We need a new plan. What we need is something that starts at the source. Something that starts in the heart of the criminal. We know who transformed our lives, and we know that He is willing to transform us all if we choose to believe and if we are willing. 

Eric: 
In life, we can often feel a weight that feels like chains holding us back from the life God wants us to live. Sometimes, these chains are literal chains, sometimes, they are burdens put upon us by others, and oftentimes, these are chains that we forge ourselves out of failure, shame, insecurity, and a variety of other things. This is a simple song that reminds us that our identity is found in Christ, and through Him, we can throw off these chains.

Matthew 25:36 – needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

(c)2023 Eric Stark
(p) 2023 Ain't Skeert Tunes

Chains

Jimmie:
This song is about a man who concedes that the chaos in his life is from his own creation. He built it and allowed it through his own decisions. He concludes, however, that he’s not a victim and somehow knows that he can no longer trust his own decisions. At this place, he knows that his ego, stubbornness, and pride are never going to bring him the life, peace, and happiness he craves. He understands that he has no power to correct the mistakes of his past or change his heart. Yet, somehow, he knows that he needs power that is beyond himself. So what can he do? He prays a very raw and desperate prayer, pleading to be saved from himself. 

One of the greatest revelations of my life happened when I understood that I can be my greatest enemy. The choices that I make can create chaos or peace, depending on which one I choose. At a point in my life, I had to concede my will and ask for help. The greatest help I’ve found happens at the place where I surrender in child-like faith, trusting God and taking Him at His word. 

After Sherri and I divorced and remarried (you can read our story in our book Granny Paid For Our Divorce), we both had to make some serious decisions. We could either stay the same and continue to destroy each other and our family, or we could make the decisions needed to bring about the changes that we both so desperately desired. It started slowly yet, one by one we chose to make decisions that many times flew in the face of our own selfishness. 

God is willing to help us when we ask, and it's been my experience that He will always meet us where we are willing.  Then, in His loving and kind way, He leads us and hopes to convince us to make the decisions that bring calm to our chaos. He leads us into the good life that He has designed for us to experience. From this newfound place of humility, and with the deepest cry from our hearts, Sherri & I prayed this prayer, “Can you save me, save me, save me from myself?” and His answer is always yes! 

Eric: 
As with “My Name Is Sinner,” Jimmie wrote the lyrics for this song and asked if I would be interested in doing some music for it. Of course, with great lyrics like these, I was very interested in seeing what I could come up with for the music. I’ve told Jimmie this may be my favorite song on the record.

Psalm 55:16 KJV - “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”

(c) 2023 Jimmie Bratcher & Eric Stark
(p) 2023 Ain't Skeert Tunes

Save Me From Myself

H4RRY + MKG - 10 (bratcher) [eternal bliss exclusive]

My tune "Revolution" - the closer to Kaela Bratcher and my senior recital at UNT.
Me - Piano
Kaela - Voice
Mario Cruz - Soprano Sax
Justin Heaverin - Drums
George Anderson - Bass
(Sax/vocal soli is a transcription of a Mark DeHertog solo)

Revolution

T-Weez and Z-Soul AKA Young MMP AKA Lil'Zach get back on the track to Splash on you Haters. #SWA6TE6AM6

S/o Lil B The Basedgod
S/o Cartier'God, OceanGANG

Swimming Lessons (Feat. Young MMP)

OMG SO RARE OMG SO RARE OMG SO RARE OMG SO RARE OMG SO RARE

#MonsoonLagoon (#MASTERLAGOON! EDITION) OMG SO RARE

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✰✰tweeZ✰✰
∫₩Δ₲ ⓉΣ▲ℳ ➏

Musician, Writer, Husband, Father, and Grandfather.
Kansas City, Missouri

From the Sturgis Bike Rally to Supermax Prisons and Churches, Jimmie Bratcher has been Preaching the Gospel and Playing the Blues for over 20 years.

His latest 2021 album release; “I’m Hungry” spent 7 weeks in the top 10 Contemporary Blues Charts. His accompanying cookbook “I’m Hungry” has stayed at the top of dinner table recipes for even longer.

In 2021, Jimmie, along with Jessica Strong released “The Little Girl Wins”; their deeply personal story about meeting as Father and Daughter after 38 years apart.

You can learn more about Jimmie, his Music, Preaching, Family, and Books by following on Social Media, seeing him Live, and subscribing to his Newsletter.

I am a music producer from Louisville,KY. My music is my passion and art. Expand your mind with me.

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