13 Thinkin' 'Bout You

10 Plenty Of Blues

09 Riverside

06 - Drinking With Hemingway

01 - Losing My Name

The genius Steve Allen of Square One Studio found some time out of his very busy schedule to work on this track. I love the mix. I wrote this song a few months before losing our home and stuff in the Camp Fire in Paradise, California November 8th 2018. Ended up being a little bit prophetic. The original idea of the song came from a vivid dream I had during a turbulent time on my life. I often just ignore my dreams because they are confusing and, well, sometimes causes me to question my own goodness. Yet, the Bible is full of dream stories and appears as a way that God often communicated. Not sure why dreams are so often discounted or ignored now. Anyway, parts of my dream ended up in this song and the rest of the lyrics are just observations.  Nicky Hines, of the country band Shenandoah, plays all the guitar parts and directed the song. The sound is his vision. We originally were after that 70's Laurel Canyon sound, but of course my wandering vocals often don't end up where originally intended. I do like this mix a lot and the musicians are awesome.

Love Has Gone Away

Haven't tried writing a new song in months. Very low production quality, just sort of winging it with misplaced notes and all and the door wide open to all the household noises. The inspiration (Verse II)comes from an experience during a high school football practice in 1968. A new kid had moved into town. He was a good player and a nice, gentle soul. During practice once, the school principle and another administrator came down to the field and asked for the new kid to follow him to his office. Never a good thing. Couldn't figure out what he might have done wrong. Later we found out that they told him his 20 year old brother had died in Vietnam. I have never forgotten that scene nor the impact it had on their family. Years later, I am wearing tee shirts that say "Made in Vietnam."  Why, why, why?  Not knowing is what this song is about, bad and good.  I'll listen to it for a while and see if it is worth developing. God Bless you!

Just An Old Man Playing His Guitar 
capo 3

Verse I
G                  Em
Tears in the dark
C                    G
I know how it feels
G                  Em
Your broken heart
C                D 
His love wasn’t real
Em                    C
You look in my eyes
G                           D
For answers you need
Em                C
But I’m not that wise
G                              D
Won’t find them in me
C          G                 Em                        D
Don’t understand why things they are
C                 G             Em           D         G
I’m just an old man, playing his guitar
Verse II
Shirt on my back
Made in Vietnam 
I knew a boy
He never came home
His name on a wall 
With others who died
So hard to believe
A big truth was a big lie
Don't know why things they are
I’m just an old man, playing his guitar
Verse III
Under the snow
Wildflowers grow
How could this be?
Mystery to me
Out of the darkness
And into the light
A baby is born
We cradle new life
I don't know why things they are
I’m just an old man, playing his guitar

Old Man Playing His Guitar

Back around 2015, I started taking guitar lessons from an instructor who was really into Bluegrass Music. I soon discovered that didn't have an aptitude for the guitar and didn't have a great desire to practice enough to make up for any natural ability. 
I did mention to my instructor that I had written a couple of songs and maybe our time would be better spent learning how to record these songs.
One day I tried to write a 'bluegrass" tune and titled it, "I've Done It Again." We recorded it. Years later, I wanted to revisit some of my earlier recordings and see what they might sound like with professional musicians. Nicky V. Hines, currently the lead guitarist with Shenandoah acted as musical director, guitarist, arranger, engineer, and producer for me on this finally finished new version. (Several versions have been posted on my SC page throughout the years. This will be the Spotify, Apple, Amazon etc version of which I shall make .002 of a penny every time it is played.) On bass is Martin Motnik currently a member of the popular European Heavy Metal Band "Accept." (Trust me, I have no idea how a country bumpkin like me ended up working with Heavy Metal - but I dig it.) On keyboards is the wonderful Tim McDonald , out of Nashville. On drums is another Nashvillian, Travis L.. Super people and very, very talented and experienced.
I like this version very much - musically. I think the mix is excellent (Nicky V. Hines) and I like how he took down the reverb on the vocal, it sounds a bit edgier, a little more vulnerable, and real. 
What's the song about? It's about not being able to take off the "masks" and take down the walls . Although "good lover" is sexual certainly sounding - we can mess up good love in other ways too - family, friends, etc. And, although we can deeply feel the pain of our actions, sometimes we just can't seem to get out of our own way. 
It is a song about being human. Thank you Nicky!

I've Done It Again

Inspired by Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel and for all my fellow ragamuffin brothers and sisters.

Mercy Me

Sing Your Song

Let Er Ride

These vocals nearly killed me, more of a songwriter than a singer. Next song I write might only have a 3 step range!...Dementia, Alzheimer's is a terrible reality for so many. I wrote the first verse from the perspective of the afflicted one and the second verse from the caregiver’s . The cover art is being created before I release on the streamers in early 2025, but here it is for meySoundClouders. I promise, the next song will be a more joyful tune...I hope!

Falling

Tell Me A Story

Warm Wind Blowin'

Ugly truths are still better than pretty lies. 

Yesterday Again

Think For Yourself.  One day, Nicky V Hines (genius guy) got an inspiration for a new guitar part, so we did a new version with percussionist Ryan Jewell (genius guy) and Martin Motnik (genius guy). Nicky put it all together for me.

Cook It

A mystery that I do not understand - but cannot deny exists

The Glory

Sometimes

Gary McMahon

My Revival (A collaboration with David Hutton, he did the hard parts. Please visit David's SC page)

So enjoy collaborating with others, like my good friend, Lawrence Farr. It is enjoyable because they do all the work! Lawrence had this posted for a bit on his side of the cloud of sound.  I just want to put it up on mine so I can listen to it easily. Love me that Do Wop. And, thanks a million Lawrence!  My friend Nicky on Fiverr played guitar!

Do Wop Girl (Collaboration with Mr. Lawrence Farr!!!)

If you really are an imposter, you can’t have imposter syndrome, right? Asking for a friend.

Gary A. McMahon

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