Simple vocal and guitar song recorded in a motorhome in a Las Vegas Casino parking lot, I think it was The Frontier. The recording is basic - I was using a cheap, throwaway tape recorder; there's a lot of buzzing and hissing, I tried to clean it up with audacity, however...

VERSE 1
Well, I tuned this fine old guitar
To the whistle of a passing train
I rolled and smoked a cigarette
And sat there watching the falling rain

I conjured up some memories
With the help of the magic guitar
Only thing wrong with this whole scene
I was supposed to have been a star

CHORUS
I'm really down
I can't see the top
When is this pain gonna stop
When is this heartache ever gonna end
When was my so-called life
Supposed to begin

GUITAR BREAK———

VERSE 2
Well I took another sip of brandy
As I pulled out another tune
One that should have been a hit for me
Back in 1973

The lights were getting smaller
And then that old train pulled out of sight
Just like a slowly fading dream
In the middle of the night

I was underneath a Full Moon
And a sky full of shining stars
All my classy neighbors
Were living in their cars

CHORUS
I'm really down
I can't see the top
When is this pain gonna stop
When is this heartache ever gonna end
When was my so-called life
Supposed to begin

Yes, I'm really down
I can't see the top
When is this pain gonna stop
When is this heartache ever gonna end
When was my so-called life
Supposed to begin

I'm really down 
I can't see the top
When is this pain ever gonna stop
When is this heartache ever gonna end
When was my so-called life 
Supposed to begin

I'm really down
I can't see the top
When is this pain gonna stop
When is this heartache ever gonna end
When was my so-called life 
Supposed to begin

I'm really down
I can't see the top
When is this pain gonna stop
When is this heartache ever gonna end
When was my so-called life 
Supposed to begin?

C. 1990-2022 All rights reserved.

I Know The Way

So Called Life

Doubled rhythm guitar tracks, two acoustic picking tracks, and a spoken word vocal track are behind this heartfelt coming-of-age song recorded in my home studio in the 70s. First recorded on a Teak 3340s Four Track tape recorder then remixed with Audacity and Gold Star.

Review is from the author of the book: WHAT IT WAS, Growing Up When The Music Mattered, by James Pagliasotti. "William Carbone is a classic American troubadour whose songs can evoke pain and passion, like My So Called Life, a blues sung to the accompaniment of his soulful guitar work, which comes from the dark night of the soul, where others, like his sophisticated composition I Know the Way with the great pianist Joe Sample and an all-star lineup, bring a sense of joy and exhilaration. He covers a lot of ground with the range of his material, but his work consistently takes a hard, clean cut at telling the tale and playing the melodies of this life we’re living. Do yourself a favor and listen to a talent at work." Purchase James' book here: www.amazon.com/What-Was-Growing-…&format=4&depth=1

IKnowTheWay2012 Mixes

New Wave (Rolling Toward the Shore)

Doubled rhythm guitar tracks, two acoustic picking tracks, and a spoken word vocal track are behind this heartfelt coming-of-age song recorded in my home studio in the 70s. First recorded on a Teak 3340s Four Track tape recorder then remixed with Audacity and Gold Star. FYI I played all parts. When my middle daughter was a baby she was sitting on the floor in her diaper; Sunshine "came slippin' through the door," she tried to grab it. and that's the genesis of this song.
LYRICS by William "Bill" Carbone
At first, it's a baby sitting down on the floor
Trying to catch the Sunlight as it comes slippin' through the door
And then it becomes so very hard to understand
The prerequisites of being a man
What do I leave 
And how much can I take
And how much of a life can I fake

AND YOU KNOW T ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
YOU KNOW I NEVER SAW IT 
EVEN ON TV
(AND) IT ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
LIKE THE MYSTERIES OF THE SEA
A NEW WAVE ROLLING TOWARD THE SHORE
THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY!

And I remember through the years
All the lessons that they'd teach
About freedom and Democracy
And all the sermons that they'd preach

And now it seems that in these times
They somehow changed the rules
The power is with the killers
The haters the thieves and the fools

They're sellin' sex on television
To clothe their hands and feet
Yet they'd arrest me in an alley
If I tried to buy a whoor on the street

(AND YOU KNOW) IT ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
LIKE THE MYSTERIES OF THE SEA
A NEW WAVE ROLLING TOWARD THE SHORE
THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY!

And what has become of all the good things that you taught
Today it seems that it has no value unless it can be bought
AND IT ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
I NEVER SAW IT 
EVEN ON TV
(AND) IT ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
LIKE THE MYSTERIES OF THE SEA
(THERE'S) A NEW WAVE ROLLING TOWARD THE SHORE
THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY!

And all the young girls — of six or seventeen
Are out of my life now
But they're still in my dreams
And tell me where is responsibilities line
Can I rape your daughters 
If you can steal my mind?

AND IT ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
I NEVER SAW IT 
EVEN ON TV
(AND) IT ALL SEEMS SO NEW TO ME
LIKE THE MYSTERIES OF THE SEA
(THERE'S) A NEW WAVE ROLLING TOWARD THE SHORE
THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY!

The wind was blowing through the strings of the cheap thrift store guitar I brought with me to Baja, Mexico in the 90s. The strings were vibrating to a certain note—I think it was E Maj—so I de/retuned the guitar; several of the strings were open. I camped near the warm, birthing waters of Wales. I listened to them communicating all night long. It was all very inspiring. 
The lyrics will soon be posted here.............................................................................................!                                                                 
                                                                                                                               Review is from the author of the book: WHAT IT WAS, Growing Up When The Music Mattered, by James Pagliasotti. "William Carbone is a classic American troubadour whose songs can evoke pain and passion, like My So Called Life, a blues sung to the accompaniment of his soulful guitar work, which comes from the dark night of the soul, where others, like his sophisticated composition I Know the Way with the great pianist Joe Sample and an all-star lineup, bring a sense of joy and exhilaration. He covers a lot of ground with the range of his material, but his work consistently takes a hard, clean cut at telling the tale and playing the melodies of this life we’re living. Do yourself a favor and listen to a talent at work." Purchase James' book here: www.amazon.com/What-Was-Growing-…&format=4&depth=1

LYRICS
It was the fourth night of the full moon
First month of the new year
I was trying to find — a new way
Trying to find — a brand new freeway

GUITAR

Dogs were barkin' — at the shadows
Men were arguing — in the street
I was walking down
A dirt road in Baja
Looking for something — sweet

GUITAR

There's a black boat
out in the harbor
An old man lives — on the shore (in Coromuel)
But they will never — get together
It's a twist of fate
Wound in hell

GUITAR

They're tearing down — the palms and the cactus
For tennis courts — and golfing greens
But it's alright — (the) birds won't have to live there
They can be replaced — with professional sports 

CHORUS

Sundays on a sidewalk
Tramping in a new city
Underneath the midnight sun
Higher Ground — up downtown 
Hearts of gold — blue diamond shadows

Vivid dreams n love machines
Green water — white powder beaches
Palm trees (and) 500-year-old cactus

Out beyond the deep blue water
Beyond the Sun and the Moon
And the distant stars

The vibrations of a chord
Travel forever
through infinity

Roosters deep in conversation
The Transylvanian lady 
Singing in a white dress
In the theater at the festival
Transvestite alter boys
Kneeling before the crystal cross

What an ace — a drop-dead face
Fuck the city — ain't life pretty
Rainy days — install a brain

Shoot the Moon and buy a nickel
Dimes disappear like a melting icicle 
In the heat of the day

4th Night Of The Full Moon

William Claude Carbone does a talking Cosmic blues with a piano back. Recorded at Fred Arthur Studios in Denver, Colorado 1n 1974

Pancake 2

Imagination - Full Version

I was in a Frank Sinatra head when I wrote this, The song has lain dormant since 1974.

Pancake1

(I HOLD MY DREAM) IN MY HANDS

Composed and recorded in Denver at Fred Arthur Studios after hanging out with the late, Chuck E Weiss and Tom Waits in Hollywood. I was hip and pumped.

Imagination Agitation

Recorded in 1972 at Devonshire Studios in Hollywood, California, my partners and I: Ron Brown, Bobby W Boyer, and William S Davidson put together an amazing ensemble of Los Angeles' musical talent. Ron Brown did the lion's share of the work from the inside, he was a working Studio-Fender-Bassman - sometimes working three, three-hour gigs in a single day. Ron hired first-rate keyboardist, Joe Sample (of 'Jazz' Crusaders) fame. They worked many gigs together. Also from the Crusaders, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson, and possibly, Larry Carlton (uncertainty because of lost records.)*Al McKay, from The 103rd Street Watts Band (Partly managed by the disgraced, comedian Bill Cosby)to Earth, Wind & Fire, to The Al McKay All Stars. *FYI Ron Brown, Bobby Boyer and I did some recordings with Al McKay in the 60s. Also, the amazing, first-call, Los Angeles guitarist/musician, Dean Parks was there playing an acoustic, Martin guitar. Altogether there were around two-dozen players: rhythm section, strings, horns, keys, etc., etc., etc. Glenn Pace was the principal engineer.

C. 1972-2022 All rights reserved

I Know The Way Spotlighting the 12-String Guitar and Electric Guitar

Recorded in 1972 at Devonshire Studios in Hollywood, California, my partners and I: Ron Brown, Bobby W Boyer, and William S Davidson put together an amazing ensemble of Los Angeles' musical talent. Ron Brown did the lion's share of the work from the inside, he was a working, studio, Fender Bassman, sometimes working three, three-hour gigs in a single day. Ron hired first-rate keyboardist, Joe Sample (of 'Jazz' Crusaders) fame. They worked many gigs together. also from the Crusaders, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson, and possibly, Larry Carlton (uncertainty because of lost records.)*Al McKay, from The 103rd Street Watts Band (partly managed by the disgraced, comedian Bill Cosby)to Earth, Wind & Fire, to The Al McKay All Stars. *FYI Ron Brown, Bobby Boyer and I did some recordings with Al McKay in the 60s. Also, the amazing, first-call, Los Angeles guitarist/musician, Dean Parks was there playing an acoustic, Martin guitar. Altogether there were around two-dozen players: rhythm-section, strings, horns, keys etc. etc. etc. Glenn Pace was the principal engineer.

C. 1972-2021 All rights reserved

I Know The Way, vocal

This mix opens with violins and cellos, then Joe Sample's keys weave through Al McKay's tasty guitar licks.  Recorded in 1972 at Devonshire Studios in Hollywood, California, my partners and I: Ron Brown, Bobby W Boyer, and William S Davidson put together an amazing ensemble of Los Angeles' musical talent. Ron Brown did the lion's share of the work from the inside, he was a working, studio, Fender Bassman, sometimes working three, three-hour gigs in a single day. Ron hired first-rate keyboardist, Joe Sample (of 'Jazz' Crusaders) fame. They worked many gigs together. Also from the Crusaders, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson, and possibly, Larry Carlton (uncertainty because of lost records.)*Al McKay, from The 103rd Street Watts Band (partly managed by the disgraced, comedian Bill Cosby)to Earth, Wind & Fire, to The Al McKay All Stars. *FYI Ron Brown, Bobby Boyer and I did some recordings with Al McKay in the 60s. Also, the amazing, first-call, Los Angeles guitarist/musician, Dean Parks was there playing an acoustic, Martin guitar. Altogether there were around two-dozen players: rhythm-section, strings, horns, keys etc. etc. etc. Glenn Pace was the principal engineer. 
C. 1972-2012-2021 All rights Reserved

Review is from the author of the book: WHAT IT WAS, Growing Up When The Music Mattered, by James Pagliasotti.
"William Carbone is a classic American troubadour whose songs can evoke pain and passion, like My So Called Life, a blues sung to the accompaniment of his soulful guitar work, which comes from the dark night of the soul, where others, like his sophisticated composition I Know the Way with the great pianist Joe Sample and an all-star lineup, bring a sense of joy and exhilaration. He covers a lot of ground with the range of his material, but his work consistently takes a hard, clean cut at telling the tale and playing the melodies of this life we’re living. Do yourself a favor and listen to a talent at work." Purchase James' book here: www.amazon.com/What-Was-Growing-…&format=4&depth=1

I Know The Way, Instrumental with Violins and Cellos Opening

Review is from the author of the book: WHAT IT WAS, Growing Up When The Music Mattered, by James Pagliasotti.
"William Carbone is a classic American troubadour whose songs can evoke pain and passion, like My So Called Life, a blues sung to the accompaniment of his soulful guitar work, which comes from the dark night of the soul, where others, like his sophisticated composition I Know the Way with the great pianist Joe Sample and an all-star lineup, bring a sense of joy and exhilaration. He covers a lot of ground with the range of his material, but his work consistently takes a hard, clean cut at telling the tale and playing the melodies of this life we’re living. Do yourself a favor and listen to a talent at work." Purchase James' book here: https://www.amazon.com/What-Was-Growing-Music-Mattered/dp/1736912917/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1341404967327530&hvadid=83837917010793&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=44450&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83838314306438%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=22628_10476609&keywords=what+it+was+growing+up+when+the+music+mattered&qid=1653672135&sr=8-1&asin=1736912917&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1

William "Bill" Carbone

Popular tracks